Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) released a statement following the introduction of the Southwest Border Protection Act of 2014 Tuesday:
"The drastic increase of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) being apprehended and detained by federal agents along our southwestern border is causing resources to be diverted away from other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) missions," said Schweikert. "This diversion is stretching the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) thin and causing a troubling impact on our national security. That is unacceptable."
"The Southwest Border Protection Act of 2014 would assist in refocusing our border security programs and secure DHS and CBP's focus on illegal smuggling of drugs, individuals, and other transnational criminal activities, said Schweikert."
The Southwest Border Protection Act calls for the deployment of at least 10,000 members of the U.S. National Guard at the request of any Governor of a State that shares a portion of the international border between the U.S. and Mexico. Guardsmen and women would serve as support for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations, and remain in place until we have obtained control of our southern border.