President Obama to send more National Guard troops to U.S.-Mexico border (2010)

[oberliner]

President Obama will deploy 1,200 National Guard troops and request an extra $500 million to secure the Mexican border, his administration said Tuesday, a move dismissed by Republicans as insufficient to win their cooperation on an overhaul of the nation's immigration system.

By reinforcing the 340 Guard members already monitoring border crossings and analyzing intelligence, the initiative echoes 2006's Operation Jump Start, in which President George W. Bush devoted 6,000 guardsmen to a two-year commitment in support of the Border Patrol.

Then, as now, the troop deployment was fueled by heightened concerns about lawlessness -- then it was illegal immigration, now it is drug traffickers -- as well as political maneuvering in Washington to lay the groundwork for an effort to change immigration policy. But the issue remains bitterly contentious, with increasing pressure on Obama and lawmakers from both Latino supporters and conservative activists.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/25/AR2010052503227.html

[John Fante]

1. False equivalence fail.

Obama was working on a creating a bipartisan path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants at the time. Securing the border in this manner was a concession he made to wary Republicans.

Demonizing brown people (Trump's speciality) was the furthest thing from Obama's mind.

[oberliner]

5. There is no equivalency being suggested here

The point is that Trump is lying when he says that National Guard troops have never been deployed at the border before.

[NCTraveler]

2. Obama has always been strong on border enforcement...

And comprehensive immigration reform. I wish three more senators would have joined with he and most Democrats in ‘06 and ‘07. It would be a different ballgame today.

[oberliner]

6. Agreed

There was a lot of potential at that time for real positive sustained change if Congress has the will.

[Kingofalldems]

3. Kick for utter failure.

[NCTraveler]

4. .

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. I read PBO only sent 1,200 and they largely did clerical work.

[oberliner]

12. Here are some details about the program under Obama

Army National Guard Operation Phalanx


The Army National Guard (ARNG) established Operation Phalanx in July 2010, based on an Executive Order from President Obama authorizing up to 1,200 Soldiers and Airmen along the 1,933-mile southwest border in support of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. Operation Phalanx is the successor operation to Operation Jump Start, which was declared by former President Bush authorizing up to 6,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from 2006 through 2008. Operation Phalanx, scheduled to end in June 2011, provides support primarily from the Southwest Border States of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

What has the National Guard done'

The National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to Operation Phalanx have been serving as a force multiplier for the U.S. Border Patrol by spotting border intrusions and providing technical support. The National Guard has performed tasks such as ground surveillance, criminal investigative analysis, command and control, mobile communications, transportation, logistics, and training support.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicates that since Operation Phalanx began last July, the National Guard has helped with the seizure of more than 14,000 pounds of drugs, the apprehension of more than 7,000 illegal immigrants, and the confiscation of millions of dollars in illicit currency.

https://www.army.mil/article/56819/army_national_guard_operation_phalanx

[oberliner]

9. I wouldn't call Obama's plan an utter failure

It was somewhat successful in some respects- although I agree that he did the right thing when he finally abandoned the operation.

[Kingofalldems]

11. Not talking about Obama's plan at all.

[oberliner]

13. Then I agree with you that Trump's "plan" is bound to be an utter failure

Since it involves none of the detailed planning and thoughtful analysis of Obama's plan.

[uponit7771]

7. WhatAboutIs'n at its best, Obama wasn't an overt racist bastard

[oberliner]

10. The point is that Trump is lying

He is claiming that sending the National Guard to the border has never been done before, and, in reality, it has.

[MineralMan]

14. A fine line you're walking, there...

[oberliner]

15. Trump is just a flat out liar

He says demonstrably false things every day.

He claimed his plan to put troops on the border is extraordinary, something the US "has never done before".

This is total BS.

[GulfCoast66]

16. I do not know your motives, but this needs to be pointed out.

I have increasingly become concerned that we are allowing Trump to set our agenda due to our white hot hatred of him.

Democrats need to be seen as strong on border security while being humane at the same time.

If Trump’s racism on the border issues push us to oppose a strong boarder we will lose.

Very few Americans support open borders. That means we will be deporting people for the foreseeable future. Just like President Obama did.

And until we get a reasonable guest worker program that reduces unauthorized entries Americans will not support any amnesty plan. Except for Dreamers of course. Large majorities support them now.

[oberliner]

17. 1. Trump is lying 2. Obama admin worked to secure the border effectively

Firstly, Trump cannot get away with consistently saying false things. He is claiming that no admin has ever sent Nat Guard troops to the border. This is demonstrably false which the article I have posted shows.

Secondly, the actions Obama took were smart and measured and led to great progress being made with respect to securing the border. This is something he never seems to get any credit for.

[GulfCoast66]

18. I am pretty much agreeing with you...

Because the facts support it.

My concern is that we let trump push us as a party from support for secure borders with very compassionate exceptions to diametrical opposition to everything trump; meaning lax enforcement at the border or blanket amnesty.

That will cost us the house.