State Representative Diana Maldonado (HD-52) Wednesday called on the White House to provide additional federal resources to help secure Texas’ border with Mexico. In the wake of the conclusion of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Maldonado joined with several colleagues in the Texas House to send a letter requesting the federal government to transfer available military resources to help better secure our southern border.

“The safety and security of our border with Mexico is a critical issue of state and national importance,” Maldonado said. “By transferring available military resources to this area, we can provide the Texas Air National Guard with increased capability and cutting-edge technology to protect this unstable region.”

The letter specifically calls for the transfer of operational control of two MC-12 Aircraft to the Texas National Guard. The MC-12 is a military surveillance aircraft that has the potential to be a “virtual wall and a force multiplier to assist in interdiction operations.” In addition, the letter calls for the transition of MC-12 crew training to the Texas Air National Guard which would allow them to use the Texas-Mexico border to train for their overseas counter-insurgency surveillance

“This is a responsible and common-sense decision that could save lives, increase security and help to curb the violence on our border,” Maldonado said. “The safety of Texans and all Americans is of the utmost importance, and we must do all that we can to ensure the best and most effective resources available are being utilized along the border.”