Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX28) announced that Starr County has received $1.56 million in federal funds from the Department of Homeland Security’s Stonegarden program to support local law enforcement for equipment and over-time pay. Statewide, Texas received $19.73 million in law enforcement funding of the $55 Million nationwide.

“These additional funds will help reimburse local law enforcement as they work with the federal government to help provide protection of our southern border. As a Member of the Appropriations Committee, I have worked to ensure that the hard working men and women providing services and protection have the resources and support they need to get the job done. Since 2009, Starr County has received over $10 million in Operation Stonegarden funds. I want to thank the Starr County Sheriff, Rene Fuentes, and the men and women who secure our border communities,” said Congressman Cuellar.

“I thank Congressman Henry Cuellar and the federal government for providing Starr County with these funds and allowing us to enhance our community’s security apparatus. Starr County Sheriff Rene Fuentes said. “These dollars go a long way in our mission of keeping our community safe. We will use these funds to fortify our existing structure and identify new practices to continue to make Starr County one of the safest Counties in all of Texas.”

The FY 2015 Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) program provides $55,000,000 to enhance cooperation and coordination among local, tribal, territorial, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the United States’ borders along routes of ingress from international borders to include travel corridors in States bordering Mexico and Canada, as well as States and territories with international water borders.