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GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT

January 11, 2017

The Honorable R. Gil Kerlikowske

Commissioner
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20229-0002
Dear Commissioner Kerlikowske:
Border security is a top priority for Texas. As such, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protections (CBP) failure to utilize congressionally
appropriated funding, along with recent revelations of illegal immigrants flooding into the Rio
Grande Valley and being released into Texas communities without advance notice or
coordination with state or local officials, gives me great concern about the directives given to and
focus of CBP.
In DHS Secretary Jeh Johnsons recent exit memo to President Obama, he stated that DHS and
the Obama administration have done as much we could within our existing legal authority to fix
the immigration system, make it more fair, and make our enforcement smarter and more
efficient. That memo further describes how effective DHS has been in its collaboration with
state and local law enforcement officials. I share the goal of smarter and more efficient border
enforcement; however, DHS and CBPs discontinuation of Operation Phalanx, along with recent
reports that CBP is leaving illegal immigrants in border communities with no coordination with
state or local authorities, demonstrates otherwise.
Despite universal recognition that Operation Phalanx has been a powerful coordination tool to
detect and interdict the flood of illegal cartel activity flowing through our border, I am
particularly dismayed by DHS and CBPs discontinuation of the operation despite the
availability of congressionally approved funding. And although your letter dated December 21,
2016, says you seek to maximize the impact of any appropriations or any other Department of
Defense (DOD) activities along the border, DHS has yet to specifically request that DOD
approve continued aerial surveillance along the border. In the November 201 6-letter from
Secretary Johnson to Defense Secretary Ash Carter, Secretary Johnson provided a positive
review of the missions effectiveness; however, an endorsement of the success of Operation
Phalanx does not constitute a specific request to DOD.

POST OFFICE

Box 12428 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 512-463-2000 (VOICE) DIAL 7-1-1 foR RELAY SERVICES

The Honorable R. Gil Kerlikowske

January 11, 2017
Page 2

Compounding the concern along the border is new and alarming information regarding an uptick
in activities related to CBP dropping illegal immigrants at bus stops in the City of Laredo and
other towns in Texas with no coordination with state or local authorities. Again, I share the goal
of smarter
and coordinated
border enforcement; however, your departments continued
unwillingness to effectively coordinate with state and local officials shows DHS and CBP are
either unable or unwilling to do so. Thats simply unacceptable. I request you provide local,
state and congressional leaders in Texas information about the influx of illegal immigrants, the
criminal histories of those being let go in border communities and any meaningftil attempts to
ensure they are unable to skirt the immigration enforcement process.

Given the uptick in illegal crossings, doing more, not less, is prudent.
Sincerely,

Greg Abbott
Governor
GA:jsk