Letter to The Honorable Janet Napolitano, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security

Letter

Letter to The Honorable Janet Napolitano, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security

Sen. Cornyn Invites Homeland Security Chief Napolitano To Visit Texas-Mexico Border

Says Escalating Violence Is A National Security Risk That Deserves Urgent Attention From The Administration

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee's Immigration, Refugees and Border Security Subcommittee, today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. In the letter, he asked her to visit the Texas-Mexico border and meet directly with local Border Patrol, FBI, ATF, law enforcement officials and city leaders to address the escalating levels of drug-related violence along the border. This follows Sen. Cornyn's recent letter to President Barack Obama, also urging him to visit the border and give high priority to the issue of rising border violence. Sen. Cornyn was in Laredo last month where he met with U.S. and Mexican law enforcement officials and received a briefing on issues concerning security along Texas' southern border with Mexico, including the rising drug cartel and gang violence in the region.

The full text of Sen. Cornyn's letter is as follows:

Dear Secretary Napolitano:

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me on February 6 regarding the escalating levels of drug-related violence in Mexico. I write today to keep you informed of developments since our conversation and invite you to come to Texas and witness the situation firsthand.

As you know, more than 7,000 lives have been lost from drug-related violence in Mexico since January 2008. This includes the brutal killing of many courageous Mexican law enforcement officers and public officials. Drug cartels are intent on undermining the Mexican state, threatening to spread this violence across our nation's southern border and jeopardize our own national security. Recent reports from Department of Defense officials estimate that the Sinaloa and Gulf drug cartels that are responsible for this violence may have as many as 100,000 foot soldiers in their ranks. Just across the border from El Paso, Texas, in Ciudad Juarez, more than 1,800 people have been killed since January 2008, according to the U.S. State Department and Mexican authorities.

Since our conversation, I visited Laredo to receive a security briefing from Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, ATF and other federal agencies on U.S. efforts to reduce the flow of weapons and cash fueling the cartels' ability to carry out narcoterrorism. Mexican law enforcement officials were also present. It is important we address this situation not only to safeguard families living along the border, but also to ensure that legitimate trade and travel essential to the South Texas economy is preserved. We must do everything we can to help President Calderon and the Mexican government confront the criminal gangs causing terror along our border, and we must coordinate efforts across our government and with our Mexican partners to stem the tide of money and guns flowing south and bolster Mexican government institutions.

Recently I wrote to President Obama and urged him to make reducing drug-related violence along the Mexican border a top priority and to visit the Texas border. I encourage you to do the same to witness firsthand the urgency of this situation and the compelling need to devote Homeland Security resources to this crucial issue.

As a former border state governor, you are aware of the severity of this problem and I am encouraged by the priority you have placed on addressing it. It is my hope you will join me in the near future in visiting the region, so we can meet with local officials, communities and law enforcement on the ground to discuss additional steps the U.S. can take to help President Calderon and the Mexican government confront this tremendous problem.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this critical national security issue, and I look forward to hearing your response on visiting the region.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator

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