National Guard troops at Mexican border may be armed, says top official

The acknowledgement came moments after California said it would not be sending National Guard troops to the border.

by Julia Ainsley / Apr.16.2018 / 5:29 PM ET

WASHINGTON — The head of the U.S. Border Patrol on Monday could not rule out the possibility that some National Guard troops deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border might be armed for self defense, though troops deployed to date are unarmed.

Chief Ronald Vitiello told reporters that governors of border states would have the right to assess whether the troops in their states carry arms, particularly if they are on a mission that might require them to defend themselves.

"That's a case by case delegation, and that's determined by what the assignment is and most of the assignments won't require it. And then whatever the threat situation is, they'll be entitled to protecting themselves," Vitiello said at a news conference at the Department of Homeland Security.

Vitiello reiterated that no troops would be assigned to specifically arrest immigrants or do any kind of law enforcement work.

-snip-