Letter of Support for the Building America?s Trust Act

We, the members of the Southwestern Border Sheriff?s Coalition, are in support of the Building
America?s Trust Act. We are 31 Border Sheriffs whose jurisdictions span from San Diego, California to
Brownsville, Texas. The counties we serve cover over 1,900 miles of our United States Border with
Mexico. The Sheriffs serving these counties are on the front lines of protecting our nation by securing
their respective communities and are more than willing to assist other agencies in any way they
possibly can.

We, as a coalition, understand the importance of partnerships with our federal government, and we
see the importance of standing together to ensure that our public safety and homeland security are
promoted, protected, and preserved.

Our Sheriffs all take an Oath of Office to serve and protect their communities, their State, and their
Country, and are ready and willing to help enlist the collaboration of law enforcement measures to
ensure the safety of the citizens and adherence to constitutional authority. The Border Sheriffs are at
the forefront of protecting our nation and securing their respective communities they strive to protect.

Our Sheriffs regularly work as collaborative partners with federal, state, and other local agencies along
our border to successfully enforce laws and secure our borders from the menace of smuggling of
contraband, illegal drugs, and the exploitation of human beings.

We, members of the Southwestern Border Sheriff?s Coalition, are prepared and willing to be a part of
whatever it takes to keep our citizens safe and our border secured and are, therefore, supportive of
the Building America?s Trust Act. We agree that this would be a major step in making our borders safe
from criminal actions and activities and homeland security threats.

Signed,

if 4/7 X7 



SheriffJoe Frank Martinez, Val Verde County Sheriff Larry Spence, Willacy County
Chairman, Southwestern Border Sheriff?s Coalition Chairman, Texas Border Sheriff?s Coalition