DPS rebuffs checkpoint criticism

Jacob Fischler, The Monitor

The Texas Department of Public Safety sought to calm fears Thursday about its controversial regulatory checkpoint program in the Rio Grande Valley, responding to concerns the checkpoints are being used for immigration enforcement.

A DPS statement came one day after state Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, sent inquiries to the state law enforcement agency asking for an explanation regarding the checkpoints’ legality and purpose.

“They may or may not meet constitutional muster, but we as a community deserve answers,” Canales said in a Thursday telephone interview. “And not just general answers, we deserve specific answers that are backed up by data.”

Canales said part of his constituents’ fears involved allegations that the checkpoints are also used to enforce immigration violations — a contention DPS vehemently denied in one of 12 bullet points in Thursday’s statement from the DPS.

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