SAN ANTONIO – The reaction at the Sheriffs' Association of Texas conference to Governor Rick Perry sending the National Guard to the border was simply to not dwell on his decision.
"Any efforts in place are there because decisions were made for them to be there," said Brazos County Sheriff Chris Kirk, legislative chair for the association.
The governor said the National Guard would be backing up additional DPS already in South Texas while Border Patrol deals with the unaccompanied minors.
The group said it was not consulted about the decision to send 1,000 troops at a monthly cost of $12 million.
"Those monies could be utilized in each county, for each sheriff to better man themselves with people we need there who understand what's happening in their counties," said Kleberg County Sheriff Edward Mata.
He said the National Guard would be merely observers unable to arrest anyone by law.
Kirk said his membership so far has not been involved in any decision-making involving border.
"We are demanding that we need to be at the table," Kirk said.
Kerr County Sheriff Rusty Hierholzer said all he wanted was a courtesy call from the federal government.
Hierholzer said he found out after the fact that up to 700 unaccompanied minors were briefly allowed to stay at vacant summer camps in the Hill Country.
He said he understands the locations where the children are temporarily housed are kept secret for their own safety.
And yet, Hierholzer said, "We're known for floods. We're known for fires."
But without knowing the children were there, Hierholzer said, "If we'd had an emergency, there's no way we would have been prepared to react to the emergency."
Speaking for the group, Kirk said it will continue to develop action plans on how sheriff's offices can further contribute to the border security effort.