Napolitano focuses on border security

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano has had a rough start in her new white house position. Her new gig puts her right in the middle of the Mexican cartel’s turf war.

Her latest mission is a tough one, “To make sure that we don't get the kind of spill over violence that people were wary of,” Napolitano said.

Yet, it appears it already has. Last weekend four U.S. citizens from California were found murdered in the Mexican border town of Tijuana.

Last week, 10 bodies were found buried in a mass grave in Palomas, Mexico just south of the border from Columbus, New Mexico.

Investigators are now looking into missing person's reports from around the Columbus port, in hopes of identifying at least some of the bodies.

It’s violence like this that worries law enforcement along the border.

Secretary Napolitano said Washington is doing everything they can to keep our border cities safe.
“We are on regular contact with sheriff's and police down in the those border counties from California across to Texas, so that way we know exactly what they are seeing and feeling,” Napolitano said.

Luna County Sheriff Raymond Cobos said it's a step in the right direction because the lines of communication are finally opening up.

Cobos said he now briefs homeland security at least two to three times a week.

Along with better communication, the government has added more agents to the border and money to beef up security.

“We've opened up about 60 million dollars in grant money,” Napolitano said.

This time Napolitano is making sure the money will be used on operations specific to each area.

“We've kind of broadened the criteria to getting those monies,” Napolitano said.

However, with the border only feet away it's a reminder to law enforcement there's only so much they can do.

Cobos said he’s still worried that the violence will spill over into Columbus, “I always worry about that, anywhere alone the border.”