[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 129 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H8649-H8650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              BORDER CRIME

  (Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, in the Mexican border town of Nuevo Laredo, 
across the border from Laredo, Texas, crime has skyrocketed as 
disciplined drug cartels have turned up their battle for total 
territory control over this chief entry point into the U.S. Our open 
border policy encourages drug dealers to lead organized efforts to 
infiltrate the United States in their fighting over this territory.
  So far this year more than 135 people have died, seven police 
officers have been killed and 44 American citizens

[[Page H8650]]

have been kidnapped in this treacherous town. Mr. Speaker, I have a 
recent newspaper article from Nuevo Laredo that shows a police officer, 
a policewoman, that was set on fire in the streets of Nuevo Laredo 
trying to enforce the law. The reason that there is chaos, Mr. Speaker, 
is because these drug cartels are trying to come into the United 
States. They are fighting over territory. Because the United States 
basically has no policy in protecting our borders, there is chaos on 
the border.
  Mr. Speaker, the border is a perilous place. How many more people 
have to die? How many more Americans have to be kidnapped in this 
border town before we protect our borders?

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