Mayor calls for more agents, money
By Karen Gleason
Del Rio News-Herald

Published May 30, 2010

Del Rio Mayor Efrain Valdez says the state border regions need more customs agents and money for equipment and infrastructure at ports of entry.

Valdez, who is chairman of the Texas Border Coalition, a group of border mayors, county judges and economic development commissions who regularly address border issues, made his comments Tuesday after an announcement by the White House that 1,200 National Guard troops will be dispatched to the nation’s southwest border.

Valdez, who noted that he was informed about the White House decision to send troops to the Mexico border in a press release issued by the White House.

Valdez said that he was told to expect details about the placement of the troops within a week. He said currently it is his understanding that most of the federal troops will go to Arizona.

“Here in Texas, what the Texas Border Coalition is asking, is 5,000 new customs agents to be trained and stationed at our ports of entry. The data that we have shows that apprehensions are down 72 percent between the ports, but only 30 percent at the ports, so most of the illegal crossings have been at the ports of entry, because we have not reinforced the manpower at the ports of entry,â€