http://www.kristv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3947858

Area law enforcement want more attention paid to border security
Oct 6, 2005, 07:26 PM

ALICE - There's a new plea from sheriffs across the Coastal Bend. They're asking officials in Washington and Austin to not forget about the border. Many law enforcement officers met this morning in Alice to discuss border security. With the natural disasters affecting our area and a war on terrorism, they don't want people to forget about the war at the border.

Illegal immigrants running through South Texas ranch lands is not a new problem, but after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and a war on foreign soil, area law enforcement agencies fear the border problems may be forgotten.

"I don't personally think you're going to get any money out of the United States. We've had two devastating disasters back to back. We're broke. Let's face facts folks, we're all broke," said San Patricio County Sheriff Leroy Moody.

"The federal government is not going to help me prevent or stop a vehicle coming down Main Street or 3rd Street or 4th Street and killing 4 or 5 kids, loaded with illegal people from across the border," said Alice Police Chief Danny Bueno.

"One of the things we've tried to tell the people up north...we're the first responders, we're the first line of defense," Kleberg County Sheriff Ed Mata said.

Without resources like more border patrol agents, more local law enforcers and tougher immigration policies, local officials worry about immigrants other than Mexicans and dangerous gangs like MS-13.

"Because once you have chaos you've lost it," said Sheriff Mata. "If we become complacent and stop communicating then we're never going to beat this." State Senator Juan Chuy Hinojosa (D-Dist. 20) said the answer is Texas National Guardsmen.

"They know the area, they know the community, they know the families. They would be a help in trying to provide backup to our local law enforcement," said Sen. Hinojosa. But until he can convince the governor of that, then all local law enforcement can do is work with the limited resources they currently have.

"My personal opinion is...you're not gonna get any help from the federal government that you aren't already getting," said Sheriff Moody.