McCaul Opens Hearings Into Border Incursions

McCaul Opens Hearings Into Border Incursions

02/07/06

(Washington D.C.)- Recent reports indicate an increase in the amount of border incursions made by Mexican drug dealers. In one instance, these published reports explain how three large SUV's, being chased by local, state and federal authorities towards the Mexican border with Texas, reached the Rio Grande River, where they were met by fellow criminals in an armor-plated humvee.

According to accounts from American police officers involved, those in the humvee were holding high-powered automatic machine guns and wearing Mexican military uniforms. The reports explain how individuals in Mexican military uniforms held American law enforcement at bay while assisting drug smugglers back across the Rio Grande.

On February 7, 2006, for the first time Congressman Michael McCaul, Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Investigations, called his subcommittee to order to investigate border violence, and more specifically the increase in violence during border incursions.

"After hearing from the witnesses about the violence and crimes along the border, I think we can all agree there is a growing crisis on America's border with Mexico," stated Chairman Michael McCaul. He went on to say, "It's going to take the cooperation of both of our government, and more specifically the help of Mexican federal authorities, to begin to bring this violence to an end."

McCaul, along with Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter T. King, Reps. Mike D. Rogers and Steve Pearce, sent a letter to Mexican and U.S. officials asking for an explanation of recent media reports that individuals who appeared to be members of the Mexican military were assisting illegal drug trafficking.

On February 3, 2006, Congressman McCaul met with those members of law enforcement involved in the border incursion last week. Today, many of those same members of law enforcement testified before Chairman McCaul and his subcommittee giving first hand accounts of the incursions and the violence and crimes associated with those acts.

"Violence is increasing along America's border with Mexico, coupled with an apparent disrespect for our international border," stated McCaul. He went on to say, "America will not be overrun by drug dealers no matter what type of military uniform they're wearing. This is the right issue for my committee to investigate, and I look forward to providing the American people with some answers about these crimes."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/tx10_mccaul/2_7_06_1st_bor_hearing.html