RICK PERRY

GOVERNOR

Orrrcn oF THE GovrnNon

Posr Orncr þox 12428 Aum¡, Tnxes 78711, (512)463-2000 (Volcs)/DttL 7-1-1 ron Rruv Spnlrcgs

Iuly 10,2014

The Honorable Barack ObamaPresident of the United StatesThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWWashington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Thank you for agreeing to meet with me yesterday to discuss solutions to the serioushumanitarian and national security issues created by our unsecured border. This situation hasbeen at crisis level for quite some time, but the recent wave of unaccompanied minors shows invivid detail the magnitude of the problem.

Although we must address the humanitarian crisis related to unaccompanied minors, anyresponse by the federal government that does not include providing the resources necessarylosecrre our border only addresses a symptom, not the true problem. Securing our border willprovide an immediate rçduotion in the number of illegal immigrants entering our country, whichis the source of this current crisis.

As I shared with you, by committing the personnel; technology and resources neçessary, a secureborder is an attainable goal. It is encouraging to know that you agree philosophically with thesolutions I presented to you for achieving frue border securit¡r. No state is better versed in ihisthan Texas, andl, along with state and local law enforcement officials and Texas' CongressionalDelegation, are ready and willing to help the federal government meet its responsibility to sec_ure

the bôrder for the safety and security of all Americans" While I have urged action on many ofthese steps for years, every day the border remains unsecured increases the urgeney for youraction on the following items to address this issue in the short-term and provide a strongfoundation for congressional leaders as they pursue more long-term solutions:

r deploy an additional 1,000 National Guard troops to the Texas-Mexico border toimmediately enhance border security operations;

o direct the Federal Aviation Administration to allow the National Guard to utilize Predatordrones along the Texas-Mexico border for identifying and tracking human and drugtrafficking;

o medically screen all illegal immigrants to ensure their health and the health of ourcitizens;

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o direct the Centers for Disease Control or another appropriate federal agency outside theDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct, in.conjuncti-otr.*ilh the Texas

Deþartment of State Health Services, inspections of facilities in which illegal immigrants,inciuding U{C_s, are being.housed to ensure- accepted international and nationalemergency sheltering standards are met; and

o modify or rescind policies that serve as a magnet to encourage illegal immigration,including:

o DHS catch and release policies by which DHS issues an illegal immigrant an NTAbefore an immigration judge and releases them, The U.S. Department of Justicereporls that 33 percent

-of tTrose released on their own recognizance failed to appear in

FY 2013.

o Deportation þolicies and procedures that prohibit UACs from countries other than

Meïico and Canada frornbeing immediately repatriated back to their go,u{ry o{origin, After DHS processes tñese UACs, they are issued an NTA and delivered to asponsor or relative in the United States, regardless of the relative's immigrationstatus.

Additionally, Mr. President, I cannot stress enough_how important it is for you to visit the border

to witness tire damage that the failure to secure the border is doing.to our country alg10.demonstrate for all Ãmericans, as well as the governments of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador

and Honduras, your commitment to ending this humanitarian crisis. Your visit would also

provide an ideai opportunity to meet with the Texas Congressional Delegation to discuss

þermanent solutioiri to ourborder security,issues- Because this issue deserves swift action, I am

ävailable to help facilitate this meeting with the delegation'

I am hopeful that our meeting yesterday waq the beginning of a productive dialogue, which willresult in a secure border and, in turn, solve the humanitarian crisis we are experiencing'

The Honorable Barack ObamaJuly 10, 2014Page 2

Sincerely,

cpRick erryGovernor

RP:lnp