THE BORDER REPORT

The bodyguard for a Mexican border town narco-trafficker who also happened to be the police chief was sentenced this morning in U.S. District Court today and will be deported to Mexico next week.

Julio Cesar Lozano Lopez, 29, was arrested in March 2005 after his boss, Sonoyta public safety director Ramon Robles Cota, was accused of trying to bribe a U.S. Border Patrol agent with $80,020.

Lozano Lopez was a municipal police officer working under Robles Cota when both men were arrested in Gila Bend, Ariz.

The case started in January 2005.

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THE BORDER REPORT

We’re hitting a quagmire on the president’s plans for the border and the troops ain’t even arrived yet.

As usual when it comes to this border, there’s much flexing, tough-talkin’, and boot-stomping and very little in the way of substance. Logistics and a sound man-with-a-plan are sorely absent from any discussion while cheap media allows itself to be fed happy news.

It’s painful sometimes, like watching re-runs of the politburo’s Tass news service.

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THE BORDER REPORT

I don’t like repeating myself and wasting your time, but again, exactly how many National Guard troops are we looking at for the U.S.-Mexico border and what precisely are they going to be doing?

Media reports are coming in fast and furious but few agree on any details:
The Salt Lake Tribune: “Now, just weeks after President Bush told the nation he would send National Guard troops to help enforce anti-illegal immigration patrols along the U.S.-Mexico border, a group of combat-tested engineers from Utah has been called south. The Utah soldiers will be among the first to serve in what is being called Operation Jump Start.“

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THE BORDER REPORT

Ten soldiers of the National Guard are coming to Arizona. To dig three wells.