A program with the Department of Homeland Security awarded $3.3 million in federal funds to Hidalgo County to support equipment and overtime pay for local law enforcement, a news release from the office of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar said.

The funds were awarded as part of Operation Stonegarden, a program that provides funds to enhance cooperation and coordination among local, tribal, territorial, State and Federal law enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the country’s borders, the release states.

Since 2009, the county has received nearly $17 million in funds. This year, the state of Texas received a total of $20 million, nearly half of the $55 million funding given nationwide, according to the release.

“These additional funds will help reimburse local law enforcement as they work with the federal government to help provide protection of our southern border,” Cuellar said in a statement.

http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/federal-grant-awards-more-than-m-in-funds-to-local/article_024d5364-360e-11e5-b087-771bfe21fb2a.html