Arizona governor meets with National Guard troops prior to Mexico border deployment
Ryan Randazzo
Gov. Doug Ducey spoke Monday to National Guard troops after ordering them Friday to help secure the Mexican border as part of "Operation Guardian Shield."
Ducey on Friday posted on Twitter that he would assist President Donald Trump's order for troops on the border by sending Arizona's National Guard.
The Arizona National Guard said Monday afternoon that 225 troops would deploy Monday and another 113 would go Tuesday.
As those troops were going through administrative and medical clearing on Monday, Ducey stood with about 100 guard members at the Papago Park Military Reservation on McDowell Road at 52nd Street.
The event didn't provide much additional information.
Guard officials said the troops would likely depart Tuesday, but didn't have details on what they would do, saying that was being worked out with Customs and Border Protection.
"Your efforts will make every Arizonan and our country safer," Ducey told the guard members, which he said were "some of Arizona's bravest."
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Ducey: 'May God bless you'
Ducey initially did not like how guard members had lined up in rows, as they had practiced before his arrival.
When he took to the podium in front of them, he asked them to crowd closer around him, and the guard members were ordered into a semi-circle around the governor with the front rows kneeling.
"May God bless you and keep you safe on this mission," Ducey said.
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After brief remarks, Ducey waded through the crowd, shaking hands with guard members while members of his staff and media swarmed around to take photos.
Afterward, Ducey told reporters that the border saw a "200 percent" increase in migrants in March compared with March of 2017.
When asked if the event was an election-year ploy to appear tough on border issues, Ducey bristled.
"This has been an issue in the state of Arizona for nearly a decade," Ducey said. "Washington has ignored the border. We finally have an administration that is paying attention to the border."
RELATED:Ducey supports Trump's call to send AZ National Guard troops to border
Trump said Thursday he would like to see 2,000 to 4,000 National Guard troops deployed along the Mexican border for an indefinite length of time. Former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama also deployed National Guard troops to the border.
Time on border 'open ended'
The National Guard may be deployed after the governor proclaims an emergency, or deems it necessary to protect lives or property.
The federal government will pay for the deployment, when it takes place, Ducey said. He said the amount of time the Guard members will be deployed is "open ended" and the goal is to reduce border crossings.
The Arizona National Guard issued a press release Friday that said the the service members will "provide mission-enhancing capabilities that allow Customs and Border Protection personnel to provide more law enforcement officers to the field."
The service members will provide air support, reconnaissance support, operational support, construction of border infrastructure, and logistical support, it said.
Their efforts will allow Customs and Border Protection to focus on their primary duties, he said.
RELATED:Mixed reaction to National Guard deployment at the Arizona border
Public Affairs Officer Capt. Aaron Thacker said Monday that service members are expected to move to the Yuma and Tucson sectors of the border, but had few other details on the deployment.
A reporter asked why the guard was out if they didn't have details.
"We did this press briefing with the governor," Thacker responded.
Democrat running for governor criticizes Ducey
A Democratic candidate for governor, David Garcia, issued a statement after Ducey's appearance at the base, noting that apprehensions at the border are declining and suggesting the event was a staged photo op.
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He said it was meant to distract from the criticism the governor has received about education funding.
"No one is invading the United States," Garcia said. "As a vet, I condemn Ducey and Trump, neither of whom served, for using Arizona military personnel as political props in this ridiculous cry for attention. Troops on the border aren’t keeping Arizona safer."
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