New Delhi: US President George W Bush announced that he will be sending up to 6,000 troops on the US-Mexico border.
In recent months, he has faced mounting criticism from conservative allies to take a tougher stand against illegal immigration.
"Our objective is straightforward: The border should be open to trade and lawful immigration and shut to illegal immigrants, as well as criminals, drug dealers and terrorists," says Bush.
Bush wants to deploy the National Guard -- the component of the US army that is reserved for domestic emergencies. The only problem is that most of the National Guard has already been sent to Iraq.
"How much more are we going to ask our National Guard? They have shown they will do everything asked of them to protect and defend this Nation. They have demonstrated that in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Gulf Coast after Katrina, but our Guards and reserves are stretched dangerously thin," says Democratic Senator from Illinois, Richard Durban.
The government faced nationwide protests earlier this month when it introduced a law that automatically made illegal immigrants felons.
Bush has to tread carefully. He has backed a program to make illegal immigrants US citizens. He has also ruled out mass deportations.
But at the end of the day, his decision has pleased no one. Democrats argue that the national guard will be stretched to its limits.
Conservatives aren't happy with Bush's plan to make illegal immigrants US citizens. And Mexico is none too pleased with the militarisation of the border.
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