As expected, the Obama administration is taking steps to beef up security along the Mexican border. But the announcement falls short for Tex. Gov. Rick Perry, which should count for something since his state has had to deal with a whole lot of trouble.
By TODD J. GILLMAN
The Dallas Morning News
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration announced modest steps this morning to beef up border security and help Mexico fight its drug cartels.
But Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the president isn’t ready to grant Texas’ request for a troop surge to ward off spillover violence.
“There’s already a very, very heavy federal presence. We add to it, we target, we dedicate,” Napolitano said at the White House, adding that she will meet with Gov. Rick Perry in Texas on Thursday to press for details on his call for 1,000 soldiers or border agents.
The drug war has killed more than 7,000 Mexicans in the last 15 months, and Perry and other border officials have expressed concern that the violence is getting worse and could threaten more Americans.
Perry expressed disappointment, saying the state and its taxpayers have had to “fill in the gaps” because the federal presence isn’t enough.
