{"id":272917,"date":"2026-04-30T12:58:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/272917\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T12:58:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:58:10","slug":"ricardo-samaniego-among-signers-of-letter-to-homeland-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/272917\/","title":{"rendered":"Ricardo Samaniego Among Signers of Letter to Homeland Security"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A <\/p>\n

EL PASO, Tx., April 30, 2026: Nine days ago, a letter signed by 14 Texas county judges was delivered to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. Among the county judges along the border that signed the letter included El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego. The April 21 letter asks Mullin to allow the people who live and work in the communities along the border to \u201chave a meaningful voice in the decisions that shape\u201d their daily lives.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

On March 13th, Mullin was appointed by the Trump administration to replace Kristi Noem who was removed as Homeland Security Secretary after several controversies surrounded her, including the death of two U.S. citizens shot by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents earlier in the year. Seeking to restore the public\u2019s confidence in the agency he oversees, Mullin has shifted his agency\u2019s immigration enforcement actions towards \u201ca less visible\u201d one after the public\u2019s reaction to the two dead U.S. citizens after ICE agents shot them. Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti were killed<\/a> by ICE agents during unrest over immigration policies in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n

As the result of the deaths, over 65% of Americans say that ICE has \u201cgone too far\u201d with its immigration enforcement tactics, according to a poll<\/a> released in February. Of the people polled, 12% felt ICE was not doing enough and another 22% felt immigration enforcement was \u201cabout right.\u201d Good and Pretti were shot by ICE agents in January.<\/p>\n

The Letter<\/p>\n

The letter by the border county judges to Mullin states that it is signed by all the Texas county judges along the U.S.-M\u00e9xico border. The county judges state in the letter that they wrote the letter \u201cwith respect and good will, and a sincere desire to serve as partners in securing our shared border.\u201d<\/p>\n

The county judges add in the letter that their purpose \u201cin writing is not to oppose or obstruct, but to help ensure that the people who live, work, ranch, and raise families along this border continue to have a meaningful voice in decisions that shape our daily lives.\u201d The letter signers wrote that they \u201csupport efforts to strengthen border security,\u201d but they add that they \u201ccarry an obligation to speak honestly\u201d about how their constituents feel.<\/p>\n

They argue in the letter that the terrain along the nearly 1,300 miles of the border varies and what \u201cworks well in one setting may require adjustment in another.\u201d The elected officials reference the decision to close the airspace<\/a> around El Paso in February in the letter as an example of how \u201cearly coordination\u201d can help their communities.<\/p>\n

The letter asks that Mullin keep \u201cconsistent communications\u201d between DHS and them, coordinate early with landowners along the border where border security devices are to be installed or updated and to ensure that the agency offers accommodations for agriculture, environmental resources, land and water.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe that strong border security and the long-term well-being of border communities\u201d depends on \u201clocal input\u201d from \u201clocal partners,\u201d the letter states. The letter ends with \u201cwe write without partisan intent and with a shared commitment to practical, durable solutions,\u201d adding that the county judges \u201cstand ready to assist and welcome continued dialogue\u201d with Mullin.<\/p>\n

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