CBP Official: National Guard Troops Will Help Agents at Border Read Newsmax: CBP Off
 

CBP Official: National Guard Troops Will Help Agents at Border
BY: Sandy Fitzgerald - NewsMax - 7-9-19
RE: https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/cb.../09/id/923843/

Bringing 1,000 more Texas National Guard troops to the nation's border would "absolutely" help get Border Patrol agents back to their law enforcement duties, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner Robert Perez said Tuesday.

"This latest was requested specifically to help support our ongoing humanitarian crisis," Perez told Fox News' "America's Newsroom," including deploying some to additional facilities that are going up later this month to deal with overcrowding at Border Patrol stations.

Agents now must manage the ongoing humanitarian challenges, as well as with the criminal element, said Perez.

"There are alien smuggling organizations that continue to exploit those loopholes by way of moving these incredibly vulnerable populations, particularly children, through our borders," said Perez. "They are using children as virtual passports, and at times, even recycling them. (There are) other criminal elements, gang members, smugglers, that we absolutely need to deal with on a daily basis. Our military partners alongside us will help us perform that mission."

Currently, the top priority at the border is working on both near-term and long-term solutions to the crisis, said Perez.

Now, Congress must focus on the legal loopholes that are being exploited and fix them, said Perez. Meanwhile, migration numbers have dropped between May and June, and Perez said that there are a combination of factors for that, including the agreement that was made with Mexico and the continuing efforts made by the United States.

"Make no mistake about it, even at a 25% drop, which is what we expected to see in June versus May, that is still over 100,000 apprehensions at our border," said Perez. "We are still in a crisis. We absolutely need to continue to address this."