Trump Wants National Guard At Border, Asks Military To Build Wall

WASHINGTON, DC – The White House says that National Guard troops could be deployed to the border with Mexico as soon as Wednesday night. The announcement was made by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.

"We are beginning today and we are moving quickly," she told reporters in the White House briefing room. "The threat is real."

Nielsen said that President Trump will sign a proclamation directing her department and the Department of Defense to work with governors of border states to send troops "with all haste."

One of those governors – Doug Ducey, Republican of Arizona – tweeted his support of the move.

"Arizona welcomes the deployment of National Guard to the border," he wrote. "Washington has ignored this issue for too long and help is needed.

"For Arizona, it's all about public safety."

Ducey is one of four governors whose states border Mexico.

Two others – the governors of New Mexico and Texas – are also expected to support the move. Jerry Brown, the Democratic governor of California, has expressed his displeasure with the idea.

Texas Governor Greg Abbot has previously expressed support for the idea.

Trump's two immediate predecessors – Obama and Bush – had also used the National Guard to assist at the border.

Nielsen was unclear exactly what troops will do at the border once they are beyond assisting Customs and Border Patrol agents.

In a related announcement from the White House, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said that the Defense Department will start building a border wall on property that they control.

Sanders said that military bases have been the site of illegal immigration over the border with Mexico.

Officials say that the plan is expected to start at the Barry Goldwater Air Force Range, a bombing range that borders Mexico for 31 miles.

Photo of a section of the border between Arizona and Mexico via John Moore/Getty Images News/Getty Images.