Violence along the U.S.Mexico border is an increasingly serious threat to our national security. Today Congressman Culberson and a bipartisan group of legislators sent a letter to President Obama urging him to send the National Guard to protect our Southern border. The text of the letter is below:
April 28 2010
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20500
Dear President Obama
As you know violence in the vicinity of the U.S.-Mexico border continues to increase at an alarming rate. We believe that this violence represents a serious threat to the national security of the United States as well as a serious threat to U.S. citizens that live along the 1969 mile long border. We strongly believe that it is imperative for your Administration to promptly take the necessary steps to prevent this violence.
We urge the Administration to take action to address this growing national security threat on our southern border. Without swift and decisive action it is our fear that this violence will only increase in severity and scope.
We urge you to deploy the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border as has been requested by a number of border state Governors and Members of Congress.
We ask that any National Guard troops that are deployed should be provided with very clear guidance of proper rules of engagement and should be armed and allowed to defend themselves if fired upon or attacked.
As you know the level of violence along the border continues to increase. Since January 2008 nearly 5000 homicides have been committed in Juarez Mexico making it one of the most violent cities in the world. In 2009 alone 79 U.S. citizens were killed in Juarez Mexico.
On March 13th of this year Lesley Enriquez a U.S. Consulate employee and her husband Arthur Redelf a ten year veteran of the El Paso Police Department were killed when Mexican drug gang members fired a number of rounds at their vehicle. That same day Jorge Alberto Salcido the husband of a U.S. Consulate employee was killed when cartel members shot at his car at a separate location.
On March 27 2010 Robert Krentz a longtime Arizona rancher was found shot dead and slumped over in his all-terrain vehicle with the engine still running. Following the murder of Mr. Krentz his assailant was tracked to the U.S.- Mexico border and there is evidence that he crossed the border into Mexico.
The day before the killing Mr. Krentzs brother had called the Border Patrol to report a caravan of illegal immigrants who were ultimately caught carrying 280 pounds of marijuana.
Additionally our Border Patrol and law enforcement agents along the border are facing a growing threat to their safety. Assaults against Border Patrol agents increased 46 percent from 752 incidents in 2007 to 1097 incidents in 2008. Recent analysis from the El Paso Sector Border Intelligence Center warns that retaliatory actions against law enforcement officers could occur in the border region.
At the same time we urge the Administration to provide the Border Patrol with the support it needs both in terms of tangible resources such as state-of-the-art technology and equipment as well as ensuring that agents are not disciplined or prosecuted for performing their duties or defending themselves against attacks.
We stand ready to work together with you and your Administration on these important issues to ensure the safety and security of all Americans in the border region and throughout our country.
Sincerely
John Culberson
Member of Congress
Violence along the U.S.Mexico border is an increasingly serious threat to our national security. Today Congressman Culberson and a bipartisan group of legislators sent a letter to President Obama urging him to send the National Guard to protect our Southern border. The text of the letter is below:
April 28 2010
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20500
Dear President Obama
As you know violence in the vicinity of the U.S.-Mexico border continues to increase at an alarming rate. We believe that this violence represents a serious threat to the national security of the United States as well as a serious threat to U.S. citizens that live along the 1969 mile long border. We strongly believe that it is imperative for your Administration to promptly take the necessary steps to prevent this violence.
We urge the Administration to take action to address this growing national security threat on our southern border. Without swift and decisive action it is our fear that this violence will only increase in severity and scope.
We urge you to deploy the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border as has been requested by a number of border state Governors and Members of Congress.
We ask that any National Guard troops that are deployed should be provided with very clear guidance of proper rules of engagement and should be armed and allowed to defend themselves if fired upon or attacked.
As you know the level of violence along the border continues to increase. Since January 2008 nearly 5000 homicides have been committed in Juarez Mexico making it one of the most violent cities in the world. In 2009 alone 79 U.S. citizens were killed in Juarez Mexico.
On March 13th of this year Lesley Enriquez a U.S. Consulate employee and her husband Arthur Redelf a ten year veteran of the El Paso Police Department were killed when Mexican drug gang members fired a number of rounds at their vehicle. That same day Jorge Alberto Salcido the husband of a U.S. Consulate employee was killed when cartel members shot at his car at a separate location.
On March 27 2010 Robert Krentz a longtime Arizona rancher was found shot dead and slumped over in his all-terrain vehicle with the engine still running. Following the murder of Mr. Krentz his assailant was tracked to the U.S.- Mexico border and there is evidence that he crossed the border into Mexico.
The day before the killing Mr. Krentzs brother had called the Border Patrol to report a caravan of illegal immigrants who were ultimately caught carrying 280 pounds of marijuana.
Additionally our Border Patrol and law enforcement agents along the border are facing a growing threat to their safety. Assaults against Border Patrol agents increased 46 percent from 752 incidents in 2007 to 1097 incidents in 2008. Recent analysis from the El Paso Sector Border Intelligence Center warns that retaliatory actions against law enforcement officers could occur in the border region.
At the same time we urge the Administration to provide the Border Patrol with the support it needs both in terms of tangible resources such as state-of-the-art technology and equipment as well as ensuring that agents are not disciplined or prosecuted for performing their duties or defending themselves against attacks.
We stand ready to work together with you and your Administration on these important issues to ensure the safety and security of all Americans in the border region and throughout our country.
Sincerely
John Culberson
Member of Congress
