Richardson deploys New Mexico Guard on border
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has ordered his state's National Guard to patrol the border with Mexico.
Richardson made the move Wednesday, following Saturday's shooting of Arizona rancher Robert Krentz, allegedly by an illegal alien.
Richardson also requested more federal law enforcement along the border.
“I want residents in Southern New Mexico to know we are taking this border violence very seriously," Richardson said in a news release.
The El Paso Times reported that guardsmen will assist the Border Patrol by surveilling the border:
Soldiers will be assisting the U.S. Border Patrol by setting up surveillance in counter-drug efforts in the desert along the border, said a spokesman for the state's National Guard.
"Basically, it is just assisting them with observation and giving them a lot more eyes on the border," Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera said.
New Mexico officials will not release the number of guardsmen who will be deployed, citing security concerns.