Pompo

U.S. ready for Mexico violence
Homeland Security has plan - Military would respond to drug war
1/9/09|El Paso Times| by Ramon Bracamontes - El Paso Times

If Mexico's vicious drug war ever spills into El Paso, the United States has several response plans, one of which calls for a military surge along the U.S.-Mexico border, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said this week.

Chertoff has instructed the 22 federal agencies that fall under Homeland Security to develop border-violence response plans because the drug war in Mexico appears to be escalating, not ending. So far, more than 5,300 people have been killed across Mexico as rival drug cartels continue to fight over drug trafficking corridors.

One drug corridor at the center of the violence is the Juárez "plaza," where more than 1,600 people were killed last year. In Mexico, "plaza" refers to a drug cartel's territory.

"We completed a contingency plan for border violence, so if we did get a significant spillover, we have a surge if I may use that word -- capability to bring in not only our own assets but even to work with" the Defense Department, Chert off told The New York Times.
He did not give details on how, when or where the military might be used.

The El Paso Times could not reach Chertoff, but Jason Ciliberti, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is one of the federal agencies under the Homeland Security department, confirmed the contingency plans. He said federal agencies have had border-violence response plans for several months now.
"We need them so customs and Border Patrol can continue daily operations," Ciliberti said from his Washington, D.C., office. "The other reason the plans exist is because these agencies, which are all a part of Homeland Security, must provide U.S. citizens with a safe place to live. If the violence threatens the daily safety and daily routine of U.S. citizens, Homeland Security must be ready."

Ciliberti said the contingency plans vary, but for the most part, if the violence in Mexico spills into the U.S., the first Homeland Security plan calls for increasing the number of Border Patrol agents in the region. The El Paso sector now has about 2,500 Border Patrol agents. Chertoff said that nationally, an additional 19,000 agents will be deployed this year.

The Homeland Security plan also calls for the partnering of federal agents with local and state police officers to help patrol any areas where border violence is occurring.

It is unknown how many federal agents and officers are in El Paso, but all of the agents who work for immigration and customs are a part of the Homeland Security network.

"As a last resort, it would include the military," Cili berti said.

Paul Boyce, a spokesman with U.S. Army public affairs office in the Pentagon, said all of the U.S. armed forces, including the Army and Fort Bliss, are a part of U.S. emergency contingency plans. He said the military is ready to help any city, state or region in any type of emergency.

"For security reasons, we do not get into the details or say what our role would be," Boyce said.

Luna County (N.M.) Sheriff Raymond Cobos, whose territory encompasses Deming and the Columbus port of entry, said the drug cartels are very much aware of the firepower U.S. law enforcement agencies and the military have.

"I think they look across the border and see a lot of U.S. law enforcement ready to respond," Cobos said. "Since the violence started, we have treated every incident as a potential border violence incident. But so far, nothing has spilled over."

Cobos said that if the violence did reach El Paso, local law enforcement agencies up and down the border would be able to respond appropriately.

"But if for some reason that didn't work," he said, "then we would call on Chertoff's contingency plans."

El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen said that he did not think a military buildup would ever be needed.

"It would have to be an end-of-the-world type situation before the military is brought in," Allen said. "We all pretty much feel like the violence is going to be contained in Mexico. Our concern is minimal."

U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, said the fact that the federal government has a contingency plan for border violence should be put in perspective. The federal government historically has had plans for any type of national emergency.

"As the violence in Juárez escalated last year, the Department of Homeland Security updated these plans to ensure that our federal law enforcement agencies are adequately prepared to meet any type of emergency that could arise should the violence in Mexico threaten the security of the United States," Reyes said.

"The use of military forces would be a last resort because our federal law enforcement agencies are fully prepared to respond to most emergency scenarios Ð that is the whole purpose behind these contingency plans."

Still, El Paso County Commissioner Dan Haggerty said the news that the U.S. has various levels of contingency plans to deal with the violence should be comforting to most El Pasoans.

"I think it is going to get worse in Mexico, and we as U.S. citizens need to be assured that Homeland Security or someone is going to protect us," he said. "We must accept that we live in a city that has been labeled as a major drug-smuggling corridor and a place for illegal immigration.

"With that type of illegal activity comes the possibility that our safety is at risk."