{"id":29694,"date":"2018-05-25T19:31:07","date_gmt":"2018-05-25T19:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/05\/25\/border-patrol-union-head-calls-national-guard-deployment-a-colossal-waste-of-time\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:40:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:40:35","slug":"border-patrol-union-head-calls-national-guard-deployment-a-colossal-waste-of-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/management\/2018\/05\/25\/border-patrol-union-head-calls-national-guard-deployment-a-colossal-waste-of-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Border Patrol union head calls National Guard deployment \u2018a colossal waste of time\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Despite Trump administration and National Guard claims of success with troop deployments to the U.S.-Mexico border<\/a>, the head of the national Border <\/a>Patrol union said the agents have \u201cseen no benefit\u201d and calls the deployments a \u201ccolossal waste of time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is according to a report by the Los Angeles Times<\/a> this week, which cited official sources with the Guard, Border Patrol, administration and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The union previously endorsed President Donald Trump during his candidacy and praised the Guard deployments, among other border security decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd told the newspaper that initially he was excited about the deployment, hoping that their presence would lessen the strained patrol\u2019s duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, he said, that\u2019s not what happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army Lt. Col. Jamie Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, told the Times that an estimated 1,600 troops were deployed and 750 more may be added. The total could reach as many as 4,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deployment is estimated to eventually cost as much as $220 million to $252 million by the end of this year, said Christopher Sherwood, another Pentagon spokesman. Those costs cover pay and support for 3,143 troops and 12,000 flying hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arizona and Texas officials with both the Border Patrol and the Guard called the troop deployment a \u201cforce multiplier\u201d but did not disclose how many agents the troop deployment had freed up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agent Chris Cabrera, a spokesman for the union\u2019s Rio Grande Valley, Texas, chapter, told the Times that troops are stationed far from the border and are duplicating rather than enhancing agents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A National Guard troop watches over Rio Grande River on the border in Roma, Texas, on April 10, 2018. (John Mone)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In response to Judd\u2019s assertions, Border Patrol Acting Chief Carla Provost told the Times that the Guard\u2019s role had changed from past deployments. She noted that the Guard troops must be paired with an agent because the agent has law enforcement authority, so officials decided to use them in more behind-the-scenes roles, including in surveillance and air support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The customary practice has been for agents to work in pairs, running aerostat blimps to monitor the area. With the addition of a Guard soldier to each team, the agents are then freed up to run more teams, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homeland Security spokeswoman Katie Waldman called the ongoing deployment a success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe third request for assistance to deploy additional Guardsmen in support of the mission to secure the southern border was recently authorized and is being implemented. More help is on the way,\u201d Waldman said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t