Border Security Gets Military Perspective

In an effort to protect U.S. citizens from spillover cartel violence while continuing to emphasize the critical need for enhanced Texas/Mexico border security, I was joined yesterday at the Capitol by retired General Barry McCaffrey and retired Major-General Robert Scales as we released “Texas Border Security: A Strategic Military Assessment.” The independent study, which offers a military perspective of our border vulnerability, was co-authored by the generals and unveiled as part of the Protect Your Texas Border Summit at the Capitol.



To read the generals’ assessment in its entirety, go here.

To read my opinion on this issue in the Austin American-Statesman, go here.

Aerial Surveillance Vehicle Lands in Texas

The recent announcement of a second Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) being designated for Texas comes as welcomed news to our citizens being terrorized by violent drug cartels along our southern border.

I want to thank Congressmen Cuellar and McCaul for requesting the additional airborne surveillance unit and also Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano for her assistance in securing its location in Corpus Christi.

As someone who has heard the firsthand accounts of threats and violence against Texas farmers and ranchers who live and operate agricultural operations on our border, I obviously have strong disagreements with Secretary Napolitano and President Obama on the topic of sufficient border security and safety for citizens in our southern counties. I do, however, appreciate this new UAV and hope it is fully employed along our Texas border, which today is protected by only 6.2 agents per border mile compared to 14 agents per border mile along the California, Arizona and New Mexico border with Mexico .

This second UAV is even more important considering its Texas counterpart primarily patrols the Gulf of Mexico and is not solely dedicated to the Texas-Mexico border.

Much more is needed to fully secure our border, but this second UAV is a welcome step in the right direction. The time is long overdue to secure our border against dangerous, heavily armed and bold drug cartel members who have recently proven they are not above taking shots at law enforcement and landowners here in Texas.

For continuous updates on border security be sure to visit our website at ProtectYourTexasBorder.com.

Border Shootout

This morning, Texas law enforcement officers were involved in a shootout with Mexican drug cartel members. You can review the Texas Department of Public Safety press release below. Unfortunately, this criminal violence on American soil is becoming all too frequent for our border residents and our brave law enforcement personnel. The federal government cannot continue to turn a blind eye on the attack on our sovereignty by these terrorists. Border security needs to be a top priority. We must push the current administration in Washington to acknowledge the problem and to provide the resources needed to protect our U.S. citizens. We will keep you updated on this latest incident on the Texas border and will continue to shine the light on our INsecure border. For continuous updates on border security, make sure to review our website at ProtectYourTexasBorder.com.


Texas Department of Public Safety

June 9, 2011

Shootout between U. S. law enforcement and drug cartel on Texas border

Early this morning, U. S. law enforcement officers participating in a multi-agency Texas Ranger Recon operation were fired upon from Mexico while attempting to interdict a large drug load. At least three suspected drug runners were wounded in the exchange of gunfire.

A suspicious vehicle on the U. S. side of the Rio Grande River was observed along with two cartel drug recovery boats. Three law enforcement patrol boats arrived on the scene and received heavy gun fire from the Mexico side while attempting to interdict the drug-laden boats.

Mexican authorities were notified of the abandoned cartel drug-laden boats and are on the scene.

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