"I want residents in southern New Mexico to know we are taking this border violence very seriously by adding a National Guard presence along with state, local and federal law enforcement patrols along the border,” said Richardson.

“If you were inclined to bring drugs across the border or commit some other crime in the border area, now probably wouldn't be a very good time to do it,” said cabinet secretary John Wheeler of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Dudley Williams is a southern New Mexico rancher located just 20 miles from the Mexico border and while the news of security increases was good, he remained skeptical, fearing the change will only affect the boot heel of the state.

“If they don't have the National Guard on the whole border, it's essentially not going to do enough,” said Dudley. “There's just too many of them (drug smugglers), too much money involved, and they're here to take us over.”

Williams said since his ranch is located so close to the border, he has to constantly be aware of criminal activity around it.

“Forty-five days ago John (ranch foreman) found six kilos of marijuana just off the road about 50 feet from where they dumped, so we know they're coming through here,” said Williams.

Wheeler wouldn’t go into specifics of how many guardsmen can be expected along the border, but said citizens should definitely notice the security increase.