LAREDO, T.X. (Dakota News Now) – In continuing coverage to bring perspective on issues that affect the southern border, we heard from our sister station in Laredo, Texas.
Mexico and Texas share nearly 1,200 miles along the southern border and incidents vary depending on location. Laredo is generally considered safe, but law enforcement has worked to keep it that way by limiting the presence of drugs and smuggling.
Both have been challenged with the presence of fentanyl being felt in communities across the country, including Laredo. Residents along the river often report activity to the police, which assists the drug overdose task force. Sometimes, that is people crossing the river or identifying a drug dealer’s stash home.
Brenda Camacho, an anchor with KGNS News, said a city like Laredo can vary from a city like Eagle Pass or others along the Rio Grande Valley where families and large groups cross illegally. Instead of large family units, there might be an individual or small group. She said the activity the community sees involves stash houses and smuggling chases.
“There is a concern along the border of what we are seeing, but it’s not to the same degree as what a lot of other border towns are seeing,” Camacho said.
If there is a large influx of people arriving, then local leaders will take it upon themselves to declare a state of emergency and obtain the resources needed to handle the situation. Leaders on both sides of the border have met to discuss what solutions can help maintain a structured partnership for trade and commerce.
U.S. House Representative Henry Cuellar’s district (28) encompasses Laredo and has discussed improvements to border security through technology and law enforcement resources, but has stopped short of constructing a border wall. Camacho said some of those improvements have been evident with checkpoints at the border and further north on I-35.
“Along our international bridges, they have been improving on technology to detect not only drugs but also human smuggling,” Camacho said. “As the number one inland port on the Mexico border, the traffic volume can allow some things to go undetected or let people go through unprocessed.”
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