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Commissioner Staples Urges President To Reconsider Border Patrol Reducements By National Guard

published: December 26th 2011
source: TDA

AUSTIN — Commissioner Staples has written a letter to President Obama discouraging him from cutting the number of National Guard troops patrolling the border between Texas and Mexico. Below is a portion of the letter.

“The recent cartel-related violence in Texas necessitates a greater federal response to the crisis in Mexico that is spilling over into the United States. In the last few weeks we have seen cartel hit-squads murder people in Houston and McAllen and several attempted murders of law enforcement officers in the metropolitan and border regions of my state.

“There are multiple reports you intend to reduce the number of National Guard troops currently deployed along the Texas-Mexico border, which currently stands at 274, and shift focus to “personnel carrying out surveillance by aircraft, helicopters and unmanned drones.” I applaud the expanded use of these resources and tactics but must stress the current number of Guard resources is woefully small for the 1,241 miles of border Texas shares with Mexico.

“The valiant men and women currently deployed along our southern border, be they federal, state, or local law enforcement officers, need back-up and they need a commitment to a strategy that puts the cartels on the defensive. My state and our country need that commitment from you, and frankly, reducing National Guard troops sends the wrong message.”