Congressman Cuellar Calls on President Bush and President Fox to Help LAredo Families, Address Border Violence

CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR CALLS ON PRESIDENT BUSH AND PRESIDENT FOX TO HELP LAREDO FAMILIES, ADDRESS BORDER VIOLENCE
March 22, 2005

WASHINGTON D.C-Today Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), together with Congressmen Solomon Ortiz and Silvester Reyes, wrote a letter to President George W. Bush to shed light on critical border security issues and ask for their resolution at the upcoming summit between President Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox.

Congressman Cuellar made specific reference to the missing relatives of Laredo families in the letter, noting that, "In addition to the need for increased information sharing, it is essential that we address security concerns raised by the recent escalation of violence along the Mexico/Texas border. In the past year, 27 American citizens have been abducted from the Laredo/Nuevo Laredo areas."

The letter then proceeds to ask that immediate action be taken on behalf of the families, "We ask that you work to formulate a comprehensive solution to this problem, including an agreement between the U.S. and Mexican governments to cooperate to find the missing individuals. We also ask that you look towards the future of the border region, and work to create a plan that lays out tangible steps towards the enforcement of the safety stipulations contained in the Smart Border Agreement."

"A week ago I met with some of the families from Laredo who are missing relatives. What is happening is tragic. We must work together to bring their relatives home and put an end to this violence. I am working with my colleagues on Capitol Hill to shed light on this violence and have asked that President Bush and President Fox make it a top priority at their meeting in Crawford this week."

President Bush, President Fox, and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin will meet at Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, beginning on March 23.

http://www.house.gov/cuellar/pr.050324.2.html