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County backs ‘Operation Linebacker’

By Karen Gleason
Del Rio News-Herald

Published October 17, 2005

Val Verde County Commissioners and County Judge Mike L. Fernandez are backing the county sheriff’s participation in the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition’s “Operation Linebacker.�

County commissioners court during their October regular term meeting on Monday, Oct. 10, unanimously passed a resolution supporting “Operation Linebacker,� a move by Texas’ border sheriffs to seek funding for a border security plan.

The commissioners court’s resolution notes that Val Verde County consists of 3,233 square miles, and that the county shares 109.5 miles of border with Mexico.

“The commissioners court of Val Verde County, Texas has been briefed by its chief law enforcement officer, Sheriff A. D’Wayne Jernigan, of the potential of terrorists coming across the border with the Republic of Mexico and causing another terrorist act against our great country,� the commissioners court resolution reads.

The resolution also states, “The commissioners court. . .is aware of the multitude of persons illegally entering our country, some from countries other than Mexico, as well as the smuggling of both humans and illicit substances. . .The commissioners court is cognizant of violence in some areas along the border with the Republic of Mexico and is gravely concerned that some of this violence, including, but not limited to, kidnappings, murders and extortions, has spilled over or will spill over into the United States of America and our communities.�

“The commissioners court. . .feels that the 1,200-plus miles of Texas border with the Republic of Mexico is very porous and not adequately protected by the federal government against the entry into the country by a potential terrorist,� the resolution continues.

The court’s resolution also recognizes that “the United States Border Patrol is doing an extraordinary job with the limited resources available to them,� but adds, “The commissioners court. . .believes that most of the violence along the border with the Republic of Mexico and border security is a federal issue, and the federal government has failed to adequately protect its borders.�

The resolution “supports legislation to establish a border law enforcement assistance pilot program to assist sheriffs’ offices in contiguous counties to provide a second line of defense in assisting United States Customs and Border Protection in patrolling the border and preventing lawlessness in border areas as embodied in (the concept of). . .Operation Linebacker.�

The resolution also calls on the federal government to appropriate $100 million from Department of Homeland Security funds to pay for Operation Linebacker “so long as a threat of terrorism exists.�

Jernigan thanked the court for passing the resolution and presented a copy of it to U.S. Rep. John A. Culberson outside the county courthouse moments after commissioners court voted to pass the measure.

Copies of the resolution also will be sent to U.S. Sens Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Reps. Silvestre Reyes, Henry Bonilla, Henry Cuellar, Lloyd Doggett, Ruben Hinojosa, Solomon P. Ortiz and Michael T.McCaul.