Free Republic

First of two parts Earlier this month, Val Verde County Sheriff A. D’Wayne Jernigan testified about border violence and other incidents of concern to U.S. senators examining strategies to end violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. Jernigan’s testimony before the U.S. Senate’s Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security March 1 was a deliberate counter to what he termed “the rosy picture” of border security being painted by the heads of various federal agencies, he said in an interview Saturday. “I did express to them that this county (Val Verde County) has not suffered the level of violence that other counties...

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...