Former El Paso U.S. Marshal Robert Almonte reacts to the latest report on border encounters from CBP. A bipartisan pair of lower chamber lawmakers are calling on the heads of the House Appropriations Committee to consider additional funding support to first responders in border communities. Reps. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Michael McCaul, R-Texas, sent a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger, R-Texas, and ranking member Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., requesting supplemental funding for first responders in communities hit hard by the southern border crisis.
The lawmakers emphasized the strain on local officials, including police departments, fire departments, and Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs), due to the migrant crisis and the dramatic increase in illegal crossings at the southwestern border. They highlighted the significant increase in calls for first responders, including organized criminal activity, loitering, trespassing, and emergency response. The lawmakers pointed out that despite being barred from directly enforcing immigration laws, local law enforcement is facing a growing number of calls related to immigration, which adds strain to their resources and personnel, making it harder for them to assist permanent residents.
With operations at the border stretching the resources of local governments, police, and fire departments to the limit, the lawmakers urged Granger and DeLauro to consider additional funding for programs that support first responders in the communities most affected by the border crisis. They specifically mentioned programs such as Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants, Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) grants as critical areas where funding is needed.
Gallego and McCaul highlighted the importance of this funding in enabling state and local agencies to hire more police officers, firefighters, and emergency responders, as well as providing necessary equipment and overtime pay for those already on the front lines of the crisis. They concluded their letter by urging Congress to consider supplemental funding under the Departments of Homeland Security or Justice to address the pressing needs of first responders in border communities.
As the House faces a deadline to meet the funding requirements by November 17 and avoid a government shutdown, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., warned of a potential impasse between the House and Senate if the Democrats try to force the House GOP to bring dense multi-subject spending bills to the House floor. Johnson emphasized the need for the Senate to fulfill its role in the appropriations process.
While the House has passed five of the 12 individual spending bills to fund the government in the next fiscal year, none have been brought to a vote in the Senate. However, Senate appropriators recently announced a bipartisan deal to combine three spending bills into a “minibus.”
The lawmakers’ request for additional funding for first responders comes at a critical time when resources are stretched thin due to the ongoing southern border crisis. Immediate action is needed to support the tireless efforts of these essential personnel who are at the forefront of addressing the challenges faced by border communities. The response from House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger and ranking member Rosa DeLauro is awaited as Congress works towards reaching a resolution before the funding deadline.
Houston Keene is a politics writer for Digital.
