February 8, 2005 -- El Paso County Democrats say they are in disbelief after watching the testimony of U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes before the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Investigations.

"What he was saying doesn't make any sense," said Carmen Duarte, County Chair for the Democratic Party in El Paso.

Duarte says they are concerned Congressman Reyes is downplaying the seriousness of border incursions, including the January 23rd incident in Hudspeth County where Hudspeth Sheriff deputies were at a stand-off with Mexican militants during a drug smuggling operation along the Rio Grande.

"He wasn't there when it happened. He didn't see. The Sheriff's did," Duarte told KFOX.

Democrats also can't believe Reyes is questioning testimony from the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition - including El Paso County Sheriff Leo Samaniego and Hudspeth County Sheriff Arvin West - that the Mexican militants were armed with high-powered 50-caliber machine gun.

"Instead of criticizing them (the Sheriff's), he (Reyes) should support them because if someone gets killed that's going to create problems," said Duarte.