[Val Verde County, Texas Sheriff] Jernigan lauds border efforts

Val Verde County Sheriff A. D’Wayne Jernigan this morning lauded a letter from Texas Congressional representatives that declares “a state of emergency” in security along the Texas-Mexico border.

Asked his opinion about the security of the Texas-Mexico border in Val Verde County, Jernigan said, “You know the answer to that. It’s wide open. Anyone and anything can come across anytime they want.”

Jernigan added, “Right now, any threat that you could possibly identify can cross the border in Val Verde County and threaten our national security. This border is porous, and we’re concerned that that does not seem to be a priority of the federal government.”

Jernigan made his comments on the heels of a letter signed by 24 members – both Republican and Democrat – of Texas’ Congressional delegation and sent to Bush Wednesday.

Jernigan, who said he had read the letter for the first time Thursday morning, lauded the bipartisan efforts of the Texas delegates.

“I want to commend these 24 delegates for coming together in support of our border region and to bring attention of this national security threat to our Executive Branch. I commend them for speaking out and for working together in a ‘big-picture’ manner. That’s what pleases me the most. They recognize that we have a problem, and the executive Branch needs to address it,” Jernigan said.

The representatives who signed the letter wrote that they “declare a state of emergency along our border with Mexico.”

The letter states further, “Illegal aliens, many of which are ‘Other Than Mexicans (OTMs), are crossing our border by the hundreds on a daily basis. They are presenting an immediate danger to the lives of people in every Texas community and beyond. We strongly urge you to take action now.”

The letter adds, “The influx of OTMs into our communities is an immediate threat and an embarrassment. Local officials across Texas, regardless of their politics or ethnicity, are telling us they are in crisis. The mayor of Eagle Pass laments that 200 OTMs a day invade his city. The DHS policy of processing OTMs and releasing them with orders to appear in court has made a mockery of our security.”

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September 21, 2005

Hon. George W. Bush President of the United States 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC

Dear President Bush,

We, as bipartisan Texas federal representatives, declare a state of emergency along our border with Mexico. Illegal aliens, many of which are “Other Than Mexicans” (OTMs), are crossing our border by the hundreds on a daily basis. They are presenting an immediate danger to the lives of people in every Texas community and beyond. We strongly urge you to take action now.

First, we demand the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stop raiding our Texas Border Patrol. There are five Border Patrol sectors in Texas (Marfa, Del Rio, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley, and El Paso). In 2005 alone, DHS has taken 165 agents from Texas and assigned them to the Tucson Sector in Arizona. This outrageous action is crippling border security in Texas. We demand that these agents be returned to Texas immediately.

With the signing into law of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act in March of this year and the expected passage of the FY06 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act in the near future, over one-thousand new agents will be funded. Rather than weakening the border region in Texas for short term public relations, we strongly urge that these new agents be used to reinforce areas in need. This will provide the necessary resources to those Border Patrol sectors at greatest risk.

We understand the task before the Border Patrol is immense, and that communities all across the US-Mexico border are demanding more resources. However, as a federal agency we expect the Border Patrol to deploy those resources in the most efficient manner.

The influx of OTMs into our Texas communities is an immediate threat and an embarrassment. Local officials across Texas, regardless of their politics or ethnicity, are telling us they are in a crisis. The mayor of Eagle Pass laments that 200 OTMs a day invade his city. The DHS policy of processing OTMs and releasing them with orders to appear in court has made a mockery of our border security. OTMs now seek out Border Patrol agents rather than run from them because they know they will be arrested, given a good meal, a nice place to sleep, medical care and then released. At some times, the number of OTMs is so great that agents have difficulty performing the required background checks before releasing them on their own recognizance.

This crisis includes alarming rates of illegal drugs crossing our border. Nearly 1.2 million pounds of marijuana and 11,000 pounds of cocaine have been seized by border patrol agents this year in Texas alone. The border patrol reports that Texas has the highest seizure rate of cocaine and heroin of any other state.

Border violence created by drug cartels and gangs on the Mexican side of the border has also created a new threat. Violence in cities like Nuevo Laredo has reached record levels with over 100 murders and no arrests this year. Two police chiefs have been murdered, one in broad daylight. This has destroyed the tourism and business on both sides of the border.

We know Secretary Michael Chertoff is developing a long term plan for securing our border. In addition to the Border Patrol personnel issues mentioned above, we encourage you to consider the following:

• Do whatever is necessary to create sufficient detention spaces for housing OTMs so they are no longer released on their own recognizance. • Consider using unspent DHS funds to allow border counties to hire more sheriffs’ deputies to supplement the Border Patrol. This idea is almost unanimously supported by the sheriffs in all border counties. • Expedite the repatriation process by reducing the judicial backlog. This can be accomplished by increasing the number of immigration trial attorneys and judges. • Use the State Department to encourage foreign countries to take responsibility for their citizens who enter our country illegally. One possibility would be to cut back on the number of Visas we issue to foreign visitors from countries who refuse to cooperate. • Consider the use of any available technology recommended by law enforcement agencies. Nothing should be off the table.

Mr. President, we feel the situation is desperate. Your leadership is badly needed. When you were Governor we recall how you deployed additional Department of Public Safety troops to the border when a similar crisis existed back in the 90s. The illegal immigration threat is now at least twice as bad. We are ready and willing to stand with you and do whatever is necessary to take back our borders for the benefit and safety of all Americans.

Sincerely,

Henry Bonilla (R-TX) Kay Granger (R-TX) Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) Solomon Ortiz (D-TX) Tom DeLay (R-TX) Pete Sessions (R-TX) Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) Ted Poe (R-TX) Michael McCaull (R-TX) Kenny Marchant (R-TX) John Carter (R-TX) Henry Cuellar (D-TX) Charlie Gonzales (D-TX) John Culberson (R-TX) Lamar Smith (R-TX) Sam Johnson (R-TX) Michael Burgess (R-TX) Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) Ralph Hall (R-TX) Michael Conaway (R-TX) Kevin Brady (R-TX) Loui Gohmert (R-TX) Mac Thornberry (R-TX) Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) Chet Edwards (D-TX)

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