<br />Governor says area 'devastated' by human and drug smuggling<br /><br />Saturday, August 13, 2005; Posted: 1:39 p.m. EDT (17:39 GMT) <br /><br />{CNN) -- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson declared a state of emergency Friday in four counties along the Mexican border that he said have been "devastated" by crimes such as the smuggling of drugs and illegal immigrants.<br /><br />The declaration said the region "has been devastated by the ravages and terror of human smuggling, drug smuggling, kidnapping, murder, destruction of property and the death of livestock. ... <br /><br />"[It] is in an extreme state of disrepair and is inadequately funded or safeguarded to protect the lives and property of New Mexican citizens."<br /><br />New Mexico shares 180 miles of border with the Mexican state of Chihuahua.<br /><br />"The situation is out of hand," Richardson said Friday night on CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight," noting that one 54-mile stretch is particularly bad.<br /><br />The Mexican government issued a statement in which it acknowledged the problems along the border, but said it continues to make consistent efforts to target them along with U.S. authorities.<br /><br />It said some of Richardson's views stem from "generalizations that do not correspond to the spirit of cooperation and understanding that are required for dealing with problems of common concern along the border."<br /><br />Richardson's declaration makes $750,000 in state emergency funds available to Dona Ana, Luna, Grant and Hidalgo counties.<br /><br />Richardson pledged an additional $1 million in assistance for the area, his office said in a news release.
