EL PASO, Texas -- Some border law enforcement agencies have received grant money to better protect cities like El Paso, and now the U.S. Senate is working to see what else needs to be done to ensure border communities are safe.

The topic of today’s U.S. Senate hearing is "Securing the Borders and America’s Points of Entry: What Remains to be Done." Sheriff Richard Wiles will testify before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee about the role law enforcement plays in border communities and the complexity of immigration and border security, specifically distinguishing immigration enforcement from criminal law enforcement.

Some El Pasoans KFOX spoke to said border security is a main concern because of the violence in our sister city.

Lorenzo Parada and Russell Meadows, both west El Paso residents, agree that so far security from law enforcement to border patrol has been good, but they also agree there's a need for more boots on the ground in border cities like El Paso.

"It should have a lot of military presence because we've been trained to do security jobs, posting missions,” Meadows said.

"Like the Mexican guys, you know they're bringing soldiers; probably we need to bring ours,” added Parada.

Parada, who commutes to Juarez on a regular basis, said he's been witness to the drug cartel killings that have claimed more than 2,000 lives since the beginning of last year. He told KFOX he'll never forget what he saw in one man's trunk. "I saw the feet and I saw the bodies and I said, ‘Oh my goodness.’ That was really scary, it was awful,” Parada said. "They can do it over here. We need to show them that we're not going to be taken so easy; they cannot play with us."

The hearing will begin at 8 a.m. Click on links mentioned section on our home page to see the hearing via Webcast.