[Texas Gov.]Perry ups ante on border security

Express-News Border Bureau ^ | 02/03/2006 | Mariano Castillo

[SwinneySwitch]

LAREDO — On the heels of national publicity for thwarting an eye-opening drug smuggling attempt in West Texas, border sheriffs were rewarded with additional funds to provide border security.

Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday announced that $3.8 million from state criminal justice funds will go to the 16 members of Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition, a group that has been trying to coordinate efforts to beef up the border.

This is the second round of funds the governor gives to the sheriffs and comes less than a month after one sheriff told Perry he was worried the money was about to run out.

Last year, Perry gave the new organization clout by awarding it $6 million in grants to kick-start Operation Linebacker, the moniker for the sheriffs' border security plan. The money has been used to add manpower and equipment to their departments.

"Although border security is a federal responsibility, we have no choice but to take aggressive steps at the state and local level to secure our borders and protect Texans," Perry said. "By funding additional patrol hours, new technology tools, and rapid deployment teams of state troopers, we will make Texas — and the nation — more secure."

Increased patrols played a pivotal role in spotting a convoy of three SUVs smuggling drugs in Hudspeth County recently, sheriffs said.

That incident grabbed notoriety because men dressed in military uniforms and with military weapons and a Humvee were spotted on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, retreated to Mexico, then provided protection to the two fleeing SUVs that reached the river.

Behind the scenes, however, some police departments along the border have grumbled that the sheriffs are using scare tactics to get state and federal officials to increase their budgets.

On the contrary, the additional money "definitely is a sign that we're doing something right," Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez said. "We're going to continue doing what we're doing."

In light of the alleged military incursion in Hudspeth County, the sheriffs may not split the money evenly, as they did with their initial funding, where each county got about $367,000.

"We're going to talk about it, but I think it's going to be more of a needs-based distribution," Gonzalez said.

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mcastillo@express-news.net

[SwinneySwitch]

"Although border security is a federal responsibility, we have no choice but to take aggressive steps at the state and local level to secure our borders and protect Texans," Perry said.

Paging the District of Columbia!

[ansel12]

Texas, our national state

[SwinneySwitch]

Perry Ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.

[Tyche]

I always thought it was funny that our Coast Guard was military but our Border guard was not. And why didn't they combine them?

[SwinneySwitch]

"Texas, our national state"

Maybe some of the other states would be willing to lend Texas a hand?

"If we succeed, the country is ours. It is immense in extent, and fertile in its soil and will amply reward our toil. If we fail, death in the cause of liberty and humanity is not cause for shuddering. Our rifles are by our side, and choice guns they are, we know what awaits us, and are prepared to meet it."

Letter from Daniel William Cloud of Kentucky, a defender of the Alamo, en route to San Antonio, dated Dec. 26, 1835.

[jackbenimble]

And why didn't they combine them?

I'm not sure why but I am glad they didn't. Combining the border patrol with Customs has been a disaster. It makes it to easy for President Bush to divert money intended to protect the border into customs enforcement. We do a better job of stopping parrot smugglers then we do human smugglers.

[MamaTexan]

"Although border security is a federal responsibility, we have no choice but to take aggressive steps at the state and local level to secure our borders and protect Texans," Perry said.

A very, very small step in the right direction.

Throwing money at it won't help much if the people who were sworn to uphold the law are told to 'avoid contact' with border jumpers.

[wolfcreek]

Behind the scenes, however, some police departments along the border have grumbled that the sheriffs are using scare tactics to get state and federal officials to increase their budgets.

These police depts. are probably full of Mexican-American officers with a favorable bias for their relatives to the south. This could become a major issue if our military shows up and these officers decide to break ranks.

[reelfoot]

Rick Perry BUMP for taking this action. Nice to see a Texas governor take border issues seriously.

[conservativecorner]

Good for Gov. Perry! He's right that he must take responsibility because the federal govt. is unwilling to.
I also smell the makings of a Presidential contender in the 2008 election, and I welcome it. The Republican establishment ,ie the RNC, has endorsed the President's amnesty plan while at the same time, poll after poll shows Americans being fed up with illegal immigration.

[Ro_Thunder]

As a Texan, I've contemplated starting a fund to build the border fence. I'd put $50 a paycheck away, try to get as much publicity as possible, and then donate the money to the State of Texas with the caveat that all monies and interest off of said monies must be used in the building of a border fence.

Wonder if anyone else would donate?

[houeto]

Wonder if anyone else would donate?

I can absolutely guarantee you that I would donate.