Texas lawmakers visit Abilene to talk border policy with local leaders: ‘The cartel is here’

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Texas Lawmakers visited with Abilene city leaders and sheriffs from multiple Big Country counties Wednesday at the Taylor County Law Enforcement Center for a round table discussion on the decisions being made at the US-Mexico border. State Senator Charles Perry of District 28, U.S. Representative Jodey Arrington of District 19, and State Representative Stan Lambert of District 71 heard from local leaders about the impact Big Country Communities are facing as a result of actions taken on the border.

“The reality on the ground; it’s not getting better, it’s getting worse. That’s no surprise to us… As one gentleman said, I won’t attribute it to anyone, but they said, ‘the cartel is here,'” declared Rep. Arrington.

Taylor County Sheriff Ricky Bishop echoed this statement, saying the county has seen increasing impact by way of fentanyl and its presence in local communities.

Abilene woman accused of having Fentanyl pills in M&M container

“We’re seeing more and more fentanyl on the ground. It’s becoming more prevalent than methamphetamine is… Just about any crime that happens in Taylor County, somehow, is tied to the border. Everything is tied to the border. It’s tied to the drug trade, somehow or other,” Sheriff Bishop told KTAB/KRBC.

Sheriff Bishop said he appreciated the chance to discuss these local issues with the Texas lawmakers, as well as hear from them about what they have done to work towards border security, and what they say the future may hold.

Sen. Perry addressed the local issues with drugs in many counties being a result of the larger battle Texas is waging at the border. Since his election in 2011, Sen. Perry said $12 Million have been directly spent on border security by the state. He estimated that number is closer to at least $20 Million now, when including the poorly-tracked funds spent on education, medical care, and criminal justice costs he said the state incurs for undocumented immigrants.

“That’s spending that could have went to schools, could have went to roads, could have went to health care. But, we’re choosing to spend it on something that’s defending the state and the nation,” said Sen. Perry.

The state senator and congressmen said these costs would be far less if the federal government would send more financial aid to the security of the border. This is one factor they said they hope to see decided in the Supreme Court case Texas V. United states on the constitutionality of a state’s ability to supersede the federal government when it comes to border security and policy in the face of what Rep. Arrington called an “invasion.”

“If we believe it’s an invasion, if we believe it’s created an imminent danger. If we believe it’s a humanitarian, unprecedented, unmitigated humanitarian and security crisis, then what are we doing to stand and fight?” Rep. Arrington pondered.

Also touching on the “imminent danger” of immigrating without legal permission, Sheriff Bishop said that while he can assure there is no impending threat posed to Taylor County, he did affirm that he believes a future threat may be posed.

“There’s lots of people coming across that border that we don’t catch, and we don’t know who these people are and what their plans are, and like they (Sen. Perry and Congressmen Arrington and Lambert) said, in the next 10 to 15 years, we’re probably gonna find out who those people are and why they’re here,” announced Sheriff Bishop, alluding to the various drug cartels active near the border.

Sen. Perry told the room actions like the 80-acre National Guard base camp being built in Eagle Pass by Governor Greg Abbott are necessary for the State of Texas to maintain law and order in the area. Although, he said he hopes the state’s financial support of these decisions will not be permanent as the funds take a toll on the state’s general fund.

Texas will build camp for National Guard members in border city of Eagle Pass

“We spent $7 billion this biennial budget coming up in border security,” Sen. Perry remarked. “That number’s going to be $10 billion or north of $10 billion next session.”

Relief for the state’s spending may only come if federal cash begins to flow to the “Border Crisis,” as Sen. Perry included.

“If that’s what it takes to protect the citizens in this country, we will do it. I support it. It’s going to be a general fund obligation. We’re gonna write the check straight out of the checkbook,” added Sen. Perry. “Therefore, that means water, public schools, and everything else suffers.”

Before arriving in Abilene, Sen. Perry and Rep. Arrington also met with city and county leaders in Lubbock to discuss the issues they are facing tied to decisions at the border.

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