Castro Seeks Clarity on Border Security Efforts

Statement

Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) today sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske requesting data on federal efforts to secure the Texas-Mexico border. Rep. Castro released the following statement explaining the rationale behind this request:

"The state of Texas has spent a significant amount of money implementing former Governor Perry's Operation Strong Safety (OSS) to secure the Texas-Mexico border, and there's a budget request for an additional $123 million to continue the program. Despite their latest budget request, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has not provided state- and local- specific data related to the effectiveness of the program. Texans, whose tax dollars are funding OSS, deserve to know what they are paying for. That's why I have requested metrics for border apprehensions and drug seizures made exclusively by federal personnel, so we can disaggregate the information previously provided by Texas DPS.

"It's my hope that receiving this new information will allow us to accurately assess whether or not state border protection efforts are being funded at appropriate levels, or if we can put some of those dollars toward other areas of need, like education, infrastructure, or job creation."

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