A Customs and Border Patrol agent monitors where the fence ends along the international border Tuesday, April 10, 2018 near Nogales, Ariz. The Republican governors of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico on Monday committed 1,600 Guard members to the border, giving President Donald Trump many of the troops he requested to fight what he's called a crisis of migrant crossings and crime. (AP Photo/Matt York)
April 13, 2018 - 3:07 PM
NOGALES, Ariz. - Authorities say 60 of 338 Arizona National Guard members who will be deployed for President Donald Trump's plan for troops at the U.S.-Mexico border have arrived at the border town of Nogales.
Chief Border Patrol Agent Rodolfo Karisch of the U.S. Border Control's Tucson Sector and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday said the troops' arrival does not represent border militarization.
Trump wants to send up to 4,000 National Guard members to the border to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Karisch and Ducey say the Arizona contingent will perform support roles such as road repair, aerial surveillance and camera operation.
They say that will free up Border Patrol agents to concentrate on law enforcement.
National guard members from California, New Mexico and Texas will also participate in the effort.
News from © The Associated Press, 2018