Nuevo León governor: Monterrey to San Antonio rail line can improve security for border crossers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The governor-elect of Nuevo León says developing a high-speed passenger train between San Antonio and Monterrey will help improve security for border crossers.Samuel Garcia Sepulveda was in Washington, D.C., this week to develop partnerships and find funding sources for mobility projects. The trip was coordinated with the help of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo.In addition to high-speed rail, Garcia Sepulveda wants a 20-mile highway built to improve connectivity to the Gloria-Colombia International Bridge. Once that is done, he said, travelers from Monterrey can get to the bridge more efficiently and avoid cartel-controlled Tamaulipas.“There has been insecurity outside of Nuevo León. These incidents (of violence) are happening outside Nuevo León. Nuevo León has complete protection throughout the state and maybe these political conflicts, this fight between the federal government and the government of Tamaulipas has caused a distraction from the security,” Garcia Sepulveda said, on a webinar hosted by Rep. Cuellar.“We hope that they have, soon, the ability to make bonds between the federal government and the government of Tamaulipas. Nuevo León has to do its own work to improve the security and give the border the security it deserves.”In his remarks, Cuellar acknowledged there is a “little bit of a difference between Nuevo León and Tamaulipas. “And we certainly want to make sure that we are helpful. Through appropriations, I want to help Mexico on the security part. We have done that in the past. But, it does not go through governors, it has to go to the federal government and they have to work that out,” Cuellar said.“But, I am concerned because we have had American citizens that have disappeared. It (securing key highways on the Mexican border) is something that has to be done. With all due respect it is something we have to tackle. Otherwise it does have a ripple effect on trade, tourism and our inter-connections.”Cuellar said the dominance of cartels along the border needs to be acknowledged.Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian website. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.