Three states pledge 1,600 troops for Trump’s border fight

Governor Doug Ducey speaks to Arizona National Guard soldiers prior to deployment to the Mexico border Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas have pledged to send about 1,600 National Guard members to the US-Mexico border, responding to President Donald Trump's plan to use the military to help fight illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Texas governor Greg Abbott said he would add about 300 troops a week to the 250 members of the National Guard whose deployment was announced on Friday until the total number reaches at least 1,000 troops.

Arizona, Texas send 400 troops to border after Trump’s call

In this Friday, Jan. 19, 2007 file photo, a National Guard unit patrols the Arizona-Mexico border in Sasabe, Ariz. On Friday, April 6, 2018, Arizona and Texas announced that they were preparing to deploy National Guard members to the U.S.-Mexico border in response to President Donald Trump's call for more border security.

‘Eyes and ears’: Past Guard border deployments offer clues

The U.S. National Guard faces a vastly different environment than it did on its last two deployments to the border with Mexico, with far fewer illegal crossings and more Central Americans than Mexicans coming. Still, its role is shaping up much the same: moving more Border Patrol agents from behind-the-scenes jobs to the front lines.

Trump directs troops deployed to border

Asserting the situation had reached "a point of crisis," President Donald Trump signed a proclamation directing the deployment of the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border to fight illegal immigration and drug smuggling. "The lawlessness that continues at our southern border is fundamentally incompatible with the safety, security, and sovereignty of the American people," Trump wrote Wednesday in a memo authorizing the move, adding that his administration had "no choice but to act."

‘A point of crisis’: Trump directs troops deployed to border

Asserting the situation had reached "a point of crisis," President Donald Trump signed a proclamation directing the deployment of the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border to fight illegal immigration and drug smuggling. "The lawlessness that continues at our southern border is fundamentally incompatible with the safety, security, and sovereignty of the American people," Trump wrote Wednesday in a memo authorizing the move, adding that his administration had "no choice but to act."

Trump signs proclamation authorizing National Guard to southern border

Speaking at the White House Wednesday to follow up on President Donald Trump's surprise announcement that he would order the military to help secure the southern border, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen refused to detail the size, scope or cost of a planned deployment of National Guard troops, but said it was hoped they could be deployed "immediately" as early as Wednesday night. Wednesday evening, a senior administration official said the president had signed a proclamation authorizing the National Guard to assist the border patrol.

Trump, stymied on wall, to send troops to U.S.-Mexico border

President Donald Trump, unable to get the U.S. Congress or Mexico to fully fund his border wall, will post National Guard troops along the Mexican frontier, officials said on Wednesday, in a move that was likely to escalate tensions with a key U.S. ally. The Trump administration was working with the governors of the four southwestern U.S. states along the border to deploy the Guard, said Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, adding that the troops would not be involved in law enforcement.

Trump signs proclamation directing troops to secure border

To continue reading this premium story, you need to become a member. Click below to take advantage of an exclusive offer for new members: In this June 13, 2006, file photo, Utah National Guard soldiers work on extending a border fence in San Luis, Ariz., President Donald Trump said April 3, 2018, he wants to use the military to secure the U.S.-Mexico border until his promised border wall is built.

Trump to sign order sending National Guard to Mexican border

President Donald Trump and border-state governors are working to "immediately" deploy the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border to fight illegal immigration, with some troops potentially arriving later Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said. "The threat is real," Nielsen said at an afternoon briefing, adding that Trump was signing a proclamation to put the deployment into effect.

Trump says ‘strong action’ coming on immigration

President Donald Trump pledged "strong action today" on immigration, a day after he said he wants to use the military to secure the U.S.-Mexico border until his "big, beautiful wall" is erected. In an early-morning tweet Wednesday, Trump said "Our Border Laws are very weak" and said Democrats "stand in our way" of new laws.

President Donald Trump is discussing the idea with the US Defence Secretary

Frustrated by slow action on a major campaign promise, US president Donald Trump has said he wants to use the military to secure the US-Mexico border until his promised border wall is built. "We're going to be doing things militarily.

Thousands mourn firefighter killed in Iraq helicopter crash

Hundreds gathered at a Long Island church Saturday morning to honor an FDNY member-turned-soldier who was killed in a military helicopter crash in Iraq. Close friends, family and colleagues of Air National Guard flight engineer and FDNY lieutenant Christopher J. Raguso wore pins with a black ribbon and American Flag to ensure a spot inside the small St. Joseph's Church in Kings Park.

Sources: 106th Rescue Wing members killed in Iraq helicopter crash

New York Air National Guard flight engineer Christopher J. Raguso, a lieutenant with Commack fire and the FDNY, identified as one of the victims. Members of the 106th Rescue Wing of the Air National Guard stationed at Francis Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach were among those killed Thursday in the crash of a U.S. helicopter in Iraq, sources said.

National Guardsman who threatened to kill Mike Pence sentenced

A Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for threatening to kill Vice President Mike Pence. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, three witnesses said Dunbar made the statements days before the vice president, a former governor of Indiana, was set to appear as a keynote speaker at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa., on Sept.