Drug Cartels Threaten U.S. Trade
By Cong. Michael McCaul
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON DC -- Fridays unemployment figures for April once again fall short of the economic growth that is needed and show what little recovery we have experienced is starting to slow down. Only 115000 jobs added is far less than economists expected.
This country needs job-creation policies not class warfare.
The president should start with immediate approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline which would create thousands of jobs many in Texas and also help diminish our dependence on Middle East oil.
Homeland Security Border & Maritime Security Hearing
Last week I chaired a field hearing in Laredo to examine the need for additional technology at ports of entry to more efficiently detect illegal contraband. Our border crossings that serve as a pipeline for economic growth are inundated by illegal drug shipments.
According to the Department of Justice more than 90 of all illicit narcotics come into the United States through official ports of entry hidden among
cargo and travelers.
Every year over 1.6 million trucks pass through the Laredo port of entry. We cannot physically inspect or scan every single truck. I will continue working with DHS to utlilize inexpensive off-the-shelf technology and already-paid-for DOD technology for our ports of entry.
Also of great concern is human smuggling and the possibility that terrorists could infiltrate the United States with weapons of mass destruction. Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw testified that the Rio Grande Valley leads the nation in the number of illegal immigrants arrested along the border between ports of entry from countries that have a documented terrorism presence such as Afghanistan Pakistan and Somalia.
