Ted Poe: “Yes, of course, this is an issue that's not partisan issue. As my friend, former Sheriff Rick Flores has said, this is…”

“Yes, of course, this is an issue that's not partisan issue. As my friend, former Sheriff Rick Flores has said, this is not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is a red, white, and blue issue. He used to be a border sheriff in Laredo. There are those who say, well, the answer is this, don't go to Mexico; it's too violent so don't go down there. Well, first of all, I don't think that's a realistic point of view, in other words, it's okay for people in Mexico to be violent and the drug cartels to have their way and try to run roughshod over the Mexican military and law enforcement. I think that's an insensitive comment regarding our neighboring country, Mexico. They are our neighbors. We ought to be concerned about what takes place down there. But also that comment is a lack of understanding of the border culture. The border culture, especially in Texas and I'm sure this is true in Arizona, New Mexico and maybe California, goes back hundreds of years where there is cross-border travel, and we need and want cross-border travel.”