Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry Sending National Guard Troops To U.S.-Mexican Border

Friday, July 7th 2006, 12:30 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ National Guard troops from Oklahoma will head to New Mexico and western Texas beginning Saturday to help in a federal effort to improve security along the U.S. border with Mexico, Gov. Brad Henry said Friday.

Oklahoma is one of several states complying with President Bush's request for National Guard troops to slow the tide of illegal immigration across America's southern border.

``We have to secure our borders and beef up enforcement to protect our country, particularly in the post 9-11 world,'' Henry said. ``I'm proud to send Oklahoma troops to assist President Bush with his efforts to improve border enforcement and stop the flow of illegal immigrants.''

Under a memorandum of agreement with the Defense Department, more than 300 Oklahoma Guard troops will take part in the mission over the next three months. Henry signed the agreement late Thursday.

The Oklahoma Army and Air Guard soldiers will conduct ground and aerial surveillance to help locate illegal immigrants and assist with construction of fences and other structures designed to improve border enforcement. The state also will dispatch several Black Hawk helicopters to help carry out the mission.