Mayor Salinas Welcomes White House Anti-Cartel

             Efforts as it Will Help Both Sides of the Border

WASHINGTON – City of Laredo Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas, while leading a delegation of Laredo’s local government officials at the White House this morning, welcomed the Obama Administration’s initiative to beef up security efforts on the southwestern border, while also  supporting Mexican government's crack down on Mexico’s drug cartels.  

“Laredo is a very safe city, with violent crime rates well below the national average.  Still, to be proactive in responding to the challenges our neighbors and friends in Mexico are facing is only prudent,” said Salinas.  :As a career public safety professional, I am very happy to see the President’s plan focuses on cutting off the money and guns that flow to the cartels from the United States into Mexico.  To me, this effort reflects a law enforcement response, not just political posturing.”  
 
Salinas continued by saying: “We need more boots on the ground and I welcome the announcement of the increased number of DEA, ATF, Customs and Border Patrol agents that the plan calls for.  It is only through sharing intelligence and a coordinated effort of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that can we continue to protect our citizens,”  

“The best long term investment the federal government can make for sustained border security is to help fund additional local police officers and support for public safety equipment such as interoperable radios and rescue craft.  Such additional funding is a primary reason we are in Washington today,” he concluded.  

The City of Laredo has another afternoon and day of back-to-back meetings, advocating for federal dollars for various needs in our community.  The delegation will return late Thursday afternoon.