Ted Poe: “in the Mexican border town of Nuevo Laredo, across the border from Laredo, Texas, crime has skyrocketed as disciplined…”

“in the Mexican border town of Nuevo Laredo, across the border from Laredo, Texas, crime has skyrocketed as disciplined drug cartels have turned up their battle for total territory control over this chief entry point into the U.S. Our open border policy encourages drug dealers to lead organized efforts to infiltrate the United States in their fighting over this territory. So far this year more than 135 people have died, seven police officers have been killed and 44 American citizens have been kidnapped in this treacherous town. Mr. Speaker, I have a recent newspaper article from Nuevo Laredo that shows a police officer, a policewoman, that was set on fire in the streets of Nuevo Laredo trying to enforce the law. The reason that there is chaos, Mr. Speaker, is because these drug cartels are trying to come into the United States. They are fighting over territory. Because the United States basically has no policy in protecting our borders, there is chaos on the border. Mr. Speaker, the border is a perilous place. How many more people have to die? How many more Americans have to be kidnapped in this border town before we protect our borders? ____________________”