Border Patrol, State of Texas Partnering to Stop Human Trafficking and Contraband

Border Patrol, State of Texas Partnering to Stop Human Trafficking and Contraband

June 30, 2008

The Border Patrol and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) have partnered together to begin cracking down on commercial truckers who knowingly smuggle illegal weapons, drugs or humans across the Texas-Mexico border.

Governor Rick Perry directed the DPS to work with Border Patrol, in an initiative dubbed “Texas Hold ‘Em,” to revoke the commercial driver licenses of those convicted of felony smuggling.

“The vast majority of Texas truckers are law-abiding citizens who work incredibly long hours to feed their families and keep our economy moving,” Perry said. “But there are those who are breaking the law to make a quick buck. And to those law breakers, we are sending the message: If you knowingly smuggle goods across the Texas border, you will lose your license and your livelihood.”

Chief of the Border Patrol, David V. Aguilar, praises the new initiative as an effective deterrent to active smuggling and to identify illegal activity.

“This program is a collaborative effort,” said Chief Aguilar. “It is a crucial enforcement component to help bring security to the Texas border.”

Texas border security operations have put mounting pressure on Mexican crime cartels and other crime organizations to find alternate ways of smuggling contraband into the state. This includes recruiting commercial drivers to transport contraband, including drugs and humans, across the border in return for bribes.

Due to these increased illegal recruitment efforts, the Border Patrol recognized the need to establish a process ensuring DPS receives the necessary court documents to suspend violators’ driver licenses upon a felony smuggling conviction. As part of Governor Perry’s ongoing efforts to secure our border through coordinated state-federal efforts, he has instructed DPS to work with Border Patrol to enforce this law.

In the first eight months of fiscal year 2008, Border Patrol agents in Texas intercepted 423 tractor trailers resulting in the detainment of more than 1,800 undocumented immigrants and more than 112,000 pounds of illegal drugs. In the Laredo area, 330 truck drivers have been caught smuggling drugs or humans into Texas in the last 18 months.

“DPS, in cooperation with the U.S. Border Patrol, is pleased to have established this process for reporting felony convictions for commercial drivers who have committed felonies by transporting drugs and/or undocumented aliens in a commercial vehicle,” said Chief of DPS Driver License Division Judy Brown. “Taking action to revoke the privilege of these drivers will further assist our efforts to increase safety on the public roadways and to increase the security of our nation’s border.”