June 1 (Bloomberg) -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said he will sign an order sending state National Guard soldiers to patrol the U.S. border with Mexico under a plan proposed by President George W. Bush.

Bush on May 16 proposed sending 6,000 Guard troops to the borders of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California to try to slow a flood of illegal immigration. The initial commitment of the Guard units will last for one year and will be reduced as more border agents are hired. The units won't be making arrests or performing other law enforcement duties.

Schwarzenegger, 58, at first refused to commit troops to the border until federal officials pledged to pay for the deployment and outline the rules of engagement. The Republican told U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on May 18 that border security is a law enforcement job and that National Guard troops weren't properly trained or suited for that job.

``We are doing this reluctantly,'' Schwarzenegger told reporters in Sacramento. ``It's not my preference to send the National Guard troops.''

Schwarzenegger, who in the past advocated tougher border enforcement and at one time said he would welcome the civilian vigilante group the Minutemen in California, is seeking re- election this year in a state where 32 percent of registered voters are Hispanic.

Rotation

Under Bush's plan, troops would rotate off the border every two or three weeks. Schwarzenegger said the 1,000 California troops would serve at least six-month tours and that all California troops would be removed from the border after a year.

Most of the California soldiers won't be armed and would perform support jobs such as surveillance, vehicle repair, road maintenance and repair and communications. Only volunteers would be used on the border, Schwarzenegger said.

``The mission I will assign will be significantly different than the plan laid out by President Bush,'' Schwarzenegger said. ``It makes no sense having them going in there every two weeks. That's like doing surgery on someone and switching doctors every few minutes. That's ineffective and is not the best way to go.''

To contact the reporters on this story: Michael B. Marois in Sacramento at mmarois@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: June 1, 2006 18:01 EDT