August 25, 2014 6:11 PM

National Guard deployment along the Rio Grande is now underway

Lt. Gov. Dewhurst pushes back against arguments from some business leaders on the border who worry about economic fallout from surge

BASTROP – The “force multiplier” for the border surge touted by Gov. Perry and other members of the state’s Republican leadership is now becoming a reality as up to 1,000 Texas National Guard troops begin to leave their training station in the central part of the state not far from Austin and head for the Rio Grande Valley.

Major Gen. John F. Nichols, Texas' adjutant general, confirmed to reporters during a news conference Monday at Camp Swift that the deployment is now underway. Though he would not give specific numbers, Nichols said fewer than 700 troops are now training at the installation north of Bastrop and south of Elgin. More than 300 are either on the border or on their way, Nichols said.

About two weeks ago, the Texas Senate Finance Committee heard testimony that 700 of those National Guardsmen were receiving their training in Central Texas. So, things are moving along – even if it’s at a slower pace than some might expect given the urgent tone of Gov. Perry’s pronouncements about the situation.

"We're all going to be there very shortly," Nichols said, again not getting into the specifics of how shortly that might actually be.

"Texas is not as safe as it should be because of the failure of the federal government to secure our border," Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said after receiving a briefing from military commanders at Camp Swift. Dewhurst told reporters that he could easily see the stepped up presence of DPS troopers along the border along with the deployment of National Guard lasting well into next year. That squares with the prior testimony of Gen. Nichols.