Mexican Drug Violence Has Crossed U.S. Border, State Officials Say
February 24, 2009 by national
Filed under Homeland Security News
The violence associated with Mexican drug cartels is now spilling over onto the America side of the border in Arizona and Texas, state officials have admitted.
The New York Times reports that Arizona has seen a dramatic spike in drug-related abductions, home invasions, and even men dressed in SWAT gear wielding military-grade weaponry.
A home invasion here last year was carried out by attackers wielding military-style rifles and dressed in uniforms similar to a Phoenix police tactical unit. The discovery of grenades and other military-style weaponry bound for Mexico is becoming more routine, as is hostage-taking and kidnapping for ransom, law enforcement officials said.
The Phoenix police regularly receive reports involving a border-related kidnapping or hostage-taking in a home.
The Maricopa County attorney’s office said such cases rose to 241 last year from 48 in 2004, though investigators are not sure of the true number because they believe many crimes go unreported.
The violence, said Commander Dan Allen of the State Department of Public Safety, is “reaching into Arizona, and that is what is really alarming local and state law enforcement.”
In Texas, state Homeland Security Director Steve McCraw told the El Paso Times that drug violence has indeed crossed the border.
“Yes, absolutely it has occurred; there’s no question about it,” he said.
The violence has led Governor Rick Perry to request an additional $135 million for border security from the state legislature.
This admission comes after news that Texas activated the lowest stage of its border security plan after protests and violence broke out in Mexican border towns last week and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the former governor of Arizona, told reporters last Thursday that drug-related violence has not crossed the Mexican-American border.
“Right now it has not (crossed the border). But it is a contingency we have in mind because it could,” she said. “We have contingency plans should violence spread into the United States.”
…”Homeland Security Director Steve McCraw told the El Paso Times that drug violence has indeed crossed the border.
“Yes, absolutely it has occurred; there’s no question about it,” he said….”
“Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the former governor of Arizona, told reporters last Thursday that drug-related violence has not crossed the Mexican-American border.
“Right now it has not (crossed the border)….”
Has it crossed the border or not??? Sounds to me like the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing….LET’S GET THAT BORDER SEALED, NOW!
The State of AZ. can take our taxes but can not protect its people. mind you AZ GOV. we voted for you we can vote you out!! I’m over here in Iraq but my own back yard is being invaded. Use your resources that you have!!