Border Security Council Report - Office of the Governor - Rick Perry

Appendix C: Public Hearing and Open Meeting Minutes
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Appendix C: Public Hearing and Open Meeting Minutes
Border Security Council Public Hearing
Oct. 1, 2007 - McAllen, Texas
Members Present: Chair Carlos Cascos, Vice Chair Robert Holt, Sec. of State Phil Wilson, Sheriff Tomas
Herrera, Sheriff T. Michael O’Connor, Scott McLaughlin, Fred Burton and Allan Polunsky.
Members Absent: Buddy Garcia, Judge Val Beard, Judge Becky Dean Walker
I. Meeting called to order at 9:00 am by Chairman Cascos.
II. United States and Texas pledge led by Rep. Veronica Gonzalez.
III. Amanda Arriaga gave an introduction regarding the purpose of the Border Security Council.
IV. Public testimony:
A. Steve McCraw, Director, Office of Homeland Security, Governor Rick Perry
Mr. McCraw provided an overview of homeland security threat, including the problem with
transnational gangs.
B. Aaron Pena, State Representative
Was recognized and in attendance, but did not provide testimony.
C. Kino Flores, State Representative
Was recognized and in attendance, but did not provide testimony.
D. Juan Escobar, State Representative
Helped author the bill that created the Border Security Council.
The threat is real and the criminals are sophisticated.
Three major “hotspots” – Gulf cartel, Juarez cartel, and Pacific corridors; help Rio Grande
Valley.
If any BSC members have federal influence, write to your congressman and ask for more
experienced personnel to be sent to the Border.
Helping to prosecute at state drug courts would help. The courts are in need of additional
funds.
E. Veronica Gonzalez, State Representative
SB 11 allows for Enhanced Drivers Licenses. It allows DPS to set a fee to administer the
program.
She hopes the public understands that the BSC was not created to discuss the fence or
immigration reform, but the lines between state and federal responsibility are blurry.
Virtual technology can be used more effectively along the border than anything else.
F. Victor Rodriguez, Chief of Police, McAllen, Texas
The U.S.-Mexico border is an immigration reform target.
It is a bad idea to build a fence along the border.
The federal government should do a better job of creating immigration legislation to fix the
current problem.
The support that the Border Sheriffs Coalition provides basically amounts to a fence.