RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS -- The U.S. government plans to send hundreds of federal agents and drug dogs to the Southwest.
President Obama is comitting $700 million to bolster Mexican federal agents in their crime prevention efforts.
The funding will provide helicopters to mobilize Mexican army soldiers and drug agents, and acquire new surveillance aircraft for the Mexican navy.
This anti-drug effort will complement ongoing U.S. aid to Mexico under the Merida Initiative, a $1.4 billion package aimed at helping Mexican law enforcement agencies in the fight against drug cartels with training, equipment and intelligence cooperation.
Part of the mission also includes stopping the flow of guns being smuggled into Mexico.
Texas State Rep. Veronica Gonzales (D-McAllen) said Tuesday she is pleased more manpower is coming to the border.
Gonzales chairs the Texas House of Representative's Border and Bntergovernmental Affairs Committee
She said the additional border patrol agents will bring a stronger emphasis on border security aimed at stopping illegal activity, like weapons going south to drug cartels.
"I'm glad its not troops," said Rep. Gonzales. "We've been talking about not wanting to have our borders militarized for fear of driving away business and using our military in a better way."
Gonzales said she has not noticed any spillover of violence in her district.
This story comes from our media partner, the Rio Grande Guardian.
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