Border Security

Published in the Weatherford Democrat, Week of March 15, 2009

By Phil King, Texas District #61 Legislative Representative

Today, efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border from all threats have never been more important. The Mexican organized crime cartels dominate the lucrative drug and human smuggling market, and have resorted to using terrorist tactics, employing former Mexican military commandos and transnational gangs, such as the Barrio Azteca, Texas Syndicate, MS-13, and the Mexican Mafia.

In 2007, the Texas Legislature took bold action by investing $110 million in border security to increase local and state patrol capacity along the Texas-Mexico border. Our investment in boots on the ground and increased patrols in the air and on the water have made a difference. Since operations began, Texas has seen a 52 percent drop in illegal alien apprehensions, and reduced border crime as much as 65 percent in key border areas.

The numbers on the other side of the border are staggering and getting worse, and we need to continue our support of their efforts, to combat this scourge plaguing our southern border.

In 2008 alone, the organized crime cartels were responsible for 5,700 murders in Mexico, and 1,600 in Ciudad Juarez, just across the river from El Paso. Already in 2009, over 1,000 drug-related murders have taken place in Mexico; nearly 400 of those in Ciudad Juarez.

Texas has developed contingency plans to address spillover violence, which we define as 'violent acts against Texans as a direct or indirect result of the criminal enterprise activities of the Mexican organized crime cartels and their associates.'

Over the past several months, Governor Perry has been in close conversations with Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. Governor Perry discussed Texas' border security efforts and additional needs from the federal government. In their discussion, Gov. Perry requested an additional 1,000 Title 32 National Guard positions, along with six OH-58 helicopters equipped with Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) for night operations.

Gov. Perry also requested Secretary Napolitano's support in seeking congressional funding to establish a Border Region Security Initiative that would provide additional local and state law enforcement positions, equipment and operating costs to rapidly increase the patrol presence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Along with the Federal assistance for border security, I am working with Gov. Perry to seek an additional $135 million in state funding to address border security and transnational gangs.

Mexico is an appreciated neighbor and partner in trade and commerce, but we cannot compromise our safety and security. The situation on our border is gravely serious, and now is the time for the State of Texas and the U.S. Government to work in collaboration to end the violence crossing the boundary into our country.