Border Patrol process hundreds of migrants on Dec. 5, 2023. Many are from African countries — Senegal, Guinea and Mauritania — and a smaller number are from India and Central and South America. Many say they came through a cut in the border wall.Governor Katie Hobbs' order said the National Guard will assist the Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement agencies with duties that include fentanyl interdiction, analytical support, and human trafficking enforcement.
Erin Hannigan with the Department of Emergency Management says they’re still determining how many members will be deployed and how they’ll be supporting DPS.
“Our goal and our effort in providing them support is to only increase their effectiveness of their current resources,” Hannigan says. “We do this through multiple avenues, especially the logistical and administrative support in order to be able to have those law enforcement officers that have the authority to conduct law enforcement duties do their job.”
DPS doesn’t assist with the influx of migrants, but rather patrols highways and can pull over people suspected of human and drug smuggling.
The governor's office did not return multiple requests for more details.
DPS says it will provide "an enhanced uniformed presence in the vicinity of the Lukeville Port of Entry." Spokesperson Bart Graves said specific operations will vary from day to day, and they will not discuss operations, plans, tactics, or strategy.
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