Havent heard it, but it makes sense. The guard is NEVER given any authority, any tools, or any mission when used domestically.
This. They won't be allowed to be effective. No chance.
You could easily rustle up some combat engineers to start improving border security, an MI unit to operate some drones, bunch of MPs for detaining illegals, some infantry for grunt work and security, JAG ready to go, enough logistics folks to make sure everyone is fed and supplied, etc.
Not. A. Chance.
First off, if I was the Texas NG commanding general, I'd have my entire JAG staff looking up the legalities of returning fire across an international border. Texas doesn't have the authority to do jack one inch beyond their state line. Returning fire, even defensive fire, into Mexican territory will start an excrement storm. The cartels would have to be absolutely dumber than a box of rocks to not take some potshots at the Texas NG, shoot some random illegal, and then have their shills screaming about the Texas NG murdering poor innocent migrants. Much as I berate our modern officer corps as a bunch of political hacks that weed out competent officers, even THEY can see the thorns on this situation.
Second off, I sincerely doubt Gov Perry has the stones to actually deal with the problem. Pandering to his base? Absolutely. Which means lots of faces and camera time at the border looking very serious. If the Texas NG on a state mission essentially starts a war with Mexico, it could have extremely serious consequences. Any serious actions at border security run this risk. Mexico is not exactly polite and welcoming of non-Mexican illegal immigrants. Care to imagine if we DID clamp down on the border, and you ended up with tens of thousands of illegals sitting right at the border? Mexico is already in the middle of a medium scale civil war.