Republican lawmakers are blasting a government plan to close nine border patrol stations in four states.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, and other GOP members of the panel wrote to Border Patrol chief David Aguilar, demanding Customs and Border Protection keep the outposts.
“We are highly concerned that the closure of several Border Patrol stations will undercut proven methods to intercept drug smugglers, human traffickers and illegal immigrants in corridors they use extensively north of the U.S.-Mexico border," the letter said.
"These stations were placed in these locations because they were and remain high-volume travel corridors for illegal immigrants and drug smugglers who successfully cross the border without apprehension,” it said.
The stations targeted for closure are located in Lubbock, Amarillo, Dallas, San Angelo, Abilene, and San Antonio, Texas; Billings, Mont.; Twin Falls, Idaho; and Riverside, Calif.
The agency expects to save about $1.3-million s a year by closing the stations.
Local law enforcement officials are also urging that the stations remain open.
“Leave these guys here, they need to be here, they need to stay here, they have plenty of work right here to do,” said Amarillo police Chief Robert Taylor.
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