Congressman Henry Cuellar Tours the US-Mexico Border with Members of Congress

CONGRESSMAN HENRY CUELLAR TOURS THE US-MEXICO BORDER WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

Washington, DC- Congressman Henry Cuellar today hosted fellow Members of Congress on a tour of the US-Mexico Border. United States Representatives Aderholt (R-Alabama), Fortenberry (R-Nebraska), and Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) visited the Gateway City at Congressman Cuellar's invitation. Members toured two of Laredo's international bridges and met with officials responsible for patrolling the US-Mexico border during a nighttime tour of the area.

The debate surrounding our nation's immigration reform has drawn considerable attention to border communities throughout the nation including Laredo, Texas. Laredo, one of the fastest growing cities in the country, has four bridges crossing the Rio Grande and connecting it to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. "Many Members are surprised to learn that Laredo is home to the busiest inland trade port in the country," said Congressman Cuellar.

"As neighbors, Laredo and Nuevo Laredo share many of the same problems. Violence and drug trafficking in Laredo's sister city of Nuevo Laredo has caused much concern over the probability of these crimes spilling over to the United States," he added. Local law enforcement agents are further endangered by narcotics trafficking and illegal immigration; the narcotics trade has become more prevalent in the past years and has thus led to an increase in violence. In Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, several Americans have already lost their lives in alleged drug-related violence in the last several months.

"Being from the border, I am acutely aware of the problems and the dangers facing residents and law enforcement agents, and I wanted to provide other Members the opportunity to witness the scale of the situation for themselves," said Congressman Cuellar. The Members of Congress toured the area along the Rio Grande including the trade routes into Laredo and witnessed first hand the work of the border patrol agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) including the issues involved with nighttime border enforcement. The Members learned about statistics regarding illegal immigration and listened to powerful personal experiences with violence along the border and the agents' daily battle to combat the influx of illegal immigration.

Several tours have been conducted recently which have proven enlightening to the Members who attended. This tour provided a rare opportunity for Members to gain a personal understanding of the issues along the border in Laredo as they relate to immigration and border security policy.

Congressman Cuellar commented, "I appreciate Reps. Fortenberry, Aderholt, and Jackson-Lee for visiting the border to better understand the critical issues that we residents are faced with every day. I grew up on the border, my family lives here, and many of my constituents are affected by this increase in violence. This tour will be another step in the right direction towards accomplishing this urgent goal."

Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the House Budget and Agriculture committees in the 109th Congress; accessibility to constituents, education, health care and economic development are his priorities.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/tx28_cuellar/060418.html