Renzi Calls for State Border Guard Units

Requests State Dept. open Dialogue with Mexico on Military Incursions WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Rick Renzi (AZ-1) yesterday on Fox News' "The Big Story with John Gibson" called for state border guard units to help increase security along America's border with Mexico. Renzi raised the issue after media reports stated that Mexican military units had crossed the U.S. border more than 200 times, sometimes engaging in armed standoffs with local law enforcement authorities and U.S. Border Patrol agents. Congressman Renzi also sent a letter to the U.S. State Department requesting an immediate dialogue with the Mexican government to determine the validity of the reports, and to prevent such incursions in the future. "These reports of Mexican military units providing armed escorts to drug and human smuggling operations represent narco-terror in its purest form," said Congressman Renzi. "Our borders are under attack by sophisticated organizations that have no qualms about firing upon our border patrol units. These recent reports highlight the changing nature of the border security issue. As we get tougher and more committed, so do the organizations committed to smuggling death and terror across our borders. It is time for a new strategy. States like Arizona should be able to supplement federal border enforcement with federally financed state border guard units. Border States are tired of waiting for a secure border. States have a better ability to react quickly to these new border threats because the federal government is unable to graduate enough new agents from its academies to meet this growing problem."