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Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters that money coming from the new $600 million legislation signed by the president will provide agents first to the places with the greatest need. Texas Public Radio’s Eileen Pace reports.
August 16, 2010 · Governor Perry handed a letter to President Obama personally when the two met in Austin this week – but so far, no response has been issued. The DHS Secretary said she has not read Governor Perry’s letter, which he said outlined unique Texas border issues, but Napolitano said she understands what the governor wants.
“I have not personally read that letter. I have read some of the governor’s comments in the open press,” Napolitano said. “But I will tell you, we are not just going to throw money at the border. This is all designed to be mission-specific. We know exactly, for example, what the National Guard that we’re sending down there are going to do, where they’re going to be.”
Napolitano says Texas has unique border issues because of the great amount of trade and commerce coming through – on the ground and through sea ports.
“We will be working on some of those issues – like the Zetas. And institutions like EPIC, for example, to make sure that resources are focused where they need to be. We don’t want those large organizations infiltrating even more into the United States,” Napolitano said.
She said it takes about eight months to get border agents trained from hire to "boots on the ground," and that this bill has money to position agents where they are needed the most.
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