Ariz. Border Encounter Gets Political
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PHOENIX — Advocates for tougher immigration enforcement plan to confront the commander of the Arizona National Guard about why troops backed off recently as gunmen approached their post near the Mexican border.
Major General David Rataczak is to testify today before the state legislature’s homeland security committee in a hearing about the January 3 encounter at an observation post.
While National Guard officials and supporters say the troops did as they were supposed to, critics question the point of having the troops on the border if they can’t confront such dangers.
The encounter has broader border security implications because armed people will know the National Guard will retreat, state Rep. Warde Nichols, the committee’s chairman, said.
“From every account I can get, it appears they were testing our resolve and what our men at the border would do,” said Mr. Nichols, a Republican.
Rep. Steve Gallardo, a Democrat on the committee, said he believed immigration hard-liners would use General Rataczak’s appearance to push their agenda.
Four National Guard soldiers from Tennessee were at a lookout post at the border when they were approached by six to eight gunmen wearing bulletproof vests. One of the gunmen came within 35 feet of the observation site, according to investigators’ summaries.
