LAREDO, TX —On Thursday, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced that the Webb County Sheriff’s office received $3.6 million in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) program to support local law enforcement for equipment, over-time pay and conduct interagency operations. This program provides funding to enhance cooperation and coordination among local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the United States’ borders. Since 2008, Webb County has been awarded a total of $33,389,893 in Operation Stonegarden funding. The Congressman helped secure $85 million nationwide, a $30 million increase from FY17, through his role on the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. Statewide, Texas received over $30 million in Operation Stonegarden funds.

“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. I want to thank Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar, the Webb County Commissioners’ Court, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina, the Laredo Police Department, Webb County Constables and the men and women who secure our border communities,” said Congressman Cuellar.

“Thanks to Congressman Cuellar for always supporting law enforcement. Working together, we will make a difference when it comes to protecting our community,” said Sheriff Martin Cuellar. “Thanks to this Operation Stone Garden Grant, our deputies will be better equipped to help us fight crime along the border.”

The FY 2018 Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) program provides $85,000,000 to enhance cooperation and coordination among local, 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.

To read more about Operation Stonegarden, click here.

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