Tenn. congressman calls on president to increase border patrol to help stop drugs, illegal weapons from coming into state
Staff Report
Issue date: 3/16/09 Section: News
PrintEmail Article Tools Page 1 of 1 Congressman Bart Gordon called upon President Barack Obama to develop a comprehensive border security strategy to combat drugs and illegal weapons from crossing the U.S.- Mexico border.

Gordon voiced his concerns in a letter he sent to Obama on March 11.

"With the exception of Missouri and Indiana, more meth labs were discovered in my home state of Tennessee in 2007 than anywhere else in our country," Gordon said in the letter.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, most of the methamphetamine consumed in the state is transported from Mexico.

In addition to stopping the transportation of drugs, we should also stop illegal weapons and other items from coming across the U.S.-Mexico border, Gordon said.

"As the Mexican government commits more resources and manpower [to combat the war on drugs], we too should expand the Border Patrol and further efforts to complete the fence," Gordon said in the letter.

Gordon has been an advocate for properly securing the border. He also coauthored legislation with Congressman Ralph Hall (R-TX) in order to provide U.S. Border Patrol with technology to secure the border.

Gordon and Hall plan to re-introduce the legislation in the next few weeks.

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