For the past six years, the state of Texas has been relying on a private security company to help guard the border with Mexico, while Governor Rick Perry has boasted having a “model border security” operation.

 

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has relied on Abrams Learning & Information Systems (ALIS) to help maintain security along the border. ALIS is reportedly paid between $3 million and $5 million a year to provide strategy formulation, border crime-mapping, operations management and public relations. ALIS was founded in 2004 by retired General John Abrams.

 

Often, those working for ALIS don’t identify themselves as such, but instead claim to be part of DPS or the Texas Rangers.

 

Meanwhile, DPS has been criticized by an independent audit for mismanaging federal funds, including making duplicate payments to contractors. The agency also has had poor accounting and failed to competitively bid out contracts.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

To Learn More:

Who Is Securing the Texas Border? How Private Contractors Mislead the Public, Then Get Rich Off Taxpayer Money (by Tom Barry, AlterNet)