Commissioner Weathers Takes Part in Border Security Tour along U.S. – Mexican Border
South Carolina Department of Agriculture
Hugh Weathers, Commissioner
Media Contact: Kelly Coakley, 803‐734‐2196, kcoakley@scda.sc.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 22, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Commissioner Hugh Weathers took part in a tour of the U.S./Mexican border in South Texas Wednesday. He and agriculture leaders from seven other states participated in the border security tour hosted by Texas Commissioner Todd Staples.
Following a border security briefing by Border Patrol and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officials, Commissioner Weathers and the others visited the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge and finished the day with a boat tour of the Rio Grande River.
The day-long event gave Commissioner Weathers and others the chance to see first-have how officials are working to secure the border, and to discuss what changes need to be made to the guest worker program that allows agricultural worker to legally enter the country.
“If some improvements are made, the guest worker program can greatly benefit agribusinesses in our state and others, and give the people protecting our borders the chance to focus on those trying to illegally enter our country for criminal purposes,” said
Commissioner Weathers.
Commissioner Weathers also said the tour provided a great opportunity to really understand the challenges to securing the border. Media interested in talking with the Commissioner about the tour can contact Kelly Coakley at the number listed above.
Editors, Producers & Reporters: The two attached pictures are available for your use. Please credit the Texas Department of Agriculture. The pictures show Commissioner Weathers and other leaders learning about the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge and Commissioner Weathers with officers on a boat used to patrol the Rio Grande River.