Gov. Joe Manchin plans to sign an order sending 90 West VirginiaNational Guard volunteers to the Mexican border to support stepped-up security efforts there.
The troops will aid the Bush administration's Operation JumpStart.
Manchin spokesman Lara Ramsburg said Monday that the West Virginiaguardsmen volunteered for the mission.
They will be sent to New Mexico, and take part in border securitysupport for 12 months.
Though it planned to have 2,500 troops from various states alongthe border by last week, the National Guard had only 483 in positionand working with the U.S. Border Patrol as of Friday.
President Bush has vowed to stem illegal immigration by placingNational Guardsmen in support roles along the border, to free upthousands of officers for front-line duty.
Guardsmen are expected to build fences, conduct routinesurveillance and take care of other administrative duties. Bush plansto have 6,000 troops in place by the end of July.
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