Special Ranger Roland Garcia told federal lawmakers farmers are threatened. State Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples echoed his words. He said many farmers are getting out of the business. They fear for their lives. The smugglers want to take over.
Our farmland is under attack. State agriculture leaders say drug and human traffickers target local farmers and many are too afraid to report the crime. Representatives came forward at a national security forum Monday morning.
They deal with bad weather. They deal with low prices for crops. Now they’re dealing with criminals taking over their land.
Turning a profit off the land is hard work. Farmers around the state struggle with the drought. They struggle with demand. Some locally have a greater fear.
“You never know what’s coming through here now. Nobody does. You know they say they’re not any terrorists coming through. Who knows?” said Brooks County rancher Lavoyger Durham in a previous interview.
A rancher in Brooks County admitted in May that smugglers use his ranch land to transport illegal immigrants. Local authorities say it’s worse.
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