“The safety and security of our country has been constantly under threat since early 2021 by those who have no desire to seek asylum through lawful means. Due to our geographic location, being situated between Del Rio and Eagle Pass, we are painfully aware of the degrees to which illegal aliens will wreak havoc in our communities,” Coe wrote.
“Our homes are being broken into in the middle of the night. The local school district has been forced to erect military barricades around campus to protect students from smugglers evading law enforcement. Walking outside on our own property after dark is no longer safe.”
Coe has been one of the most vocal officials along the southern border criticizing the Biden administration and calling on the state to provide assistance to counties battling illegal immigration. Kinney County is one of the 40 or more jurisdictions that have called illegal immigration an invasion.
In his letter, Coe asked other sheriffs for “any aid [their counties] may be able to provide in this border crisis, whether it be manpower, equipment, or operators.”
Law enforcement throughout Texas and even from places as far away as New Hampshire and Florida have gone to the southern border to help supplement enforcement. Coe thanked Galveston and Goliad counties in his letter for their “gracious” support, though he noted that “resources and manpower are stretched to the breaking point.”
Enforcement encounters with illegal aliens reached a historic peak of 2.38 million in Fiscal Year 2022, according to statistics provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Illegal border crossings remained high as the new fiscal year began in October.
Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) all mentioned addressing the border crisis in their inaugural speeches after the Texas Legislature convened for its biennial session last week.
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Hayden Sparks
Hayden Sparks is a senior reporter for The Texan and a lifelong resident of the Lone Star State. He has coached competitive speech and debate and has been involved in politics since a young age. One of Hayden's favorite quotes is by Sam Houston: "Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may."
