Attorney General Paxton has filed a petition for review against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to challenge a new rule that would unlawfully change proxy voting reporting requirements. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN, Texas – Attorney General Paxton has filed a petition for review against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to challenge a new rule that would unlawfully change proxy voting reporting requirements.
Mutual funds and other registered management investment companies must report the details of proxy votes, including the category or subject of the vote, to the SEC by filling out a Form N-PX. Among other changes, the new rule amends this form by expanding the number of voting categories that address left-wing priorities. Although the stated purpose of the rule is to increase transparency about the subjects of votes being taken, ample information already exists regarding proxy voting records.
The real reason behind the new rule is to force these companies to either increase the number of votes taken that would further the radical political agenda of the Biden Administration or face enhanced public scrutiny. The byproducts of these votes, along with the dramatic increase in compliance costs, would inevitably land on company clients, shareholders, and investors. The new rule would thus pressure these funds to potentially violate their fiduciary duties by taking actions that may not be in the best financial interests of their investors.
“This rule does little to nothing for public transparency. But it does empower the Biden Administration and its activist allies to bully companies that it doesn’t think are doing enough to promote left-wing political goals,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The SEC’s actions here have the potential to force companies across America to diminish their returns for investors, hurt their own bottom line at the expense of their shareholders, and unlawfully risk their long-term financial security in order to avoid the woke mob trying to cancel them.”
This past week, City of Alamo staff and officials visited with state legislators in Austin to discuss funding opportunities for infrastructure, drainage, and many more projects within the city. Courtesy Image
Texas Border Business
ALAMO, Texas – This past week, City of Alamo staff and officials visited with state legislators in Austin to discuss funding opportunities for infrastructure, drainage, and many more projects within the city. Alamo City Manager Bobby Salinas, Assistant City Manager Alexandra Rangel, along with Comm. Okie Salinas and Comm. Jr. Garza joined a delegation of over 100 staff and officials from cities all across the Rio Grande Valley for RGV Day at the Capitol. Utilizing strength in numbers, the Valley delegation met with state leaders to discuss issues affecting the Rio Grande Valley region such as broadband expansion in rural communities, infrastructure improvements for streets and highways, and drainage improvements for low lying areas prone to flooding. The group was organized by The RGV Partnership who worked to connect city leaders with their area representatives.
RGV Day at the Capitol. Courtesy Image
City of Alamo officials met with staff and representatives of State Senator Morgan LaMantia, State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, Representative Ryan Guillen, and Representative Armando “Mando” Martinez to discuss funding opportunities for several projects in the area. Especially important to officials were improvements to current drainage systems within the city. Recently, the City of Alamo received $973,285.00 in grant funding from the Texas General Land Office for several drainage improvement projects in the area. These projects include drainage improvements for the area bounded by US Bus 83, Expressway I-2, and Alamo Road including a 2.50-acre detention pond, installing new inlets, installing 1,400 linear feet of 24-inch pipe, and installing 1500 linear feet of 18-inch pipe. Infrastructure was also top of mind for city officials. As the City of Alamo has grown, so has the need for improvements to several key roadways within the city. Officials discussed funding for improvements and paving to major key thoroughfares within the city.
RGV Day at the Capitol. Courtesy Image
State legislators meeting for the 88th legislative session are currently facing a historic $33 billion budget surplus for the upcoming biennium, a record for the state of Texas. Events like RGV Day at the Capitol provided a good opportunity for the Valley delegation to ensure that some of the surplus is directed to issues affecting Valley communities. Members of the RGV delegation were honored with a special resolution during Senate proceedings as the Texas Senate adopted Senate Resolution No. 196 recognizing February 22, 2023, as Rio Grande Valley Day at the State Capitol. With the leadership provided by the entire Alamo Board of Commissioners, along with the help provided by neighboring communities attending the event, City of Alamo officials were able to make a strong case for the continued support of state officials in order to ensure that the City of Alamo continues to be a healthy and growing community.
The new rule unlawfully expands the agencies’ authority beyond statutory limits, using vaguely described terms to cover millions of acres of water and land features, including ponds, farms, and backyards. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
US Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, and other associations sued the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers, challenging their new Waters of the United States rule.
Why it matters: The new rule unlawfully expands the agencies’ authority beyond statutory limits, using vaguely described terms to cover millions of acres of water and land features, including ponds, farms, and backyards.
· Landowners, businesses, and farmers will be forced to hire expensive experts to figure out whether they need permits to use their land. If they guess wrong, they may face severe penalties.
Our take: “While the administration has laid out ambitious climate and infrastructure goals, they will not be achievable with this Waters of the United States rule, which creates needless uncertainty and endless red tape and requires businesses of all sizes to navigate an expensive and time-consuming permitting process,” said Marty Durbin, Chamber Senior Vice President of Policy.
On Tuesday, Governor Abbott hosted a roundtable discussion and press conference with Senator Brian Birdwell, Representative Ryan Guillen, and Operation Lone Star officials in Weslaco on the state’s ongoing border security efforts after last week designating border security an emergency item for this legislative session. Photo: Office of the Governor
Texs Border Business
Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry.
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 351,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 25,000 criminal arrests, with more than 22,000 felony charges reported. In the fight against fentanyl, DPS has seized over 365 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.
Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration’s refusal to secure the border. Every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to President Biden’s open border policies.
On Tuesday, Governor Abbott hosted a roundtable discussion and press conference with Senator Brian Birdwell, Representative Ryan Guillen, and Operation Lone Star officials in Weslaco on the state’s ongoing border security efforts after last week designating border security an emergency item for this legislative session.
“I am proud to be here today with Senator Birdwell and Representative Guillen, so they could see firsthand the work being done by the brave men and women of Operation Lone Star and so we could review plans for the next two years,” said Governor Abbott. “We’re sending a message today: If you’re coming toward the United States of America and thinking about making a border crossing in the State of Texas, you’re picking the wrong state to try to enter into.”
During the roundtable discussion, the Governor and state leaders outlined Texas’ expanding strategies to secure our southern border and legislative actions needed to continue funding the state’s historic defense of the border in President Biden’s absence.
Last week, Governor Abbott delivered his 2023 State of the State address, in which he named securing the border and addressing the fentanyl crisis as two of his seven emergency items for the 88th Legislative Session.
To continue addressing President Biden’s border crisis in full force, Governor Abbott will work with members of the legislature to secure more funding to bolster border security efforts and pass legislation mandating a minimum jail sentence for human smuggling, among other proposals. To fight the devastating fentanyl crisis, the Governor has proposed working with the legislature to prosecute an individual for murder if they distribute fentanyl or drugs laced with fentanyl that kill someone, as well as other actions.
Governor Abbott this week spoke with Amarillo’s ABC 7 News on designating border security as an emergency item for the Texas legislature to address this session. Because President Biden has dismantled every effective border security strategy enacted by the previous administration, Texas is now having to step up to combat record-high illegal border crossings.
“We need both new strategies as well as greater investment in what we’re currently doing,” said Governor Abbott.
After naming combatting the fentanyl crisis an emergency item this legislative session, Governor Abbott discussed with Tyler’s CBS 19 how he will direct state law enforcement to disrupt and stop the flow of fentanyl in Texas communities. With DPS and law enforcement partners seizing record amounts of fentanyl along the border, the Governor highlighted the need to protect communities statewide as the fentanyl crisis continues to expand.
“This horrific tragedy that’s taking place is all because of President Biden’s open border policies,” said Governor Abbott. “This grew dramatically after President Biden stopped enforcing immigration laws along the border.”
Governor Abbott joined Lubbock’s KAMC on Tuesday to discuss the Biden Administration’s efforts to end Title 42 in May and the devastating impacts it will have on Texas communities.
“The Biden Administration itself has said it has anticipated that with the removal of Title 42, there may be as many as 18,000 people crossing the border illegally a day,” said Governor Abbott. “Calculate that, and it adds up to more than 6 million a year. As bad as things are, they’re about to get worse.”
DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez joined Fox News this week to point out that the new border policy President Biden wants to put forward will actually serve as a magnet for illegal immigrants claiming asylum at ports of entry. DPS notes most illegal immigrants are seeking asylum based on political or economic reasons, which are not justifiable asylum claims, and the new mobile app will create an increase in the flow of mass migration.
“It doesn’t take into account that there is going to be a more widespread abuse of the asylum process,” said Lt. Olivarez. “Something needs to be done, not just in terms of the mass migration we’re seeing, but also the amount of drugs like fentanyl coming across the border and the gotaways.”
Texas Border Czar Mike Banks recently toured the Texas National Guard emplacements and fortified positions along the Rio Grande River near Brownsville.
“I wanted to come to speak with the airmen and soldiers on the frontlines to find out what resources and tools are working the best to stem illegal immigration,” said Border Czar Banks. “We are going to expand our infrastructure and utilize advanced technology to continue to curb criminal activity at our border.”
DPS Apprehends 34 Illegal Immigrants In Several Operations In Maverick County
Photo: Texas DPS
DPS’ Special Operations Group apprehended a total of 34 illegal immigrants during numerous operations in Maverick County. The illegal immigrants were transported in railcars, with some concealed inside brand new vehicles on an auto rack. All were from Mexico, Honduras, or Guatemala and referred to Border Patrol.
A DPS trooper was conducting a traffic stop in Dimmit County when the driver and four illegal immigrants bailed out and ran toward the brush. The driver, also an illegal immigrant, was caught, arrested, and charged with human smuggling and evading arrest. The four illegal immigrants were referred to Border Patrol.
Texas Air National Guard Airmen Apprehend Drug Smugglers, Seize Cannabis
Photo; Texas Military Department
This week, Texas Air National Guard airmen detected and apprehended three drug smugglers near Brownsville and seized 112 pounds of cannabis with a street value of $89,000. The soldiers used advanced day and night optics to help spot the suspected drug smugglers illegally crossing the Rio Grande River.
“The situation began to unfold when our Border Patrol partners let us know they saw some suspicious activity near the border,” said Staff Sergeant Santos Flores, a Special Operations team member in Task Force South. “I formulated a plan on how our team could operate tactically and stealthily, putting us in the best position to apprehend the drug traffickers.”
DPS brush teams conduct early morning patrols in the Rio Grande Valley to interdict human smugglers who attempt to evade authorities and avoid detection by traveling through residential areas in South Texas. After a high speed pursuit, DPS brush teams apprehended illegal immigrants who were evading detection underneath a house and arrested a human smuggler who was hiding at a Texas residence during a Telemundo 40 ride along.
DPS Apprehends Nine Chinese Nationals During Operation In Rio Grande Valley
Photo: Texas DPS
DPS’ Special Operations Group, along with the Texas National Guard, apprehended nine Chinese nationals during operations in the Rio Grande Valley this week. All nine were referred to Border Patrol.
Taxpayers who receive certain notices requiring them to send information to the IRS now have the option of securely submitting their documentation online through IRS.gov. Image for illustration purposes
“This capability is another step forward by the IRS to help taxpayers and improve service,” said IRS Acting Commissioner Doug O’Donnell. “This provides immediate benefits to taxpayers, who have nearly instant confirmation that documents were received by the IRS. In turn, this will dramatically speed up the resolution of issues by removing a time-consuming step in the process. This means people can have their issues resolved much faster, including getting refunds to affected taxpayers faster. We will continue to look at improvements like this as we work to transform the IRS following passage of the Inflation Reduction Act last year.”
For the most part, the IRS sends these notices to individual tax filers claiming tax benefits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit for low- and moderate-income workers, the Child Tax Credit for families with dependents, the Premium Tax Credit for those who obtain health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace and members of the military claiming combat zone tax benefits.
“Educating Texas students is crucial for the continued success of our great state, and teachers play a pivotal role in that success,” said Governor Abbott. “I thank the teachers and school leaders on this task force for their work addressing full-time and substitute teacher vacancies in Texas schools. Their recommendations will help ensure that best practices and resources are available for teacher recruitment and retention. Working with the Texas legislature, we will develop and implement strategies that attract, retain, and support highly qualified educators to provide students across the state with even greater opportunities to learn and grow.”
“Teachers are the single most important in-school factor in the educational outcomes of students, and we must ensure they feel valued, supported, and able to remain in the classroom, if they so choose,” said Commissioner Morath. “The work of the task force has further illuminated critical issues facing Texas public schools and has provided concrete steps to move forward. I am grateful for their thoughtful and insightful approach to developing practical policy recommendations that help address these challenges.”
Within three main policy categories—compensation, working conditions, and training and support—prioritized recommendations include:
Funding an increase to overall teacher salaries through an increase to the basic allotment, an increase in the minimum salary schedule, and expansion of strategic compensation systems, such as the Teacher Incentive Allotment
Conducting teacher time studies and providing technical assistance for districts to develop strategic staffing and scheduling models that respect teacher time
The 46-member Teacher Vacancy Task Force is comprised of teachers and school leaders representing all 20 Education Service Center regions and school systems of various sizes and demographic makeups.
Executive Director of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships Amy Williams addressed the more than 300 dual enrollment professionals who attended the South Texas College Dual Credit Summit during the two-day event. STC Image
Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
South Texas College is a national leader in dual credit programs and as the only college in the state that is accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), STC has the honor of hosting the Dual Credit Summit, the only other event outside NACEP’s national conference that tells the success stories of dual credit.
This is the third consecutive year that STC hosts the summit, but it’s only the second time that more than 300 dual credit professionals and advocates, representing 28 states from across the country, gather at the South Padre Island Convention Center for an in-person event.
“This is a milestone for South Texas College,” said Dean of Dual Credit Programs and School District Partnerships Rebecca De Leon, Ph.D. “Being able to come together, address challenges, focus on best practices and structures and how put them in place is the key to this summit.”
With college readiness and a decrease in student engagement being common challenges faced by school districts and institutes of higher education, the two-day event featured keynote speakers President and Chief Executive Officer for Institute for Evidence-Based Change Brad C. Phillips, Ph.D. and Aerospace Engineer and Former NASA rocket scientist Shayla Rivera and presenters that focused on topics such as telling the dual enrollment story, improving student success, enhancing partnerships, leadership in dual enrollment and how to break barriers for educational access.
Among those conversations, Phillips shared his story about being a dual credit alumnus and how it changed his life trajectory.
“There’s a lot behind my experience, but bottom line is I did not enjoy high school,” he said. “But one of my counselors, back in the day before dual credit was even a thing, introduced me to the opportunity of Education Participation in the Community (EPIC), or what they now call dual credit, and everything changed. I got excited about education.”
Fast forward, Phillips, a first-generation college graduate, now holds a Ph.D. in Psychology, is a published author and helps educators develop new and innovative ways to improve education using evidenced-based solutions.
“My goal is to always empower people, educators, with simple techniques that help them get their message across through the use of data and to engage for a call to action,” said Phillips. “There are so many students, and my story is an example of that, who want to improve their lives and dual enrollment is one of the ways to have that opportunity and to see what they can do, can be and essentially escape poverty and change the course of their lives. These are also the stories we must tell.”
Meanwhile, Rivera inspired the crowd with her story of education, resiliency and strength through loss, self-reflection and self-discovery.
“We evolve, change and move constantly,” she said. “We can do the impossible…jump as high as we can without setting limits or putting a lid on our jars. Take fleas for example, they’re so tiny, yet jump so high, but if they were in a jar, with the lid on, they would only ever jump as high as the lid. This is what we have to inadvertently stop doing to ourselves and the ones we love…we just need to go out there and do it.”
Although dual credit is changing lives, a common issue among those in attendance and one also touched on by STC President Ricardo J. Solis is the lack of engagement that is still being seen from students since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
“This summit is a significant event, it reinforces what is needed now for our students and what we’re already doing,” said Solis. “Right now, we are seeing a downturn in college enrollment throughout the nation, but it’s also a time when you need to have higher education credentials and this event is a response to that need.”
He added, “We all know the importance of dual enrollment, it’s an equalizer, impacts regional economies and sets the stage for further education. Dual enrollment is an accelerator.”
Executive Director of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships Amy Williams said she is thrilled that three years ago STC took the initiative to host this summit, which has now become an annual tradition.
“Our goal is to grow within this collaboration with South Texas College,” said Williams. “This summit allows us to add more to our national voice and helps us expand our work across the nation. Dual enrollment programs survive and thrive when it is founded in the element of partnership, and this allows us to come together and support each other’s initiatives and programs.”
The STC Dual Credit Program serves 21 partnering school districts in Hidalgo and Starr counties and offers pathways towards core curriculum completion; certificates in career and technical education programs such as welding and associate degrees in academy programs such as business, criminal justice or science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
To date, STC has saved it’s partnering school districts, students and families more than $340 million.
The defendants are charged with Racketeering Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Provide or Conceal Material Support to Terrorists, and Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy.Image Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Texas Border Business
US Department of Justice
A four-count indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Central Islip, a charging 13 of the highest-ranking MS-13 leaders in the world with directing the transnational criminal organization’s criminal activities in the United States, El Salvador, Mexico, and elsewhere, over the past two decades. Specifically, the defendants are charged with Racketeering Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Provide or Conceal Material Support to Terrorists, and Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy. Four of the defendants are indicted for Alien Smuggling Conspiracy.
On Feb. 22, Vladimir Antonio Arevalo-Chavez, also known as Vampiro de Monserrat Criminales (Arevalo-Chavez), Walter Yovani Hernandez-Rivera, also known as Baxter de Park View and Bastard de Park View (Hernandez-Rivera), and Marlon Antonio Menjivar-Portillo, also known as Rojo de Park View (Menjivar-Portillo), were located by Mexican authorities and expelled from Mexico via the United States. When Arevalo-Chavez, Hernandez-Rivera, and Menjivar-Portillo arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, they were placed under arrest by the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Earlier today, the defendants had/will have initial appearances in the Southern District of Texas.
Four co-defendants, Jose Wilfredo Ayala-Alcantara, also known as Indio de Hollywood, Jorge Alexander De La Cruz, also known as Cruger de Peatonales, Juan Antonio Martinez-Abrego, also known as Mary Jane de Hollywood, and Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, also known as Veterano de Tribus, remain at large.
“Today’s action makes clear that there is no hiding place, anywhere in the world, for the leaders of violent gangs that terrorize American communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will continue to use the full force of our law enforcement authorities to disrupt and dismantle MS-13 and other transnational criminal organizations and hold their leaders accountable.”
“The FBI will continue to vigorously investigate and hold transnational organized groups like MS-13 and their leaders accountable for the continued violent and terrorist criminal activities they orchestrate,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Today’s indictment demonstrates the FBI’s reach and commitment to seeking justice against those individuals who jeopardize American lives and liberty. We will never stop working in coordination with our international partners to protect our respective citizens from MS-13 and other gangs wherever they are.”
“The relentless and heroic efforts of law enforcement here and in Central America are systemically dismantling the MS-13 the very top to bottom, and we will not stop until this transnational gang and it’s leaders are held accountable for the extreme violence they have inflicted on our district, the United States and the countries where this scourge is based,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York.
Members of the public with information concerning their whereabouts are strongly encouraged to contact the FBI’s toll-free MS-13 tip line, 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or HSI’s at (866) 347-2423 or https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form. Together, FBI and HSI have offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the four fugitives.
Six other co-defendants, Edwin Ernesto Cedillos-Rodriguez, also known as Renuente de Abriles Dangers, Carlos Tiberio Ramirez-Valladares, also known as Snayder de Pasadena, Dany Fredy Ramos-Mejia, also known as Cisco de Teclas, Dany Balmore Romero-Garcia, also known as Big Boy de Normandies, Dig Boy de Normandies, and D Boy de Normandies, Ruben Antonio Rosa-Lovo, also known as Chivo de Centrales, and Miguel Angel Serrano-Medina, also known as Cabro de Park View,”are believed to be in custody in El Salvador. The United States will explore options for their extradition with the government of El Salvador.
As set forth in court filings, the 13 defendants are part of MS-13’s command and control structure, consisting of the Ranfla Nacional, Ranfla en Las Calles, and Ranfla en Los Penales, and play significant leadership roles in the organization’s operations in El Salvador, Mexico, the United States, and throughout the world. In the related case of United States v. Henriquez, et al., a grand jury in the Eastern District of New York previously indicted 14 members of the Ranfla Nacional, who functioned as MS-13’s “Board of Directors.” Formal extradition packages were submitted by the United States for 12 of those defendants, who either are or were in El Salvador custody, remain pending.
As further alleged, the defendants have engaged in a litany of violent terrorist activities aimed at influencing the government of El Salvador (GOES) policy and to obtain benefits and concessions from the GOES; targeting GOES law enforcement and military officials; employing terrorist tactics such as the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (“IEDs”) and grenades; operating military-style training camps for firearms and explosives; using public displays of violence to intimidate civilian populations; using violence to obtain and control territory; and manipulating the electoral process in El Salvador. Several of these defendants have played prominent roles in MS-13’s past and current negotiations with the GOES.
Further, these defendants authorized and directed violence in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere as part of a concerted effort to expand MS-13’s influence and territorial control. As the leaders of the MS-13 transnational criminal organization, these defendants were an integral part of the leadership chain responsible for supervising MS-13 cliques in the United States that engaged in extreme violence, including countless murders, attempted murders, assaults, and related offenses. For example, this Office’s Long Island Criminal Division has prosecuted hundreds of MS-13 leaders, members and associates for carrying out with more than 65 murders in the Eastern District of New York between 2009 and the present.
Several of these Defendants, including Arevalo-Chavez, Hernandez-Rivera, and Menjivar-Portillo, coordinated MS-13’s expansion into Mexico (the Mexico Program), at the direction of the Ranfla Nacional, which was a coordinated effort to maintain MS-13’s continuity of operations in response to law enforcement pressure previously exerted by the United States and GOES. Additionally, the Mexico Program included forging alliances with Mexican cartels and engaged in narcotics trafficking, immigrant smuggling and extortion, kidnappings, and weapons trafficking. As alleged in the indictment, the MS-13’s Mexico Program murdered some migrants bound for the United States, including suspected members of the rival 18th Street gang and MS-13 members attempting to flee MS-13 in El Salvador without permission. Finally, drug trafficking was an important part of MS-13’s money-making operation, especially in Mexico, and the defendants used MS-13’s large membership in the United States generate financial support for MS-13’s terrorist activities in El Salvador.
Since its creation in August 2019, JTFV has successfully implemented a whole-of-government approach to combatting MS-13, including increasing coordination and collaboration with foreign law enforcement partners, including El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala; designating priority MS-13 programs, cliques and leaders, who have the most impact on the United States, for targeted prosecutions; and coordinating significant MS-13 indictments in U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the first use of national security charges against MS-13 leaders.
JTFV has been comprised of members from U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the EDNY; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of New York; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of Florida; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. In addition, all Department of Justice law enforcement agencies are involved in the effort, including the FBI; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. In addition, HSI also plays a critical role in JTFV.
The FBI Salt Lake City, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Newark and Houston Field Offices investigated the case, with critical support provided by the FBI Criminal Investigative Division’s Safe Streets Gang Unit, and HSI’s National Gangs and Violent Crime Unit, who spearheaded this investigation. Additionally, [FBI Mexico, HSI Mexico, and the United States Customs and Border Protection Officers and Area Port Director Shawn Polley at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston provided critical support in connection with the arrests. JJD to double check w/ FBI re: MX partners: Instituto Nacional de Inmigracion (INM) and Fiscalia Estatal de Guanajuato.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul G. Scotti, Justina L. Geraci, and Megan E. Farrell for Eastern District of New York, and U.S. Attorneys James Donnelly, Matthew Shepherd and Stewart Young for JTFV prosecuted the case.
Governor Abbott announced the launch of a statewide street takeover task force to combat the rise in dangerous street takeovers happening across Texas. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Abbott announced the launch of a statewide street takeover task force to combat the rise in dangerous street takeovers happening across Texas. The Governor directed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to address the recent street takeovers in several communities that have become increasingly violent and more frequent, resulting in injuries to law enforcement officers and endangering the public.
“Despite the foolish attempts by some local officials to defund and demoralize our brave law enforcement officers, Texas is and remains a law-and-order state,” said Governor Abbott. “We must send a clear message that these reckless, coordinated criminal events will not be tolerated in Texas. This statewide task force will work closely with local officials and law enforcement to investigate, prosecute, and prevent these dangerous street takeovers. Working together, we can ensure Texans in communities large and small remain safe.”
“These street takeovers put the lives of Texans and Texas law enforcement officers at risk,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “We are seeing fireworks fired at officers in crowds, lasers pointed at aircraft, drivers driving upwards of 130 miles per hour with no lights on in the dark of night—all of it is reckless, and it needs to be stopped.”
The newly launched task force will be led by members of DPS’ Criminal Investigations Division, Texas Highway Patrol, Aviation Operations Division, and Intelligence and Counterterrorism Division, working in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies statewide. The task force will focus on state-level investigations that target the organized crime aspect of the street takeovers with the goal of making arrests and seizing assets, including vehicles and weapons. In many cases, the felony charges associated with these crimes will result in prison time for the criminals responsible.
DPS is also reminding the public to report any suspicious activity when it comes to possible street takeovers through iWatchTexas. Tips can be reported via the website, the free iOS or Android mobile app or by calling 844-643-2251. All reports are confidential.
Remember, iWatchTexas is not for emergencies. If you see a street takeover taking place, call 911 immediately.
Liability coverage pays to repair the other driver’s car if you caused the accident.
Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your car after an accident.
Comprehensive (other than collision) coverage pays if your car is stolen or damaged by fire, flood, vandalism, or something other than a collision.
Medical payments coverage pays your and your passengers’ medical bills. It also pays if you’re hurt while riding in someone else’s car or while walking or biking.
Rental reimbursement coveragepays for you to rent a car if yours is stolen or being repaired after an accident. Some policies also pay for taxis or ride-hailing services.
Deductibles are the amount of a claim that you must pay yourself.
Exclusions are provisions in your policy that denies coverage for certain reasons.
