EL PASO, Texas -- National Guard troops will be working along parts of the Mexican border in a matter of weeks.

Soldiers in Texas and New Mexico will start training next month and some will be in place by the middle of August. More than 250 soldiers will be deployed in Texas by the end of September, while 72 troops are expected to be in place in New Mexico by the middle of that month.

In California, National Guard officials expect to have all 224 troops in place by Oct 1.

Federal officials had earlier announced that troops would start training by Aug. 1 and be fully deployed by September. The troops will help federal agents tasked with the securing the border.