Public Safety and Border Security

Protecting the safety and security of Texas citizens is a priority. Whether it is a natural disaster, an act of terrorism or a porous border, we must continue to work to ensure every Texan is safe.

Texas Border Security and Gang Strategy

To deter crime along the Texas-Mexico border, the 80th Legislature allocated $110 million to increase land, water, and air patrol capacity. My homeland security strategy for 2010-11 includes $135 million for the current border strategy plus three new priorities: (1) combating transnational gangs, (2) providing additional investment in local law enforcement, and (3) preventing border corruption.

This funding provides resources for gang enforcement initiatives including surge operations, investigation, prosecution, gang prevention programs and the addition of a multi-agency gang intelligence section in the Texas Fusion Center. This funding also provides overtime and operational costs for local law enforcement, including grants to fund 200 new full time positions, and provide increased oversight of the funds distributeds.

I look forward to working together on the challenges and opportunities facing our great state. As we develop our state’s budget, I urge the continued use of fiscal restraint and remain committed to only using the Rainy Day Fund for one-time expenditures.