Posted on Aug 1, 2014
Capt Brandon Charters
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From USA Today: Luis Manuel Cruz, 57, lives in a small house on a bluff overlooking the Rio Grande. Nearly every day, groups of undocumented migrants from Mexico wander across the field and onto this street. Sometimes they trek through his backyard. Other times they try to get into his house to evade Border Patrol agents. Just as quickly as the federal agents haul them away, a new group appears, he said.

"National Guard troops will be welcomed in his neighborhood. They should've been here a long time ago. People don't realize the danger we're in here with so many people coming through."

-Luis Cruz

If you could choose a solution here, what would it be, and would you mobilize the National Guard?
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Responses: 2
COL Strategic Plans and Policy
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Good question Brandon. I don't think we could find a single or simple solution. This problem set is very complex, and requires the competencies and expertise of multiple government agencies at the federal, State and local levels, private sector, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, academia and others. In other words, a whole-of-government or whole-of-community approach. Governors, Mayors and law enforcement agencies have a responsibility to protect our citizens from terrorists and criminals - whether they are already here, or entering our country legally or illegally. On the other hand, our country cannot turn a blind eye to unaccompanied minors who simply want to escape a life of poverty, crime and despair in their own countries. As a nation, we have too much heart and empathy to turn them away. This is primarily a challenge for law enforcement and social service agencies, but they can't do it without significant resources and help from other stakeholders. The National Guard can only be a small part of a larger, more comprehensive strategy that includes economic, diplomatic, and informational/social elements of our national power. This debate will probably be a large part of the upcoming presidential race.
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LTC Ray B. (Ret)
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Mobilizing the TANG is the correct course of action. The situation at the board affects national security and must board security must be established in order to maintain rule of law. The NG provides the support required to maintain 24/7 surveillance in order to respond to illegal entry into the US.
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