Giffords again asks for National Guard to 'secure' border

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Wednesday again asked President Obama to deploy the National Guard to secure the Mexican border.

"Deployment of the National Guard is an essential first step to reassure border residents of our commitment to their safety and security" Giffords said on the floor of the House of Representatives.

It is the fourth time in recent weeks Giffords has made the request, which comes in the wake of the March 27 killing of rancher  Robert Krentz.

"Much has been done to improve border security, but our border is not yet secure," Giffords said.

Krentz was found shot to death on his Douglas-area ranch one day after a report by his brother resulted in the arrest of eight people and seizure of 290 pounds of marijuana.

Investigators followed a set of footprints through the desert to the border, leading many to infer that Krentz was killed by a Mexican smuggler or illegal immigrant.

Krentz's death was often cited in the debate leading to the passage of Arizona's strict new anti-illegal immigration law, SB1070 and HB2162.