With Illegal Immigration Surging Again, Sen. Cruz Visits Texas’ Maritime Border at South Padre Island

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, visited key Coast Guard stations in Texas today to better understand the evolving challenges in South Texas and hear directly from the men and women of the Coast Guard about what resources they need to effectively do their jobs. Sen. Cruz toured Coast Guard Sector and Air Station Corpus Christi and Station South Padre Island (SPI), followed by an aerial survey of the maritime boundary line, water tour of parts of Station SPI’s area of responsibility, including the Brownsville ship channel, and a briefing at the new Tethered Aerostat Radar System at Station SPI. Sen. Cruz also heard about how Coast Guard members are working to stop illegal immigration and the illegal fishing of U.S. red snapper.

Sen. Cruz said, “Every day, using hundreds of boats and aircraft to monitor and protect our shores, the U.S. Coast Guard’s 50,000 members keep our maritime borders safe and secure, facilitate vital commerce, protect our natural marine resources, and provide life-saving search and rescue operations. In Texas, I’m proud to be a champion for the men and women of the Coast Guard, and I will continue working hard to ensure we meet their needs—for better surveillance technology, updated facilities, new ships, and more—and deliver the tangible resources they require to keep Texans and Americans safe.”

Sen. Cruz has consistently fought to support the U.S. Coast Guard’s mission:

• Sen. Cruz led Senate colleagues on a resolution recognizing the U.S. Coast Guard’s response to the U.S.-Mexico border crisis and their ability to adapt and respond to increased maritime threats while continuing to perform humanitarian operations.
• Sen. Cruz has successfully secured several amendments to the Coast Guard Authorization Act which support security efforts at our southern border.
• Sen. Cruz delivered on legislation that mandates real-time data sharing between U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard, legislation that would mandate the acquisition of enhanced surveillance capabilities for the southern maritime boundary, and legislation that would explore the creation of a Coast Guard facility at Port Mansfield.

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