Border Security: Local Congressman Visits with Mexican President

Updated: Jan 23, 2008 02:33 PM
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Reported by Marcy Martinez

The governments on both sides of the border are trying to help the region from becoming a war zone.

U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar told Action 4 News sat down with Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Mexico City last week.

Mexican military surrounding police stations in Matamoros, Rio Bravo, Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo but Cuellar said it was done as a last-ditch effort by the government to take back control from drug cartels.

"President Calderon was clear, there will be more money spent, billions already, to stop drug problems we've had at the border," Cuellar said in an interview with Action 4 News.

Cuellar says Valley leaders cannot ignore recent violence across the border and that's why met with Calderon.

He said the military presence is helping the Mexican government finally gaining the upper hand on corrupt law enforcement officials.

"He understands there are problems with local police being on the take, as you saw today, they're coming in and taking over police they think are working with drug cartels," Cuellar said.

But the congressman said Mexico's president is asking for help from our side as well.

"One of the things the President asked us was to stop the flow of arms coming in from the U.S. into Mexico and are used to kill people," he said.

The United State government recently announced a project to address the issue by placing more U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents at checkpoints.

He said these are steps to stop the violence from spilling over into the Rio Grande Valley.

Cuellar is expected to be in McAllen to discuss the issue with local leaders on Thursday


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