A Texas National Guardsman keeps watch in Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jessi Ann McCormick

The Texas governor says he is calling up 1,000 troops to help police the border with Mexico.

CBS News reports the deployment will cost the cash-strapped state $12 million a month. Perry says he expects the feds to reimburse him.

The U.S. Border Patrol already has 18,611 agents deployed in the Southwest sector.

An influx of refugee children fleeing violence in Central America has taxed the government’s ability to cope, but Perry says his planned deployment has more to do with drug cartels. It also probably has something to do with his low approval ratings and GOP politics.

— Posted by Peter Z. Scheer

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#gop#national guard#politics#refugee#rick perry#texas#us mexico border#usa