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Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott on the need to improve border security and protect against growing violence from Mexican drug cartels.
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Texas sheriff's deputies is recovering after being shot three times in a confrontation with a Mexican drug cartel almost two weeks ago.
It is the latest in a series of violent border incidents.
My next guest -- letter to the president demanding action.
Joining us now the attorney general the great state of Texas Greg Abbott.
Mr.
attorney general good to have you with this I I know that -- written to the president before asking for help on the border.
In which violence is flying with increasing frequency and intensity have you heard.
And you heard a response to your latest -- -- -- -- person -- I applaud you for shining a lot on this very important issue because.
That's a life or death issue increasingly in the state of Texas.
Secondly we're getting more attention from Lou Dobbs and -- we are the White House right now.
Because we've not yet heard back from the president.
Even though American blood.
Has been lost because of a gun fight with cartel operatives in the state of Texas the president has sworn an -- to the American public.
To safeguard to their lives in their liberty.
Yet every single day though those lives and their liberty is challenged here in Texas and up and on the border and that's why -- the president.
He needs to take action swiftly.
And help the -- taxes respond to the growing cartel problem we're facing here in the state of Texas otherwise more American blood will be lost.
And mr.
attorney general here last night we talk with the head of the immigration customs enforcement unions are Chris -- He said point blank they've been ordered not to enforce the law are you seeing the manifestation of that the state of Texas.
Well it one thing we are saying is that the the Border Patrol agents that ice agents.
They really do a good job of responding to the dangers that we have here.
The -- here's the problem.
And that is that the federal agents and the -- agents who -- trying to deal with this problem.
Are out man.
And -- There are more cartel operatives.
In south Texas -- -- our law enforcement officers who are trying to track down.
Those cartel operatives and until Washington provides us the resource as we need to respond to these dangers is just going to grow worse.
And what is needed to secure not only the border Texas -- border the United States all four border states with out of Mexico.
-- -- is just three -- four very simple things one is strategic fencing which is most -- in place right now.
Despite the fact that most of the Texas border has been label as being porous by the federal government itself.
But secondly and most importantly we have found that boots on the ground is the most effective tool.
Then you combine that with technology both monitoring devices on ground as well as monitoring devices in the air.
And you have yourself a pretty good program.
But the first thing we need is the commitment in organization from the federal government then second is the resources so we can respond to this -- -- danger.
And perhaps initially -- response.
Some reaction to the White House acknowledging that the state of Texas and its its government and its attorney general exists.
Attorney general Greg -- thanks for being with us we appreciate.
