Lack of comprehensive border security strategy hampers National Guard: GAO

A new GAO report says that that fact that there is no comprehensive security strategy for the U.S.-Mexico border makes it difficult for the Pentagon effectively to use the National Guard units assigned to help the Border Patrol guard the border.

The new report says defense officials are “concerned about ‘mission creep’” because border security is not a core mission of the National Guard.

The 2006-8 Operation Jump Start saw as many as 6,000 soldiers positioned along the U.S.-Mexico border. Currently there are 1,140 guardsmen along the border, with about 500 in Arizona. The GAO reported that the two missions have cost $1.35 billion. The latest extension is expected to cost $35 million.

The report highlights these issues about the role of the U.S. National Guard on the border:

• Militarized border — officials from the Departments of State and Defense told the GAO that having the National Guard on the border creates a perception of a “militarized” border, “especially in light of efforts by the State Department and the Department of Justice to help support civilian law enforcement institutions in Mexico to address crime and border issues.”
• Expanded patrols by the Guard would be manpower-heavy — , the GAO found it would take twice the people to expand Guard duties to include patrols in high-trafficking areas, because Guard soldiers must work in pairs, whereas Border Patrol agents can work alone.
• Toll on National Guard — defense officials told the GAO that having so many guardsmen tied to one mission reduces their availability for other missions, such as helping in natural disasters. Also, the use of out-of-state guardsmen for long-term missions in involuntary status may harm future recruitment and retention.

— Read more in “Observations on the Costs and Benefits of an Increased Department of Defense Role in Helping to Secure the Southwest Land Border” (GAO-11-856R 12 September 2011)