Texas A&M International University

Cong. Cuéllar Announces $1.2 Million for Southern
Border Operations Training Center in Laredo

Rep. Henry Cuéllar (’82) announced $1.2 million dollars in funding to expand the proposed Southern Border Operations Training Center in Laredo in a press conference held Monday, Oct. 20, 2008, at Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) Western Hemispheric Trade Center.

Securing Our Border Congressman Henry Cuellar helped secure an additional $1.2 million in funding for the Southern Border Operations Training Center in Laredo, part of a comprehensive program designed to provide training and expertise required for personnel securing our nation’s southern border. Left to right, National Guard of Texas Adjutant General Rodriguez, Laredo Mayor Raul Salinas, TAMIU President Ray Keck, Cong. Cuellar, LCC President Dr. Juan Maldonado and Laredo Police Chief Carlos R. Maldonado.

The funding is an addition to the $1 million dollars Congressman Cuellar secured for the program in 2007.

The Southern Border Operations Training Center is part of a comprehensive program designed to provide the training and expertise required for personnel working to secure our nation’s southern border.

Partners in the venture include TAMIU, the Texas National Guard, Laredo Community College (LCC), and federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The Community Awareness Training (CAT), the Trans-boundary Risk Identification and Mitigation (TRIM), and the South Texas Border Training Institute (STBTI) are the three major components devised by TAMIU and LCC to provide training and instruction for the National Guard and law enforcement agencies.

Currently, TAMIU has utilized the initial $1 million dollars in funding to help initiate a series of web conference seminars that allow participants the opportunity to interact with experts in the border security field.

The funding provided for purchase of servers, installation, wiring updates, server expansion and software updates. Border security topics addressed in the seminars included narco-terrorism and international organized crime, immigration law, human trafficking and smuggling, and forensic psychology.

“The military and law enforcement agencies that secure our southern border require specialized training that focuses specifically on the region’s dynamics and on the need for cross-border cooperation,” said Cong. Cuellar, “I would like to congratulate Lieutenant General Charles Rodriguez and the Texas National Guard, TAMIU, and LCC for their steadfast work and dedication in the instructional development of this significant border security initiative.”

The $1.2 million received this year will be utilized to further develop web conference seminars, or “webinars,” that will be used in certificate associates, bachelors, and masters programs in the field.
“It is an honor to work with Congressman Henry Cuellar and our partners at TAMIU in the continued investment in the development of curriculum that will further train our national guard soldiers and our law enforcement partners as we work together to further secure our border,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Rodriguez, Adjutant General for the State of Texas.

TAMIU president Dr. Ray Keck said he could think of no better site for the opportunities the Southern Border Operations Training Center represents.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the University and all our partners in this initiative. Our setting offers an ideal environment to comprehensively study and train our border security forces of the future,” Dr. Keck said.

For additional information, contact the TAMIU Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 326.2180, e-mail prmis@tamiu.edu or click on tamiu.edu

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu