FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                           PRESS CONTACT:

August 4, 2015                                                                                                           Brenda Rangel 956.564.1527

                                                                                                                                        

PRESS RELEASE: Vela Announces $5.9M In Border Security Grants For South Texas Counties
Federal funds will support inter-agency border security operations

 

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, announced that Department of Homeland Security awarded a total of $5,935,062 in grants funding under the Operation Stonegarden program to six South Texas Counties.  The program, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), provides funding to law enforcement agencies in counties located on the U.S. northern and southern borders.

“These funds will help supplement local efforts to ensure the safety and security of our border communities,” said U.S. Rep. Vela. “While South Texas cities remain among the safest in the nation, these federal funds are critical to reimburse local law enforcement for expense they incur to support the federal agencies charged with securing our borders and international ports of entry. There is a critical need to address the crime, violence, and trafficking plaguing Matamoros and other communities on Mexico’s northern border, and Operation Stonegarden funds will help support this effort to improve security in the region.”

Operation Stonegarden Grants were awarded in the following amounts:

 

Cameron County: $1,000,000

Hidalgo County: $3,300,000

Kennedy County: $600,000

Kleberg County: $740,000

San Patricio County: $155,000

Willacy County: $140,000

 

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