Borderland Lawmakers, Law Enforcement Officials Worry Over President’s Plan

EL PASO, TX – President Bush is expected to unveil a new border security plan, and it’s one that’s generating some controversy among Borderland lawmakers and law enforcement officials.

President Bush will appear on national television Monday evening. He isexpected to unveil a plan that involves deplying thousands of national guardsmen to the U.S./Mexico border in an effort to put a tourniquet on a border flooded by illegal immigrants.

The U.S. congressman who represents the greater part of the El Paso area has told ABC-7 the plan could create more problems than it would fix. Rep. Silvestre Reyes said the plan could backfire, altogether.

“Nothing else had been thought out,” Reyes said. “[The administration] couldn’t explain what the rules of engagement were going to be, they don’t know where the troops were coming from, they didn’t know what kind of training they were going to provide.”

Reyes points to other questions he says are unanswered, and has asked if the guardsmen be under state or federal regulation.

El Paso County Sheriff Leo Aamaniego is also coming out against the plan. Sheriff Samaniego tells ABC-7, “I’m concerned this decision is being based on polling as opposed to looking at it from a law enforcement perspective.”

He goes on to say, it is an attempt to sway opinion polls. Samaniego adds, “Once again[Washington] DCdecision makers forgot to talk to the folks with boots on the ground, local border law enforcement officials…we need law enforcement help!”

ABC-7 will have complete, in-depth coverage on the president’s speech which will be carried live starting at six o’clock.