McAllen, TX] - A law enforcement surge. That's how Governor Rick Perry is describing the latest border security program called Operation Wrangler. What is an expansion of Operation Rio Grande, Operation Wrangler will deploy more than 600 Texas Army National Guard troops around the state, with a majority of them in the Valley to help crack down on illegal immigrant and drug trafficking. But Perry, in McAllen yesterday, says he needs 100-million dollars from the legislature to fund the new operation, along with its support plan Operation Linebacker:
However, Operation Wrangler is drawing concern from several Valley police chiefs and sheriffs, who don't like the idea of local cops pairing up with specially-trained soldiers, saying it's another step toward militarizing the border.
Some people just don't get it... militarizing our border is exactly what's needed. After living in the Rio Grande Valley for 12 years, I can attest to the fact that well more than a few local law officials are as corrupt as you will find anywhere in the world. During the time I lived there, I saw sheriffs from both Cameron County (Brownsville and Harlingen) and Hidalgo County (McAllen) convicted for much more serious crimes than mere DUI or traffic tickets. In addition, numerous local police officers, sheriff's deputies, Border Patrol and INS agents were convicted of smuggling both drugs and illegals. Judges have also been implicated in many illegal activities. Law enforcement and justice is "de dos caras" in South Texas.
