Thread: TX-Sheriffs say money still needed to secure border-POLL

Sheriffs say money still needed to secure border
By Brandi Grissom / Austin Bureau
Article Launched: 07/14/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT


Border security
Do you think border sheriffs need more money to fight crime?
Total Votes = 272
Yes
65.80 %
No
34.19 %

AUSTIN -- Border sheriffs are back to scouting out new avenues for federal dollars after Congress failed to approve money for local law enforcement in a measure that sent millions in aid to help Mexico fight drug cartels.
And, the sheriffs said this week they are worried that U.S. technology and equipment sent to Mexico could end up in the wrong hands and one day be used against them.

"We hope we're not giving them more ammunition," said Donald Reay, executive director of the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition.

Congress approved the Merida Initiative, which will send about $1.6 billion in aid to Mexico through 2010, but stripped from the bill a measure that would have also given U.S. border sheriffs $100 million.

While the sheriffs and Republican lawmakers who wanted to send them money were disappointed, critics said Congress has already given money to border law enforcement and that throwing more money at fighting drug trafficking won't stop the violence in Mexico.

"No amount of money will ever stop the flow of drugs into this country, and it's unrealistic to think that's possible," said Howard Campbell, anthropology professor at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Under the Merida Initiative, Mexico will receive more than $400 million in aid this year in the form of training, equipment and intelligence.

"The program will É help improve Mexico's crime fighting capacity, and will also strengthen the country's judicial system to facilitate more prosecutions of drug

traffickers and other criminals," said U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas.
Republican Texas lawmakers had added to the bill money for U.S. border sheriffs. Law enforcement north of the border, they said, should be equipped to fight increasingly well-armed and well-financed narco-traffickers.

But the money was stripped from the final legislation.

Reyes said border sheriffs have received federal money, including $60 million in 2008, and another $60 million is planned for 2009.

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, supported the Merida plan, but was frustrated that money for sheriffs was stripped.

"We need to give them more resources to protect America from this war against the drug cartels," McCaul said. "Apparently there are members of Congress who just don't get it when it comes to prioritizing federal dollars to secure the border."

Border sheriffs said they have gotten state and federal grants for some equipment and to pay their officers overtime for more patrols.

Now, they said they need money to hire more officers.

"Having more boots on the ground deters crime, so we need to have a balance here," said El Paso County Sheriff Jimmy Apodaca.

Deputies in many border counties are burned out after putting in overtime for more than two years of stepped-up patrols, said Webb County Sheriff Rick Flores. His county, which includes Laredo, is short about 80 deputies, he said.

"It's no longer about the (overtime) money" for patrol officers, he said. "The honeymoon was great, but now they're tired."

Flores said he also worries that aid from the U.S. could wind up being used against border sheriffs trying to keep criminals out of their communities.

"We know the problems, and the fact is we're not sure if all that equipment and money is going to stay or fall into the hands of the wrong people," he said.

But with the Merida Initiative already passed, the sheriffs said they would look elsewhere for funding to keep up patrols and hire more deputies.

Reay, with the sheriffs coalition, said they would continue asking Congress for grant money and look to state lawmakers when they meet in 2009 to build on the $110 million border security effort approved last year.

"We just keep working and trying to find a way to get some relief to our people who are working very long hours," he said.

But UTEP's Campbell said spending hundreds of millions more U.S. taxpayer dollars on fighting the drug war with military efforts and law enforcement has been ineffective.

Whether the money goes to Mexico or to U.S. agencies, he said, the policy of attacking the drug supply rather than curbing the demand has not worked in the last 30 years.

"Why not try a different strategy?" he asked, "which would be trying to lessen the U.S. consumption of drugs."

Brandi Grissom may be reached at bgrissom@elpasotimes.com;512-479-6606.


http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_9873 ... id=5973526

Border security
Do you think border sheriffs need more money to fight crime?
Total Votes = 331
Yes
65.25 %
No
34.74 %

Do you think border sheriffs need more money to fight crime?
Total Votes = 377
Yes
63.92 %
No
36.07 %