On Oct. 29th Lt. Governor Dewhurst visited the Rio Grande Valley for a look at the National Guard presence along the Texas-Mexico border currently being funded by the State of Texas. Dewhurst sent a letter which called on Major General John F. Nichols and DPS Director Steve McCraw asking them to estimate the financial and logistical challenges involved with expanding current surge operations to include the entirety of the border between Texas and Mexico through 2016.
The letter requests estimates from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the National Guard on the cost, manpower requirements, and potential outcomes of expanding operations, including a potential surge along the length of the Texas-Mexico border. In addition, Dewhurst asked them to outline how technology can be used as a force multiplier in less populated areas of the Texas border.