WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Friday rebuffed Texas Gov. Rick Perry's calls for more federally paid National Guard troops to combat threatened spillover violence along the Texas-Mexico border.
Napolitano insisted federal law enforcement is adequate and governors can call up National Guard troops at state expense at any time.
Napolitano's comments were the latest riposte in politically charged exchanges between Texas' Republican governor and the Obama administration dating back to Perry's call for 1,000 federally paid National Guard troops 20 months ago.
President Obama ordered 250 National Guard troops to the Texas border at federal expense in August as part of an emergency call up of 1,200 troops for duty along the U.S.-Mexico border.
But the administration has resisted calls for additional troops, citing a $600 million buildup of federal law-enforcement personnel and technology in response to Mexican drug wars that have claimed more than 28,000 lives in Mexico over the last four years.
"We have been putting resources into the border at an unprecedented rate," Napolitano said at a luncheon with reporters. "Civilian law enforcement is being plussed up all along the border."
Napolitano rejects Texas call for troops
Remember this - SHE is only following HER bosses wishes. And guess who that is?
Napolitano insisted federal law enforcement is adequate and governors can call up National Guard troops at state expense at any time.
Napolitano's comments were the latest riposte in politically charged exchanges between Texas' Republican governor and the Obama administration dating back to Perry's call for 1,000 federally paid National Guard troops 20 months ago.
President Obama ordered 250 National Guard troops to the Texas border at federal expense in August as part of an emergency call up of 1,200 troops for duty along the U.S.-Mexico border.
But the administration has resisted calls for additional troops, citing a $600 million buildup of federal law-enforcement personnel and technology in response to Mexican drug wars that have claimed more than 28,000 lives in Mexico over the last four years.
"We have been putting resources into the border at an unprecedented rate," Napolitano said at a luncheon with reporters. "Civilian law enforcement is being plussed up all along the border."
Napolitano rejects Texas call for troops
Remember this - SHE is only following HER bosses wishes. And guess who that is?
