U.S. Attorney General: Borderland is ‘ground zero, front line where we will make our stand’

Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly held a news conference in El Paso to discuss illegal immigration and violent street gangs.

Sessions referred to the US-Mexico border as “Ground Zero, the front line and this is where we are making our stand.”

Sessions further stated “We cannot allow and will not allow drug cartels and street gangs to dominate a single block or street corner in this country. I want to be very clear: we have your back law enforcement officers.”

Sessions and Kelly observed operations at the border and met with Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security personnel.

At his Senate confirmation hearing in January, Sec. Kelly mentioned he had recently visited El Paso “off active duty”, on business with the Department of Defense. He said he spoke with five agents at the border around 600-feet away from the fence.

“We saw half a dozen or so people jump over the fence,” said Sec. Kelly. “I’m standing there just expecting the officers to jump in their cars put their lights on and dash down there.”

He said what he witnessed surprised him, and there was low morale among Border Patrol officers.

Mayor Oscar Leeser shared that he is excited to welcome the top officials to El Paso.

“I am honored that they accepted my invitation to come and see the El Paso community and all that we have to offer,” said Leeser.