Henry Cuellar for Congress | Proven Leadership for Texas

KGNS Pro 8 News.com 

Laredo, Texas

Laredo, TX- More than half a billion dollars could soon be headed to the U.S./Mexico border.

"This will help us fight the border violence that we've seen,” said Congressman Henry Cuellar.

As the drug war continues across the border, officials on this side are working around the clock to help secure the U.S./Mexico border.

"People in Washington are finally understanding that we have a serious problem across the river,” Cuellar added.

Tuesday the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $600 million emergency border security bill, which among other things would provide funding for 1,500 new law enforcement agents.

“That means the Laredo area will get more Border Patrol, more ICE agents, more ATF, more FBI and other folks to the border,” said Cuellar.

Cuellar who is an original co-sponsor of the legislation gave us a breakdown on how they would like the money to be used.

• Some of the funding includes around $300 million for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
• The Department of Justice would receive nearly $200 million for prosecutors and federal agents.
• About $80 million would be for Immigration and Customs Enforcement for new ICE personnel and border interdiction.
• A total of $176 million would go towards the hiring of 1,000 new Border Patrol agents to form a "strike force."

Read more here: http://www.pro8news.com/news/local/House-Approves-Border-Security-Funding-100408164.html