Nall Opposes National Guard Troops on Mexican Border

Libertarian Party nominee Loretta Nall said she objects to using the Guard to militarize the border with the peaceful neighbor. "The last thing I want to do is make it more like a police state," she said.

Instead, she advocates embracing illegal immigrants who are working in the United States. "We should naturalize them and make them part of the tax base," she said.


Riley, Moore support use of National Guard along Mexican border

By PHILLIP RAWLS
Associated Press Writer
Montgomery Advertiser

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Republican Gov. Bob Riley and his opponent, former Chief Justice Roy Moore, voiced support Monday for President Bush's plan to use the National Guard along the Mexican border.

"If we'd done this years ago, we'd have put a stop to illegal immigration," Riley said.

But some candidates for governor are concerned about using the National Guard in a major border role, particularly with 500 Alabama National Guard deployed overseas, 300 in training to go, and 200 scheduled to mobilize in June and July.

Chip Hill, a spokesman for former Democratic Gov. Don Siegelman, said, "He would never agree for the Alabama National Guard to be used as border patrol agents on the Mexican border."

Democratic Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley said using the National Guard should only be temporary.

"I believe long-range planning should be something other than continuing to increase the demands on the citizen soldiers, which make it very difficult on their family lives and professional careers," she said.

Bush is planning to use the Guard to support the Border Patrol while it builds up its resources to protect the 2,000-mile border with Mexico.

A spokesman for Alabama's National Guard said there has been no word on whether any Alabama units might be involved.

In Alabama, the governor names the Guard's top officer, the adjutant general, and calls out the Guard to help after natural disasters, such as hurricanes.

Libertarian Party nominee Loretta Nall said she objects to using the Guard to militarize the border with the peaceful neighbor. "The last thing I want to do is make it more like a police state," she said.

Instead, she advocates embracing illegal immigrants who are working in the United States. "We should naturalize them and make them part of the tax base," she said.


Riley issued a statement saying he doesn't know the specifics of Bush's plan, but "I do support placing military forces on our border. When I served in Congress, I voted to authorize the placement of military troops on our border, so I'm glad to see we're finally moving in that direction."

As for Alabama's Guard, Riley said he sees no significant impact because any deployment would be a national effort.

Moore, who faces Riley in the Republican primary on June 6, has been critical of Bush's handling of the illegal immigration issue, but now thinks he's waking up to the problem.

"I'm glad he's suddenly realizing the policy we've been pursuing the last five or six years has been detrimental to our society," he said.

Moore, who spent five years in the active Army and one year in the Reserves, believes the Guard can handle the extra responsibility.

"It is the duty of the federal government to defend our borders from an invasion, whether it's a foreign army or a foreign nationality," Moore said.

Moore is among those who see another part of Bush's plan, the guest worker program, as an amnesty program for those who entered the United States illegally.

"We've got to be very careful not to pretend to right a wrong with another wrong which will further damage our society," Moore said in an interview.

Siegelman's spokesman said the former Democratic governor has no problem with states that border Mexico using their National Guard units to protect the border or with the national military doing it, but he doesn't believe non-border states should be involved.

"It's the Mexican border. It's not the border of Alabama," Hill said.

In Alabama, Siegelman would advocate rounding up illegal immigrants, sending them home and punishing the businesses that hired them, Hill said.

Siegelman faces Baxley and five other Democrats in the primary election June 6.

Baxley said Monday she's glad to see the president act.

"Securing our country's borders is the responsibility of the federal government, and any action by the president in this matter is long overdue," she said.

Baxley said long-term enforcement is needed along the Mexican border, but long-range planning must provide for the replacement of the Guard..