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 / Modified apr 9, 2018 12:41 p.m.

338 National Guard Troops to be Deployed to Border, Sheriff Says

Troops will provide support for federal law enforcement agents, governor tells border sheriffs.

Border guard ducey Gov. Doug Ducey with National Guard members being deployed to the Arizona-Mexico border, April 9, 2018.
Gov. Doug Ducey via Twitter

The Pima County Sheriff's Department in a media release Monday said the initial deployment of National Guard troops to the Arizona-Mexico border will eventually reach 338.

The announcement came as a result of a conference call between border sheriffs and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, the release said. Initial numbers from the governor on Monday said 225 guard members were already on their way, up from a projected 150 the previous week. In a tweet, the governor said additional guard members would be deployed Tuesday.

The media release from the Pima County sheriff said communications with the governor's office suggested that the deployment was not an effort to "militarize the border," but rather to provide additional resources. It also said the guard troops would not be used in an "enforcement role" but instead would function as support for personnel and resource deployment.

The deployment of the National Guard is in support of President Donald Trump's call for troops to fight drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

Trump said last week he wants to send 2,000 to 4,000 National Guard members to the border.

Santa Cruz county is the smallest border county and most active according to Sheriff Tony Estrada who says there are about 1,000 border and customs agents working in his county, and he doesn't see a need for more.

"We don't have a crisis, as far as I can tell. That seems to be the message that has come across from Washington," Estrada said. "I don't believe that we are facing a crisis here in Santa Cruz County"

Texas has also said it will send National Guard members to the border.

Trump has said he wants to use the military at the border until progress is made on his proposed border wall, which has mostly stalled in Congress.

The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.

MORE: Border, Law Enforcement, News
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