Homeland Security Has Plan

U.S. READY FOR MEXICO VIOLENCE

Military Would Respond to Drug War

EL PASO -- If Mexico's vicious drug war ever spills into El Paso, the
United States has several response plans, one of which calls for a
military surge along the U.S.-Mexico border, Homeland Security
Secretary Michael Chertoff said this week.

Chertoff has instructed the 22 federal agencies that fall under
Homeland Security to develop border-violence response plans because
the drug war in Mexico appears to be escalating, not ending. So far,
more than 5,300 people have been killed across Mexico as rival drug
cartels continue to fight over drug trafficking corridors.

One drug corridor at the center of the violence is the Juarez
"plaza," where more than 1,600 people were killed last year. In
Mexico, "plaza" refers to a drug cartel's territory.

"We completed a contingency plan for border violence, so if we did
get a significant spillover, we have a surge -- if I may use that
word -- capability to bring in not only our own assets but even to
work with" the Defense Department, Chertoff told The New York Times.

He did not give details on how, when or where the military might be used.

The El Paso Times could not reach Chertoff, but Jason Ciliberti, a
spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is one of the
federal agencies under the Homeland Security department, confirmed
the contingency plans. He said federal agencies have had
border-violence response plans for several months now.

"We need them so customs and Border Patrol can continue daily
operations," Ciliberti said from his Washington, D.C., office. "The
other reason the plans exist is because these agencies, which are all
a part of Homeland Security, must provide U.S. citizens with a safe
place to live. If the violence threatens the daily safety and daily
routine of U.S. citizens, Homeland Security must be ready."

Ciliberti said the contingency plans vary, but for the most part, if
the violence in Mexico spills into the U.S., the first Homeland
Security plan calls for increasing the number of Border Patrol agents
in the region. The El Paso sector now has about 2,500 Border Patrol
agents. Chertoff said that nationally, an additional 19,000 agents
will be deployed this year.

The Homeland Security plan also calls for the partnering of federal
agents with local and state police officers to help patrol any areas
where border violence is occurring.

It is unknown how many federal agents and officers are in El Paso,
but all of the agents who work for immigration and customs are a part
of the Homeland Security network.

"As a last resort, it would include the military," Cili berti said.

Paul Boyce, a spokesman with U.S. Army public affairs office in the
Pentagon, said all of the U.S. armed forces, including the Army and
Fort Bliss, are a part of U.S. emergency contingency plans. He said
the military is ready to help any city, state or region in any type
of emergency.

"For security reasons, we do not get into the details or say what our
role would be," Boyce said.

Luna County (N.M.) Sheriff Raymond Cobos, whose territory encompasses
Deming and the Columbus port of entry, said the drug cartels are very
much aware of the firepower U.S. law enforcement agencies and the
military have.

"I think they look across the border and see a lot of U.S. law
enforcement ready to respond," Cobos said. "Since the violence
started, we have treated every incident as a potential border
violence incident. But so far, nothing has spilled over."

Cobos said that if the violence did reach El Paso, local law
enforcement agencies up and down the border would be able to respond
appropriately.

"But if for some reason that didn't work," he said, "then we would
call on Chertoff's contingency plans."

El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen said that he did not think a military
buildup would ever be needed.

"It would have to be an end-of-the-world type situation before the
military is brought in," Allen said. "We all pretty much feel like
the violence is going to be contained in Mexico. Our concern is
minimal." U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, said the fact that the
federal government has a contingency plan for border violence should
be put in perspective. The federal government historically has had
plans for any type of national emergency.

"As the violence in Juarez escalated last year, the Department of
Homeland Security updated these plans to ensure that our federal law
enforcement agencies are adequately prepared to meet any type of
emergency that could arise should the violence in Mexico threaten the
security of the United States," Reyes said.

"The use of military forces would be a last resort because our
federal law enforcement agencies are fully prepared to respond to
most emergency scenarios D that is the whole purpose behind these
contingency plans."

Still, El Paso County Commissioner Dan Haggerty said the news that
the U.S. has various levels of contingency plans to deal with the
violence should be comforting to most El Pasoans.

"I think it is going to get worse in Mexico, and we as U.S. citizens
need to be assured that Homeland Security or someone is going to
protect us," he said. "We must accept that we live in a city that has
been labeled as a major drug-smuggling corridor and a place for
illegal immigration.

"With that type of illegal activity comes the possibility that our
safety is at risk."