Congressman raises funding from $55m to $85m to provide more funds for Hidalgo and additional counties
Texas Border Business
Mission, TX – On Tuesday, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced that Hidalgo County has received $4.5 million in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) program to support local law enforcement for equipment, over-time pay and conduct interagency operations. This program provides funding to enhance cooperation and coordination among local, tribal, territorial, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the United States’ borders. The Congressman helped secure $85 million nationwide, a $30 million increase from FY17, through his role on the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. Statewide, Texas received over $30 million in Operation Stonegarden funds. Hidalgo County received the highest allocation of any county in Texas.
“These additional funds will help reimburse local law enforcement as they work with the federal government to help provide protection of our southern border. As a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, I have worked to ensure that the hard working men and women providing services and protection have the resources and support they need to get the job done. Since 2009, Hidalgo County has received over $28 million in Operation Stonegarden funds. I want to thank Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra, City of Mission Chief of Police Roberto Dominquez, and the men and women who help secure our border communities,” said Congressman Cuellar.
Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra said, “The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office appreciates Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) and the Federal Secure Borders initiative. The OPSG grant assists local, state, and Federal law enforcement agencies as they work together to ensure the safety and security of all of Hidalgo County. Through funding and resources provided by OPSG, law enforcement partners are better able to protect all persons inside Hidalgo County from any real or potential threats originating from outside our border.”
The FY 2018 Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) program provides $85,000,000 to enhance cooperation and coordination among local, tribal, territorial, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the United States’ borders along routes of ingress from international borders to include travel corridors in States bordering Mexico and Canada, as well as States and territories with international water borders.
