1. Why did President Obama this week order 1,200 National Guard troops be sent to the U.S.-Mexico border to boost security?

2. How much money will the President request Congress approve for border protection and law enforcement activities?

3. a) What activities/responsibilities/duties will the National Guard troops carry out while deployed on the border?
b) The reporter states (in para. 14) that some of the troops will be armed, but others will not.  Do you think unarmed troops should be used at the border? Explain your answer.

4. What have politicians in border states called for National Guard troops to do?

5. How did Arizona Senator John McCain react to the President's order to deploy 1,200 troops to the border?

6. How is the situation in border areas different now compared to when President Bush deployed the National Guard, according to Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords?

7. The Obama administration believes that a reform of federal immigration law needs to happen before addressing the illegal immigration in individual states. It is assumed that he ordered troops to be deployed because of a huge public outcry. Do you support the deployment of National Guard troops to assist Border Patrol in securing the border? Explain your answer.