Texas Concentrates Resources On Mexican Border To Curb Crime Wave

Crime Control Digest, Mar 3, 2006

Texas has unleashed the most aggressive campaign against crime associated with illegal aliens of any state bordering Mexico.

As the federal government has pulled back support for state and local law enforcement and plans even deeper reductions in aid, Texas has joined California, Arizona and New Mexico in assuming duties that previously rested with federal customs and border agents.

"With Operation Rio Grande', the state will take the lead role in coordinating state and local efforts to detect, track and deter criminal activity along the border," said Texas Gov. Rick Perry said.

The governor said he would use "intelligence, available state assets, and a new command and control structure, ... to take back our border from those who exploit it."

The operation brings together a variety of state resources to better secure the Texas-Mexico border from Brownsville to El Paso.

"There is not only great concern that the drug trade is becoming more aggressive, but that terrorist organizations are seeking to exploit our porous border," Perry said. "Last year alone, 135,000 people who are not of Mexican descent were apprehended entering Texas illegally. The threat is real, and it grows each day."

Recent events along the border indicate that violence and criminal activity have escalated, including Mexican officials apprehending four Iraqis headed to U.S. soil, the discovery of a criminal organization's weapons stockpile in Laredo that included improvised explosive devices and fragmentation hand grenades, and the recent chase of narco-terrorists involving local deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety officers in Hudspeth County.

Perry also activated the Governor's Emergency Management Council and placed the Texas Fusion Center on the highest alert level under the supervision of Texas Homeland Security Director Steve McCraw.

The State Operations Center will serve as a central point of coordination for state, local and federal officials, as well as a single hub for incident reporting and intelligence support for law enforcement agencies up to 100 miles away from the Rio Grande River.

Perry's action represents the first time the State Operations Center has been activated to coordinate a law enforcement operation.

As part of "Operation Rio Grande," Perry has also ordered deployment of:

* A rapid response team of state troopers dispatched to troubled areas;

* Narcotics, motor vehicle theft and criminal intelligence investigators to conduct covert patrols and surveillance activities;

* Fixed and rotary aviation assets to support Operation Linebacker patrols;

* A SWAT team and the development of regionalized, enhanced swat teams with rapid response capabilities;

* A border-wide investigation of alleged incursions by the Mexican military, conducted by the Texas Rangers; and

* Other state assets, including Texas Department of Criminal Justice canine search teams, Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens, and Texas Department of Transportation road barriers.

"While enforcing our border remains the responsibility of the federal government, the consequences of an action are felt right here at home in Texas," Perry said. "The state will not wait for Washington to take all the necessary actions."

Although Perry emphasized that border threats are best addressed by law enforcement, Texas Army National Guard planners and analysts will also provide support to operation.

"Operation Rio Grande" builds upon Operation Linebacker, an initiative developed by the 16-member Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition to deter border-related criminal activities through increased manpower and equipment. Perry has provided nearly $10 million to Operation Linebacker since December.

Perry said the U.S. Border Patrol has recently reinforced staff in the region, but the numbers are insufficient to deal with the problems.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has also authorized governors to use federal anti-terror grants for border enforcement so long as they coordinate with federal efforts.

Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition President Zigi Gonzalez backed the governor's plan.

Gonzalez, who is sheriff of Zapata County, said sheriffs and state troopers have already developed comprehensive and sophisticated intelligence gathering networks that would grow even more effective with the new resources made available.