Governor Considers Declaring Border Emergency

SAN DIEGO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Wednesday he would consider joining his counterparts in Arizona and New Mexico in declaring a state of emergency to strengthen law enforcement along the border with Mexico.

“We’re talking about that right now,” Schwarzenegger told a local radio station. “If we see a need for that, we definitely will do the same thing.”

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson issued an emergency declaration on Friday to free up $1.75 million in funding to fight crime and illegal immigration along that state’s border with Mexico.

“Recent developments have convinced me this action is necessary — including violence directed at law enforcement, damage to property and livestock, increased evidence of drug smuggling and an increase in the number of undocumented immigrants,” Richardson said.

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