TribBlog: Perry Sends Choppers to the Border

Revealing more details about the first phase of the border spillover prevention plan that he activated Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry today announced he is sending two helicopters to the Texas-Mexico border, an OH-58 Kiowa and a UH-72 Lakota. The exact locations of the choppers, however, will not be released for security purposes.

"These resources, along with Texas Department of Public Safety aviation assets, are vital to gathering information from a bird’s eye view and relaying important intelligence back to local, state and federal law enforcement on the ground to ensure the safety of our citizens," Perry said. The helicopters, which will supplement ones the DPS already has on the border, have infrared capabilities, video data link/streaming and a high-power illumination system.

As ever, Perry reiterated what a shabby job Washington has done securing the border and his requests to the Obama administration for National Guard troops and drones on the border.

Meanwhile in Washington today, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, echoed Perry's sentiments that Washington isn't doing enough as the violence on the border escalates.

"I share your frustration that Washington is not focused on the priorities of the border region, which include creating jobs, expanding trade and getting serious about immigration reform," Cornyn said at a panel discussion with the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce. Yesterday, Cornyn and fellow Texas GOP Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison urged President Obama to immediately bolster state and local law enforcement on the border and invited him to visit the region to draw attention to the crisis.