| Eighteen Democratic members of the Texas House have formally requested that 2 manned surveillance aircrafts be transferred from Iraq to the Texas Air National Guard to be used to conduct air surveillance along the border.
The request, submitted in a letter signed by the representatives, states that "the level of violence and bloodshed on the Mexican side of the border is tragic. Texas does not have the resources needed to address this public safety and humanitarian crisis."
After many months of heated Republican immigration rhetoric aimed at Washington, the action taken by the Democrats, led by State Rep. Allen Vaught, an Iraqi war veteran, presents an interesting contrast.
Republicans have spent most of their time complaining about the lack of resources the federal government has provided and blaming President Obama for a problem that existed long before he entered the White House.If the Democrats' request is fulfilled it would result in an unprecedented level of air surveillance along the border, following the announcement earlier this week that an unmanned Predator drone would begin surveillance flights.
Republicans recognize border security as an issue that is popular with their base, but have been slow to take any real action to change the status quo. As expected as the Republicans' inaction and foot dragging has been, it is still disappointing. The Democrats' identification of the issue for what it is, a true "public safety and humanitarian crisis," is significant. If we are to find a real solution, it will come from viewing the problem from the perspective, not one where politics comes first and the issue is merely an opportunity to enact racially-charged policy.
“Our first priority as a state government ought to be protecting Texas’ citizens rather than criticizing Washington for political gain. We are pleased to make a real, practical request of our Federal government that will protect our border and better train our troops for future deployments,” Vaught said in a statement obtained by the Texas Tribune.
It is easy and convenient for Texas Republicans to use border security for their political gain. When it comes to border security, Texas Republicans will never have a shortage of rhetoric. Hopefully their constituents will ask them why it was not them who took real action to get the federal government to address the problem they are so fond of talking about. |
