Hayworth Statement on Governor Napolitano's Decision to Expand AZ Guard Presence at Border

WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman J.D. Hayworth issued the following statement on Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano's executive order to expand the Arizona National Guard's presence on the border with Mexico. "Janet Napolitano is trying desperately to have it both ways. In September she declared a state of emergency on security-related grounds yet refused to call out the Guard. Has that ever happened before? Now she wants to call out the Guard without really calling out the Guard, saying they won't be there to 'militarize' the border. But guess what? The border has already been militarized by the drug smugglers and coyotes. It is real simple. If deploying troops was good enough to deal with Hurricane Katrina, then it is surely good enough to deal with the border, which has far greater national security implications. A phony expansion won't cut it with Arizonans, who have had enough and want something done." "Sadly, this is the same old song and dance we've come to expect from the Governor. She has the power to use the Guard to deal with this problem forcefully, yet she refuses to take appropriate action to protect the state, which is no one's fault but her own."