Hidalgo County law enforcement agencies will receive $4.5 million from the federal government this upcoming fiscal year for border security work, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, announced Friday.
The county received the highest allocation of Operation Stonegarden funds out of all of Texas counties, the congressman said.
The funds, which come from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security budget, cover equipment, mileage and overtime pay for sheriff’s offices and police departments in border states that take part in joint operations with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Border Patrol.
Nationwide, U.S. lawmakers allocated $85 million for the Operation Stonegarden grant program for fiscal year 2018, which begins in October.
Since 2009, Hidalgo County has received more than $28 million in funds from the program, according to Cuellar’s office.
