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Command Partner W. Ralph Basham was featured in the Washington Post’s July 21st article on Texas Governor Rick Perry’s recent action to send National Guardsmen to the Mexican border in reaction to the influx of illegal immigrants from the Central American region. Under the Bush administration, 6,000 guardsmen were active for two years in several Southern border states under the program Operation Jump Start. While serving as Commissioner of U.S Customs and Border Protection from 2006 to 2009, Basham recalls the importance of a sharply defined role between state law enforcement and federal authorities.

The National Guard was an interim resource as we were literally doubling the size of the Border patrol. Their mission really was as observers. They have no arrest authority.

To read the full article, please go to: Washington Post