JZ Papal Visit did not qualify for Secret Service treatment

year 2000 have always been designated national special security events. however, the pope’s visit to juarez — even though he will be just a few feet from u-s soil and requires an equal amount of security — did not receive that designation. abc-7’s darren hunt is live with a story you’ll see only on abc-seven… rick and estela, the secretary of homeland security makes the call on whether an event qualifies for national special security, with the secret service taking over. the fact that this one is not, means el paso police chief greg allen is the only local police chief since the year 2000 who is leading security measures for such an event. national special security events also qualify for grants that pay for certain costs of providing security. el paso does not qualify for those grants. instead, chief allen has sole responsibility for planning security, and the city of el paso finds itself authorizing security expendentures that may reach a million dollars. i haven’t heard back from homeland security about why the pope’s visit isn’t considered a national special security event … a spokesman with the el paso police department didn’t know why – but said they’ll have their hands full all the same. “it probably will be the larges event the city has seen in a very long time or at least to my knowledge … the proximity of the event to the border is a challenge and all the resources need to provide security and be proactive in the protection of everybody involved, is going to be challenging to say the least.” the el paso police department is the lead agency but the secret service is the federal coordinator of the visit. i’m told if the pope had come to this side of the border, then it would likely have been treated as national special security event. rick/estela. this friday, students at st. raphael school in east el paso will honor the pope’s visit to our part of the world. beginning at 8:15 in the morning, the students, teachers and staff will take part in a parade of sorts around the parish. their monthly wellness walk will be led by a