Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

Drug-related violence is on the rise in Mexico. Drug cartels, armed with guns smuggled into Mexico from the United States, have assassinated police, government officials, journalists and even civilians. While only isolated cases of violence have occurred in the United States, border communities are understandably very concerned. 

For the past few years, I have been building support for measures to combat border-area violence. I am pleased that Congress this year set aside $30 million for local law enforcement grant program outlined in a bill I first introduced in 2005. Under the program, border law enforcement agencies from New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, and California will receive grants that could be used in a variety of ways, from purchasing equipment to hiring additional officers. The goal is to provide them with the additional resources they need to tackle the crime related to their status as border communities. 

Also this year, I was able to secure $15 million to expand the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) gunrunner program. This program helps coordinate the efforts of federal and local enforcement agencies to investigate and disrupt cross-border gunrunning operations.

Along with the other members of the New Mexico congressional delegation, I pressed the Department of Homeland Security to set up at least one Border Enforcement Security Task Force in New Mexico. Fortunately, our state will receive two such teams, which combine the efforts of local and federal law enforcement agencies to address the trafficking of drugs and the cash used to pay for it. 

These are just a few of the initiatives included in a comprehensive approach we’re working on in Washington to halt the southbound flow of guns into Mexico and the northbound flow of illegal drugs into our country. President Obama recently announced his administration’s U.S.-Mexico Border Security Policy (link), which touches on initiatives from the Departments of Justice, Treasury, and Homeland Security.

I am confident that we are finally giving this national security issue the serious attention it deserves.