EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano (neh-pahl-ih-TAN'-oh) says U.S. communities on the border with Mexico are safer than most Americans believe.
Napolitano on Monday also warned Mexican drug cartels to keep violence on their side of the border.
She says those who don't, "will be met with an overwhelming response."
Napolitano was at the University of Texas at El Paso, across the Rio Grande from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
She says that U.S. apprehensions of illegal immigrants fell 30 percent in the last two years, while deportations exceeded 779,000.
Napolitano is scheduled to be in Dallas later Monday to discuss security for Super Bowl week.
The Super Bowl, between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, will take place Sunday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
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