CALIFORNIA ? Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office said Friday he turned down a White House request to more than double the number of California National Guard troops that will be deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border, fearing the commitment could leave the state vulnerable if an earthquake or wildfire erupts.

Just three weeks ago, Schwarzenegger and the Bush administration worked out a written agreement in which the state would send 1,000 troops to the Mexican border, as part of a 6,000-strong deployment aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration.

On Wednesday, the Bush administration asked the governor’s office for 1,500 more soldiers. The additional troops were to be sent to two other border states – Arizona and New Mexico, according to a California National Guard official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Schwarzenegger took less than a day to give his answer: No.