Obama: National Guard Withdrawal in February

U.S. Border Patrol Helicopter

From the Washington Examiner - The Obama Administration plans to withdraw National Guard troops from the Texas, New Mexico and California borders by the end February under a new Southwest security plan, even as turmoil in Mexican border cities grows, according to documents obtained by The Washington Examiner. A letter sent to various members of the Texas Congressional delegation from Texas' Gov. Rick Perry's office says, "In February, 2011, the Texas, New Mexico, and California National Guard forces that were deployed to the border in September, 2010, under President's Obama's Southwest Border Augmentation Plan, will have 30 days to complete a total draw down of forces." The roughly 550 troops will have the month of February to redeploy back to their units, Texas Congressman Ted Poe told The Examiner. Troops would not be pulled off the Arizona border under the plan, and about 100 of the troops would re-deploy there from other states, officials said. Poe received the letter today. His office confirmed with Department of Homeland Security officials that the plan came from the administration. "I'm surprised the president would so quickly remove troops from Texas. They're not supposed to leave until July," said Poe. More here

Obama: National Guard Withdrawal in February