Over the past two years, drug-related violence in Mexico has claimed thousands of lives. And this number is unfortunately only on the rise. Texans know firsthand about the dangerous reality of this escalating level of drug-related violence and it’s a top priority of mine to ensure it doesn’t spill over and threaten communities and residents in Texas. I have recently reached out to both President Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano in this vein and urged them to give high priority to the situation. We need to do everything in our power to assist President Calderon and the federal government in Mexico to quell the violence and defeat the cartels.
President Obama’s announcement that he will be directing additional federal agents and devoting greater resources toward securing our border with Mexico is an important first step. President Obama’s announcement shows they not only heard my concerns but also understood the urgency needed to address this critical national security issue.
Engaging and assisting our local and state officials must be a fundamental component of any comprehensive border security strategy and I believe the President’s plan is a step in the right direction. I am hopeful this announcement signals a broader plan for securing the Southwest border and preventing cartel violence from spilling over into the U.S. Our attention to and assistance for communities along the border and President Calderon must be proactive, sustained, and seamless.
I am proud of the Texas communities and local law enforcement already fighting the spread of drug-related violence along our border, and pleased that additional help is now on the way to support the critical mission of protecting our border communities.