Neugebauer Joins Thornberry and Conaway to Prevent Closing Border Patrol Stations in West Texas

Press Release

Today, Congressman Randy Neugebauer (TX-19) joined Texas Reps. Mac Thornberry (TX-13) and Mike Conaway (TX-11) in sending a letter to U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Fisher to express their concern with the Border Patrol's July 2, 2012 memo announcing their intention to close nine interior Border Patrol stations, including those in Amarillo, Lubbock, San Angelo and Abilene.

Each agent at these four stations apprehended an average of 142 illegal aliens this year. Amarillo and Lubbock made 638 apprehensions this year alone, and the San Angelo and Abilene stations play a vital role in patrolling the Del Rio Sector.

The letter also asks Mr. Fisher to reconsider the proposal to close these border patrol stations in Texas, which work efficiently to apprehend illegal immigrants and help keep the citizens of West and North Texas safe. The letter also expresses alarm that the Customs and Border Patrol (CBO) has not engaged in any communication with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ensure that local law enforcement will continue to be able address immigration violations without immediate federal support.

"Border security is of the utmost importance to our country. But we know that between the border patrol offices in Amarillo and Lubbock, more than 700 illegal immigrants were detained," said Congressman Neugebauer. "The Department of Homeland Security hasn't demonstrated that sending additional resources to the border will be a more efficient use of resources than maintaining a presence further north. I'd like to see numbers that reassure me that this strategy change won't ultimately result in fewer arrests."

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