Pubdate: Fri, 23 Apr 2010
Source: El Paso Times (TX)
Copyright: 2010 El Paso Times
Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/formnewsroom
Website: http://www.elpasotimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829
Author: Ramon Bracamontes

SEN. CORNYN SEEKS MONEY TO PROTECT BORDER

EL PASO -- As the violence in Juarez drags on, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn 
and other political leaders are seeking an infusion of tax dollars 
for the border to make sure El Pasoans and others along the Texas 
border remain safe.

The money that Cornyn, U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, and others 
are asking for would go for purposes such as hiring more Border 
Patrol agents and providing public subsidies for border hospitals 
that treat shooting victims who cross into the U.S. seeking health care.

Cornyn, R-Texas, the ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on 
Immigration Reform, Refugees and Border Security, will be in El Paso 
today. He will get a private briefing on the violence from the FBI 
and the Drug Enforcement Administration before having a round-table 
discussion with local law enforcement officials.

In a statement, Cornyn said he is coming to El Paso to make sure U.S. 
officials are doing everything possible to keep the border safe and 
secure. After his meetings, Cornyn will unveil new legislation that 
would fast-track new funding for state and local law enforcement 
agencies to buy equipment, upgrade critical information systems and 
hire more officers to help with border enforcement.

The details of his legislation were not released Thursday.

Cornyn's visit comes a week after Reyes, U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, 
D-Texas, and other Congress members from the Texas-Mexico border sent 
a letter to the speaker of the House asking for emergency money. They 
are asking for:

$70 million to hire 500 new Customs and Border Protection officers.

$100 million for CBP to pay the salaries of about 300 officers.

$50 million for Operation Stonegarden that will get to local law 
enforcement agencies along the U.S.-Mexico border.

$32.2 million for 207 more Border Patrol agents.

$39.6 million to conduct ongoing background investigations of federal agents.

$200 million to support communication capabilities in remote areas 
along the border.

$10 million to reimburse border communities for uncompensated 
health-care costs.

Reyes said the money to help the hospitals was included because some 
of the violence victims cannot pay the hospitals.

Since the drug violence began in Juarez, more than 70 victims of 
shootings in Mexico have been treated at University Medical Center of 
El Paso, according to previous reports. Treating 50 victims in 2008 
cost the hospital about $1.4 million. Most of the victims were U.S. 
citizens, and the county hospital is working with insurance 
companies, federal programs and patients to get paid.

But because federal laws force the hospital to treat anyone who walks 
in, regardless of citizenship or ability to pay, some of the money 
for treating the victims will never be paid.

"I am reasonably confident that we will get the money," Reyes said of 
the entire funding request made by the border caucus.

Rodriguez, who represents a small part of East El Paso as well as 
Fort Hancock, said he is hoping to get money to the sheriff's 
departments that patrol the border between El Paso and Eagle Pass.

He said Cornyn's visit would help secure that money.

"We all need to be on the same page," Rodriguez said. "We need to be 
asking for the same items."

Reyes said he too was glad Cornyn was visiting the area. But he did 
have one concern.

"What I hope is that he doesn't jump to conclusions and say he wants 
the military at the border," Reyes said. "In my conversations with 
Cornyn, we have focused on the need to continue with border security, 
but we've told him we don't need to be talking about sending soldiers 
to the border."

Since the beginning of 2008, nearly 5,000 people have been killed in 
Juarez because of a drug war between two drug cartels.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake