FLYNN: Texas House Stepping Up on Border Crises to Secure Our Border

Permisos to travel wherever desired in U.S. hindering Border Operations By State Rep. Dan Flynn Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas There was no denying the energy in the room as Steve McCraw (left) Texas Director of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) talked about the crises situation of Texas-Mexico border operations. Testifying that circumstances on the border change by the hour McCraw offered a candid detailed and factual analysis of what Texas is facing since Gov. Rick Perry Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Joe Straus issued a surge of DPS troopers to the southern border ... at the cost of nearly $1.3 million a week.   The Texas House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety met to discuss Texas current immigration policies and how to counter Federal policies currently allowing apprehended illegal immigrants who have been granted permisos to travel wherever in the United States they desire and even voluntarily select which immigration office they promise to appear before. Director McCraw referred to this surge as a saturation or a multi-agency effort to assist U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) designed to close the gaps currently allowing drug cartels to traffic in humans drugs and a large number of unaccompanied minors through to Texas. Clarified the mission of DPS as well as the authority of Texas when looking to secure the Texas-Mexico border and protect its citizens McCraw said Texas cannot enforce federal immigration policy and is therefore obligated to hand any apprehended individuals over to the United State Board Patrol (USPB) for processing. With an upswing in enforcement agents from DPS however McCraw said he is hopeful there will also be a surge in apprehensions and a decline in cartel activity. State Rep. Dan Flynn a senior member of the committee offered clarity to the issue after the committee adjourned

Texas is restricted by federal law ... If border patrol releases any illegal immigrants into Texas we cannot deport them without violating federal law said Flynn. The simple solution I hear offered by so many is in fact not so simple. To let them in or not let them in is not our choice at this time. We need only look to the lawsuits Arizona faced when it decided to take immigration matters into its own hands after realizing the administration in Washington would do nothing.

It must be a multi-agency effort said the Director noting he has been pleased with the level of cooperation from local law enforcement as well as with the relationships he has established with USBP personnel.

• Read related content ... FLYNN: Texas Will Not Accept Immigration Border Reform Without Securing the Border First

The committee also heard from:

• Dr. David Lakey Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services
• Jim Darling Mayor of McAllen Texas and
• Victor Rodriguez McAllen Chief of Police all of whom said they have all been working closely together to confront the crises.

Commissioner Lakey said he had developed a sound relationship with The Office of Refugee Resettlement and other departments responsible for overseeing the humane treatment of the unaccompanied children apprehended by border patrol. Chief Rodriguez offered a short history lesson and possible explanation for why the surge in illegal immigration into Texas and the United States seems unprecedented in recent years. Rodriguez reminded committee members that during the Central American Refugee Crisis of 1980 the U.S. Border Patrol required all apprehended illegal immigrants to remain in the region they were apprehended namely the Rio Grande Valley until they received a court hearing date. In contrast current immigration policy allows apprehended illegal immigrants who have been granted permisos to travel wherever in the United States they desire and even voluntarily select which immigration office they promise to appear before to receive their court date notice. This has proven to be another failed Federal policy said Rodriguez. Echoing the concerns over this protocol expressed by other members at the hearing Flynn noted:

Suddenly this is not just a border state issue. When other states realize whats happening they will shut down and the burden will fall entirely to Texas. While I am confident in the abilities of Director McCraw and all the DPS personnel tasked with helping to protect our borders and deter further illegal immigrants and children from crossing our borders illegally the bottom line is simple ...  The (Obama) Administration and Washington needs to step up and properly address the concerns of Texans and Americans and that is to secure our border.

While many may believe not enough is being done I feel Director McCraw did an outstanding job assuring the committee that the border issues are being addressed and that he has been given the tools needed to contend with the crisis at this time Flynn said.

I want to thank DPS those in Texas Parks & Wildlife and the local law enforcement that are all working together to keep their communities and Texas as safe and secure as possible during this time.

State Representative Dan Flynn a Republican from House District 2 is a senior member of the House Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee. He has consistently been ranked as a Top 10 Conservative since being elected in 2000 and was named a Texas Taxpayer Hero by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility.