The Obama administration has agreed to deploy up to 1,200 more National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexican border in an effort to enhance border security measures, a U.S. congresswoman said on Tuesday.

President Barack Obama will authorize later Tuesday the deployment of up to 1,200 National Guard troops to the southwest border with Mexico, and he also will request 500 million dollars in supplemental spending legislation for enhanced border protection and law enforcement activities, Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords said in a statement.

The National Guard troops will provide intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance support, as well as provide training capacity until the Border Patrol can bring more officers on board, an official said.

The U.S.-Mexican border security issue has been heatedly debated since the U.S. state of Arizona recently passed two bills that critics say will lead to racial profiling. One legislation empowers local law enforcement to check the immigration status of those suspected of being in the country illegally. The other law prohibits the teaching of ethnic studies in public schools.