Congressmen John Culberson and Ciro Rodriguez announced today they succeeded in providing $60 million in extra funding to help secure America's borders. Congressman Culberson also announced he obtained $15 million to help implement a successful zero tolerance immigration enforcement program and $5 million specifically for the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition.

"Congressman Rodriguez and I worked together as Texans to earn this $60 million for border security, and we are proud of the result. This money can be used by local law enforcement agencies on America's borders to pay for deputies' overtime, vehicle maintenance, equipment costs, mileage, fuel, and travel.

“I am also proud of the $15 million designated for the U. S. Marshal's service on the border to help them handle the increased workload created by Operation Streamline, the zero tolerance immigration enforcement program now in place in the Del Rio and Laredo sectors of the Texas border."

“The Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition is honored to recognize the bipartisan efforts of Congressman John Culberson and Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, who have lead the Congressional battle to support local law enforcement in their quest for a safe border environment. The Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition is proud to partner with these great leaders for the security of our nation. The monies available will be used for basic law enforcement needs that the local tax base cannot support. The Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition is proud to be a good steward of the money of the people of the United States,” said Donald Reay, Executive Director of the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition.

"To achieve strong and smart border control we need a comprehensive strategy that supports our border law enforcement agencies and incorporates the local expertise of our border communities. The $60,000,000 in emergency funding through Operation Stonegarden is critically needed by our sheriff and police departments who everyday face the growing problems of drug and weapons smuggling, as well as human trafficking,” said Congressman Rodriguez, a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.

The $60 million for border law enforcement personnel under Operation Stonegarden is a competitive grant under the State and Local Grant Program account. The $15 million in emergency funds for the U.S. Marshals will pay for prisoner transportation, defendant productions, courthouse security, and the hiring of 100 additional federal Marshals. This funding will help the Border Patrol and Department of Justice arrest, prosecute, and jail illegal aliens under a strict, new zero tolerance policy. The $5 million grant for the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition will help sheriffs along the border pay for training, overtime, and needed equipment.

Congressman Culberson has led the effort to expand a new zero tolerance policy towards illegal aliens. Under this policy, anyone caught illegally crossing the border is arrested, prosecuted, and jailed for up to six months. The zero tolerance policy is achieving dramatic results in the Del Rio sector under Operation Streamline. Due to the deterrent effect of increased enforcement, the sector experienced a 38 percent drop in apprehensions in FY 2006 and a further 52 percent reduction this year. The Val Verde County Sheriff’s office also reports a 76 percent drop in crime during this period.

In October, Laredo Border Patrol Sector Chief Carlos Carrillo recognized Congressman Culberson’s hard work by saying, “I would like to especially thank Representative John Culberson for his support for this program. Unquestionably, his profound interest in border security and his first-hand familiarity with Streamline-Del Rio proved to be the catalyst that made Streamline-Laredo a reality today.”

Congressman Culberson has long been a supporter of local law enforcement agencies along the border, along with fellow Congressmen Ciro Rodriguez and Henry Cuellar. He is a lead sponsor of H.R. 2542, the Border Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, which would provide $150 million to border county sheriffs and police departments to hire, train, and equip additional officers. In 2006, he obtained $5 million for the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition.

This September, the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition presented Congressman Culberson with the award, “Champion of Border Security” for his “vision on behalf of border security issues.” Sheriff Leo Samaniego of the Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition said, “From day one Congressman John Culberson understood that a porous southern border offers challenges that over-extend the federal government at this point in time of homeland security. His untiring dedication to help local law enforcement engage in solution oriented policing for border crime is a mark that distinguishes him from those who talk and those who act. I’m proud of his leadership.”