Border Security Council Report - Office of the Governor - Rick Perry
Border Security Council Report - Office of the Governor - Rick Perry
Border Security Council Report - Office of the Governor - Rick Perry
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Appendix C: Public Hearing and Open Meeting Minutes<br />
2<br />
The BSC needs to send a message to Washington D.C. about <strong>the</strong> need for guest worker reform.<br />
IV. Public testimony:<br />
A. Steve McCraw, Director, <strong>Office</strong> <strong>of</strong> Homeland <strong>Security</strong>, <strong>Governor</strong> <strong>Rick</strong> <strong>Perry</strong><br />
Outlined Senate Bill 11, which created <strong>the</strong> <strong>Border</strong> <strong>Security</strong> <strong>Council</strong>, and <strong>the</strong> homeland security<br />
funding that was allocated for <strong>the</strong> biennium.<br />
B. Eliot Shapleigh , State Senator<br />
Provided BSC members with a newspaper article that highlighted that Mexico is <strong>the</strong> #1<br />
trading partner with Texas.<br />
Agrees with Gov. <strong>Perry</strong> that we need to ensure that people and product are moving along<br />
<strong>the</strong> border.<br />
Promotes fast, secure trade.<br />
El Paso is <strong>the</strong> third largest manufacturing basin in <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
Wants to create a secure manufacturing zone; demonstration project with federal highway<br />
administration.<br />
Wants to build one-stop inspection stations; this will occur in Anzalduas.<br />
Wants: funds for enhanced drivers license program; to participate in coordinated approach<br />
to tech, no money for illegal immigration/racial pr<strong>of</strong>iling.<br />
C. Chente Quintanilla, State Representative<br />
Counties should be funded to patrol <strong>the</strong> border; sheriffs and DPS should be <strong>the</strong> second line<br />
<strong>of</strong> defense.<br />
Was against HB 1 and SB 11 until Chairman Swinford clarified that it’s <strong>the</strong> second line, not<br />
<strong>the</strong> primary mechanism for security.<br />
D. Jaime Esparza, District Attorney, El Paso, Texas<br />
The border is a federal responsibility.<br />
Drug smuggling is a bigger issue than illegal immigration.<br />
State <strong>of</strong>ficials shouldn’t be enforcing federal law.<br />
Look at drug task forces for a model for border security. High intensity drug trafficking areas<br />
(HIDTA) pursues drug traffickers.<br />
Not a good idea to create a new intelligence center; we are currently sharing info in <strong>the</strong> most<br />
effective way possible, and we’re making headway on <strong>the</strong> drug war.<br />
Spend money in a coordinated way, but leave federal problems to <strong>the</strong> federal agents.<br />
Comment from BSC: <strong>Border</strong> Sheriffs Coalition is not engaging in illegal immigration activities<br />
and is not going to start.<br />
D. Richard Wiles, Police Chief, El Paso, TX<br />
El Paso needs increased funding.<br />
El Paso needs <strong>the</strong> ability for an <strong>of</strong>ficer to enter a name in a database, and get all <strong>the</strong> databases<br />
linked toge<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
Operation Stonegarten was effective and should be re-implemented.<br />
<br />
El Paso is not a part <strong>of</strong> Operation <strong>Border</strong> Star.