NBC: Bush may deploy Guard along U.S. border

WASHINGTON - As the White House prepared for President Bush to address the nation on immigration, sources told NBC News on Friday that the Pentagon could deploy as many as 5,000 National Guard troops to the country’s southwest borders to stem the flow of illegal immigrants.

The White House said it was seeking time from television networks for the president’s remarks on Monday at 8 p.m. ET. Bush, trying to build momentum for legislation that could provide millions of illegal immigrants a chance to become American citizens, is to speak from the Oval Office.

“This is crunch time,” Tony Snow, the new White House press secretary, told reporters.

Senate passage of the legislation appears assured, but many House Republicans oppose allowing illegal immigrants now in the country a chance at citizenship. The deployment of military troops to stem the flow of more illegal immigrants could be a way to ease that opposition.

The legislation includes provisions for additional border security, a new guest worker program and eventual citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country.

Compromise in the Senate
The measure was bogged down by opposition for weeks before Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee and Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., agreed on a procedural compromise that gives the bill’s critics ample opportunity to offer amendments. It also offers assurances to Democrats that Senate negotiators will not simply capitulate to demands of House conservatives in talks on compromise legislation later in the year.

Nearly everyone except House Republicans seemed pleased.

“We congratulate the Senate on reaching agreement and we look forward to passage of a bill prior to Memorial Day,” said Dana Perino, deputy White House press secretary, said on Thursday. Reid and Frist exchanged compliments on the Senate floor, and Mexico’s foreign secretary said in a statement that the deal was a “positive step toward the approval of a migration accord.”

But many House Republicans criticized the Senate’s bill as an amnesty measure. Putting National Guard troops on the border could serve as a way to appease conservatives.

White House strategist Karl Rove met with lawmakers earlier in the week, and at least one session included a discussion about this. Some lawmakers said at the time that they expected Bush to announce border security improvements next week, possibly in a speech in Arizona or another border states.

Gov. Janet Napilitano, D-Ariz., has asked Bush and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld in the past to provide guard assistance. Rumsfeld earlier this week ordered Assistant Secretary of Defense of Homeland Security Paul McHale to review options for the National Guard and Reserve, as well as active duty forces, NBC News reported.

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