CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE STATEMENT REGARDING THE MEMORANDUM ISSUED TODAY BY DHS SECRETARY JOHNSON REGARDING THE SECURITY OF THE SOUTHERN BORDER

May 8, 2014  

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Senior Member of the House Homeland Security Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, released the following statement on the memorandum issued by Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson today directing the creation of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wide inter-component campaign plan for the security of the southern border:

“Today Homeland Security Secretary Johnson issued a memorandum whose effort is designed to provide a comprehensive strategy and operational plans directed at threats – including illegal migration, drug trafficking, human trafficking, weapons trafficking, and terrorism – that serves as an example of the Obama Administration’s unprecedented efforts to strengthen security along the southern border.

“I am hopeful that this plan will help further direct and coordinate the Department’s unprecedented efforts along our southern border.  As an original cosponsor of H.R. 1417, the Border Security Results Act, I support DHS developing a comprehensive border security strategy and implementation plan, particularly given the scope of the challenge and the number of agencies involved.  I look forward to being briefed by DHS on this effort and to conducting close oversight of its development in my role as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.

“Today, the Southwest border is better-patrolled than at any other time in history. Along the Southwest border, the DHS has increased the number of personnel on the ground.  Since 2009, ICE HSI has deployed a quarter of all its operational personnel to the Southwest border region, doubled the number of officers dedicated to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations that pose a significant threat to border security, and more than tripled deployments by Border Liaison Officers who facilitate cooperation between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement authorities. Cooperation with Mexico to address the threats posed to both our nations by the illicit trafficking of humans, drugs, weapons, illicit proceeds, and cartel operatives, is my number one priority.”

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