El Centro Sector Border Patrol welcomes National Guard troops

El Centro Sector Border Patrol welcomed 51 National Guard troops on Monday as part of Operation Guardian Support that will ultimately provide a total of 73 Guard members.

Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez said, “Will allow us to better secure our border and raise our interdiction effectiveness as well as our situational awareness.”

They are tasked to give support to frontline Border Patrol agents.

“Their mission will focus on targeting transnational criminal organizations, gangs, and the transportation of illegal weapons and drugs,” Chavez said.

They will help cover over 70 border miles where officials said illegal entries and smuggling have increased.

“With logistical and administrative support, they will be operating detection systems and providing mobile communications. They will be augmenting border intelligence analysis and assisting with maintaining our border infrastructure. Some will also assist with surveillance as camera operators,” Chavez said.

It’s a role mostly behind the scenes, but just as vital.

“They will be assisting from behind so that our agents are able to get to the frontline and do the border security work,” Chavez said.

Calexico City Council Member Bill Hodge is not happy about it.

“It opens up a Pandora’s box. I think it irritates and intimidates and scares many people and angers many people. And you have the possibility of squaring off and having violence in our communities. I don’t think it’s a very good thing, their presence,” Hodge said.

He plans to ask the council to give an official rejection of the troops.

“Yes, I do. I think it’s necessary that officially and publicly that the people know where their city officials stand,” Hodge said.

Border Patrol officials said the troops are here on a temporary basis only. No date on when they would complete their mission was given.