Fight against border crime has evolved, officials say

By Brandi Grissom / Austin Bureau

Article Launched: 12/10/2007 12:00:00 AM MST

SAN ANTONIO -- It's a security effort the nation has never seen before -- local, state and federal agencies joining forces to combat illegal activity on the Texas-Mexico border.

That's what Texas officials described this week during meetings about how the state's efforts to beef up border security have evolved over the last two years and how they will expand in the future.

From Operation Linebacker, a controversial initiative that began with 16 border sheriffs and some grant money from Gov. Rick Perry, the state-led border crackdown has morphed into Operation Border Star, amulti-agency, continuous, borderwide effort backed by $110 million from state lawmakers.

"We're now moving into an operational phase like we never have done," said Jack Colley, chief of Perry's division of emergency management.

Texas border security initiatives that started in 2005 were met with skepticism and engendered fear in immigrant communities along the border, especially in El Paso County.