Heinrich To Tour N.M. Bootheel Border Region With Customs And Border Patrol

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) will host a media availability on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at approximately 1 p.m. MT in Deming after touring the U.S.-Mexico border in the Bootheel region of southern New Mexico with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials. In response to concerns raised recently by residents of Hidalgo County about border security, Senator Heinrich is calling for additional resources and equipment to help local Border Patrol agents more effectively patrol the region's vast rugged terrain.  

The media availability will be an opportunity for local reporters to hear from Senator Heinrich about his two-day tour of the border region and ask questions.

Senator Heinrich recently sent a letter with U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) to CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske urging the agency to provide additional horses, all-terrain vehicles, and equipment such as night vision technology. The senators also asked CBP to issue incentives to increase agent retention. 

Last month, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Senator Heinrich also called for additional resources to support the fight against transnational drug trafficking at our nation's ports of entry. He highlighted the stunning lack of resources that the U.S. Department of Defense dedicates to drug interdiction. Senator Heinrich cosponsored an amendment in 2014 to increase funding for interdiction assets by $122 million.