Arizona Governor wants troops on Mexico Border
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano said she is prepared to use state money to send National
Guard troops to the Arizona-Mexico border to crack down on illegal immigration if the
Pentagon declines to pick up the bill.
It was the first time the governor has said she would be willing to use state money. In
December, Napolitano said her plan would be impossible without complete federal funding.
But Republicans have since charged that her position gave the Democratic governor an
escape clause, allowing her to talk tough in an election year while not actually doing
anything about the border problem.
Arizona is the nation's busiest illegal entry point, and the state feels the federal
government is not doing enough to stop it. Napolitano has proposed expanding the National
Guard's border presence
March 4, 2006 - In Phoenix, more than 50 people accused of sneaking into the country in
furniture trucks were charged with conspiring with human smugglers in the first test of a
new Arizona law that allows illegal immigrants to be prosecuted if they pay someone to
transport them. They could face up to 2 years in prison. |