WASHINGTON, May 12: The Pentagon has begun drawing up plans to send troops and equipment to the US border with Mexico, where hundreds of thousands of migrants enter the country illegally each year, a defence official said on Friday.

Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld discussed border issues at the Pentagon with his Mexican counterpart, Defence Minister Gen. Gerardo Clemente Ricardo Vega. Mexico and the United States share a 3,200-km border.

“The US and Mexican governments continue to work together to control the border and collaborate on these important efforts,” said 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 political issues of the year. President George Bush will address the nation on immigration reform on Monday as the Senate renews debate on a bill to tighten border security and give an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants a way to legalise their status.

A defence official said the Defence Department was exploring options for possible use of troops or military assets to help with border security.

Citing what some members called ‘an invasion’ of illegal immigrants across the southern US border, the House of Representatives voted 252-171 on Thursday to permit the Pentagon to assign forces to help in border protections.—Reuters