AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Every four years immigration is a hot-button topic among presidential candidates, so a recent move by the Obama Administration closing the local border patrol station could be putting Amarillo at risk.
It was a strategic move for the border patrol. It figures it needs more agents closer to the border, so move agents South. But according to Randall County Sheriff Joel Richardson, Amarillo is a hotbed for illegal smuggling activity
"There's a lot of human smuggling that goes along I-40, I-27, US 60 and US 287. All of those highways intersect in Amarillo and I don't know at this point what we're going to do in the future," said Richardson.
In all nine stations are being closed across the nation, six of which are here in Texas. Local officials are claming that ours needs to stay open.
"Leave these guys here, they need to be here, they need to stay here, they have plenty of work right here for two guys to do" said Brian Thomas, Potter County Sheriff.
Panhandle Congressman Mac Thornberry has come out against the move, believing 'it could leave our area more vulnerable' and thus asks the idea be reconsidered.
"That (Interstate 40) is a huge corridor from coast to coast, whether it's drugs or whether its human trafficking or smuggling. And that is our concern" said Brian. Sheriff Richardson wonders just how much the good the change can actually do.
"It's hard for me to imagine how two agents are going to be very effective on the border or bring much more security to the border" said Richardson.
Amarillo residents, like Dan Aldrich, understand the move but don't believe we should be left high and dry.
"Moving them to the South border is probably a good move, we still need a skeleton crew here" said Aldrich.
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From Congressman Mac Thornberry
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) is calling on the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) to delay or reconsider the closure of Border Patrol stations in Amarillo, Lubbock, San Angelo, and Abilene.
In a strongly-worded letter sent to USBP Chief Michael Fisher on Tuesday, Rep. Thornberry stated that the closures will leave North and West Texas vulnerable and undermine the overall effort to enforce laws and secure the nation. He expressed concern that the USBP "has not coordinated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to develop an active plan to assist local authorities after the closures." Fellow Texas Congressmen Randy Neugebauer and Mike Conaway joined Thornberry in signing the letter.
"The U.S. Border Patrol made this announcement without first ensuring that local law enforcement agencies will have the necessary resources to deal with the serious illegal immigration problems in our area," Thornberry said.
During the last fiscal year an average of 142 illegal aliens were apprehended by each agent at the Amarillo and Lubbock stations alone. An additional 638 have been made just this year. The letter highlighted these statistics and questioned whether local law enforcement authorities will have to release individuals in the future if USBP or ICE agents are unable to respond to the scene of illegal alien apprehensions in the future.
"Local law enforcement officials and many other people in our area are very troubled by this announcement, and I share their serious concerns," said Thornberry. "There are a number of unanswered questions here about federal enforcement responsibilities that need to be addressed. This letter is the first step in getting those answers," he continued.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says it's closing the stations in order to reassign agents to high-priority areas closer to the border. Aside from planned closings in west Texas, there are also proposed closings in Dallas; Billings, Montana; Twin Falls, Idaho; and Riverside, California.
