"Operation Linebacker is increasing our law enforcement presence along the border, making life more difficult for those trying to smuggle drugs, weapons and people into Texas," Perry said. "It has never been clearer that increasing security along our 1,200-mile border is a public safety and homeland security imperative."
Perry noted that Operation Linebacker played a key role last week in thwarting an attempt by drug smugglers to bring three SUVs loaded with illegal drugs across the border in Hudspeth County.
Counties that receive Operation Linebacker funds are Brewster, Cameron, Culberson, Dimmit, El Paso, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Maverick, Presidio, Starr, Terrell, Val Verde, Webb, and Zapata. Each county received $376,500 in December, and will receive an additional $223,000 apiece. The funds provide manpower, specialized equipment and planning resources; the funds also support Citizen Police Academies to train local volunteers and strengthen community involvement in border protection.
"Although border security is a federal responsibility, we have no choice but to take aggressive steps at the state and local level to secure our borders and protect Texans," Perry added. "By funding additional patrol hours, new technology tools, and rapid deployment teams of state troopers, we will make Texas -- and the nation -- more secure."
In October, Perry released a comprehensive, six-point border security plan that featured Operation Linebacker and also called for expedited efforts to achieve radio communications interoperability in the region, improved information technology, bilateral emergency response exercises, and legislative measures to enhance border security.
The $6 million awarded to Operation Linebacker in December came from the federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program; today's additional funding comes from state criminal justice planning funds.
The Linebacker funds will be distributed in the coming weeks through the governor's Criminal Justice Division, after each county's Commissioner's Court approves the grant contracts.
