Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Homeland Security and Defense, released the following statement regarding Trump’s announcement to militarize the U.S – Mexico border:

“Militarizing the border is a dramatic measure and will affect the lives of millions of people who live, work, and worship, in local communities on an everyday basis. Securing the southern border starts with ensuring that we implement policies that will have long-term, significant outcomes on the area in a safe and reliable way. It seems that the administration’s “solutions” to increased border security have been reactive and unsuitable to the issues at hand. What the President fails to understand is that deploying troops to secure a border and constructing a 14th century concrete wall, are outdated and inadequate answers to protecting our nation’s borders.”

“I have discussed proper solutions with President Trump at the White House and I’ve encouraged him to focus on providing resources to equip our agents by updating  technologies, employing additional border security personnel and increasing immigration judges. Instead of deploying armed troops to neighborhoods along the border, I encourage the administration to look at the ideas that I have personally presented, alongside other members of Congress, to find a solution and achieve a common goal, instead of utilizing our troops who should be called upon to protect us from grave security risks.”