Border lawmaker wants more hearings on violence coming over from Mexico

A key member of Congress Thursday called for additional hearings on violence on the U.S.-Mexico border that has claimed the lives of several American citizens.

Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), ranking member of the foreign operations appropriations subcommittee, says that Congress still needs to do more to give assistance to border officials trying to contain the violence.

{mosads}”That’s why I called for a security assistance hearing as soon as we return from this break and really listen to what is needed,” she said on Fox News. 

The outburst of violence this month has been caused by a renewed violent conflict between rival Mexican drug rings.

Granger said that she wants beefed up security along the border, including more surveillance activity, more guards and assistance for the Mexicans to train more police.

Arizona Sen. John McCain (R) has called for the National Guard to be dispatched to the border as well as unmanned aerial vehicles to track the drug cartels.

A hearing in Congress was held last week on the violence and the White House convened a meeting about the uptick with an eye on providing renewed assistance along the border. But Granger said that more is needed soon.

“We need more commitment frankly,” she said. “We need more commitment that our borders are safe.”