U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Government Website

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Safely connect using HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About Us
  3. Site Links
  4. Archived
  5. News Archive
  6. Readout of Deputy Secretary Mayorkas’ Visit to Texas

Archived Content

In an effort to keep DHS.gov current, the archive contains outdated information that may not reflect current policy or programs.

Readout of Deputy Secretary Mayorkas’ Visit to Texas

Release Date: February 19, 2014

For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010

MCALLEN, Texas—Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas today completed a two-day trip to Texas where he joined General Services Administration Administrator Dan Tangherlini to visit the Laredo Port of Entry and announce funding to expand and modernize the nation’s 5th largest Port of Entry. Deputy Secretary Mayorkas also toured border operations, received briefings on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) efforts to secure the border while facilitating lawful travel and trade, and met with state and local law enforcement officials.

“One of the top priorities for this Administration, and for the Department of Homeland Security, is to strengthen our border security while facilitating the lawful trade and travel essential to our economy.  The funding to expand and modernize the Laredo Port of Entry reaffirms our commitment,” said Deputy Secretary Mayorkas. “Over the past five years, DHS has dedicated historic levels of personnel, technology, and resources to the Southwest border and we will continue to work with our federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as our Mexican partners, to keep our communities safe and thriving.”

Yesterday in Laredo, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas received briefings from Commander Robert Harris of the South Texas Campaign and visited the South Texas Border Intelligence Center. Deputy Secretary Mayorkas also met with Representative Henry Cuellar, Laredo Mayor Raul Salinas, representatives from the Laredo Chamber of Commerce, state and local law enforcement, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel who work every day to secure our borders while also performing functions that are vital to our economy.

Today, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas met with U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, toured border operations along the Rio Grande River, in the Rio Grande Valley and at the Port of Anzalduas, and visited the Port Isabel Detention Center. Deputy Secretary Mayorkas also met with McAllen Mayor Jim Darling and the Southern Border Communities Coalition and underscored the Department’s focus on continuing to build on the historic levels of personnel, technology and resources to the Southwest border, while at the same time working to ensure we effectively and sensibly enforce our nation’s immigration laws.

Under this administration, DHS has dedicated historic levels of personnel, technology, and resources to the Southwest border. In Fiscal Year 13, Border Patrol apprehensions were at historic lows, reflecting fewer individuals attempting to cross the border; and CBP processed more than $2.3 trillion in trade through our nation’s ports of entry. Additionally, CBP continues to deploy proven, effective surveillance technology tailored to the operational requirements along the highest trafficked areas of the Southwest Border.

For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.

###

Last Updated: 09/20/2018
Was this page helpful?
This page was not helpful because the content