Border Security: Are we at risk?

Border security in Texas deserves federal attention is a commentary written by Todd Staples, the Texas Agriculture Commissioner, for the Austin American Statesman. Staples, clearly directs his article to all Texans, national leaders and even the President. Staples’ commentary can be found here.

Staples, maintains that Washington continues to report that our American border is under control and safe, while he believes that we need federal military response to stop the “brazen criminals from invading our country and harming our citizens.” He reports that our current border patrol and local law enforcement are outnumbered and outgunned and currently the federal government has no intention of increasing its aid to this cause. Staples, has also launched a website that documents any incidents on the American side of the border and can be found here. He urges the President to recognize the recent violent border events and to act “before more innocent Americans have to pay a price that could be avoidable.”

The following are the recent attacks on U.S. citizens along the border:

·         June 19, 2011: U.S. Border Patrol shot at by drug traffickers in an area that has seen repeated shootings aimed at U.S. law enforcement.

·         June 9, 2011: Texas Department of Public Safety employees and game wardens shot at by drug traffickers.

·         March 11, 2011: Ranch foreman injured from shots fired by suspected drug cartel members.

·         February 18, 2011: Two energy company employees assaulted and robbed.

While I agree with Todd Staples that border patrol is “serious business” and more actions should be taken to prevent border security within the state of Texas; I do not feel that federal military response from the President of the United States is a necessity at this point. Staples, closes his argument with “If we continue to allow criminals with ties to Mexican drug cartels to run amok with guns blazing while peddling drugs and trafficking humans across our border, it’s only a matter of time before the body count in America starts catching up to those south of the border” which seems a little overly dramatic. I appreciate Todd Staples’ point of view and his call of action for the protection of Texas and American citizens; however, passing strict immigration laws would surely help to counteract this growing concern as we currently have larger priorities that require the use of our federal military.