THE PENTAGON HAS BEGUN EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR THE POTENTIAL USE OF TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT TO HELP SECURE THE U.S. BORDER WITH MEXICO, WHERE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS ENTER THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY EACH YEAR, A DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAID ON FRIDAY, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. DEFENSE SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD DISCUSSED BORDER ISSUES AT THE PENTAGON WITH HIS MEXICAN COUNTERPART, DEFENSE MINISTER GEN. GERARDO CLEMENTE RICARDO VEGA. MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES SHARE A 2,000-MILE (3,219 KM) BORDER. "THE U.S. AND MEXICAN GOVERNMENTS CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO CONTROL THE BORDER AND COLLABORATE ON THESE IMPORTANT EFFORTS," SAID U.S. NAVY LT. CMDR. J.D. GORDON, A PENTAGON SPOKESMAN. "THIS COOPERATION INCLUDES LIMITED U.S. ASSISTANCE WITH TRAINING, EQUIPPING AND FUNDING MEXICO SECURITY FORCES SO THAT THEY CAN BETTER MEET OUR SHARED CHALLENGES IN PROTECTING THE BORDER," HE SAID. IMMIGRATION HAS EMERGED AS ONE OF THE TOP U.S. POLITICAL ISSUES OF 2006. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH WILL ADDRESS THE NATION ON IMMIGRATION REFORM ON MONDAY AS THE SENATE RENEWS DEBATE ON A BILL TO TIGHTEN BORDER SECURITY AND GIVE MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS A WAY TO LEGALIZE THEIR STATUS. A DEFENSE OFFICIAL, SPEAKING ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY DUE TO THE SENSITIVITY OF THE ISSUE, SAID THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT IS EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR POSSIBLE USE OF TROOPS OR MILITARY ASSETS TO HELP WITH BORDER SECURITY, REUTERS REPORTED. ANOTHER DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAID THE POSSIBLE USE OF TROOPS OR MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO ASSIST WITH BORDER SECURITY "IS NOT A DECISION THAT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT WILL MAKE." --MORE
