Henry Cuellar

What is the policy of the United States of America when it comes to somebody who is being caught with drugs at a checkpoint?

But the local conditions dictate what the policy is, correct?

Is that the policy of the United States of America when it comes to drug dealers?

In my hometown, Laredo, this is the home of the first Border Enforcement Security Task Force, an ICE-led initiative to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations posing significant threats to border security.

These law enforcement agencies understand that the way to meaningful border security is to work together to combat the cartels, smugglers, and criminal elements who seek to do us harm.

I am pleased that the subcommittee is examining the Department of Homeland Security's cooperation with State and local law enforcement on border security and immigration enforcement--matters that are important to us.

I think it is a good idea. In areas that were constrained, we certainly have to think outside the box how we can move that quicker.

If there is some technology out there that is proven somewhere else at another place, let us say Europe, why can't we implement some of that technology that would help us stop some of the smuggling coming in?

I would ask you to do the same thing as we asked Chief Fisher, is to evaluate to see if he can send any of those to the Northern or the Southern border.

I would ask you to please send that instruction down and be a little more aggressive on that.

But why is it that we just can't implement a policy to allow the border sheriffs, the border police departments to work with you?

I am a big believer that the more you can include the local and State folks to do those south-bound, you can catch more of the guns going down.

As I have said before, as Members representing border districts, both yourself and myself, we have areas of common interest, both the Northern border and the Southern border.

I certainly want to sit down with the Chairwoman and see how we can make this work the next time so we don't get any surprises at the very end.

I think that would be helpful.

88 percent of all the goods and people coming into the United States come through land ports.

Imagine if that would happen to Austin, or Laredo, or whatever your town--if one quarter of your businesses were shut down because of violence imagine what would happen to the economics.

I think the support that we have gotten thus far has been tremendous.

If we really want to address the issue of border violence and all this we need to go and take it to them, take the fight over.

I just ask Members to be a little mindful as we go.

We can help you as much as you want us to help us--help you.

I am a big supporter of the BEST program.

We still have to be mindful of spillover crime, but----

The drug cartels are in the United States.

President Felipe Calderon should be praised for his efforts to eradicate the cartels.