Since January of 2008, 4,700 murders have been committed across the border from El Paso, and on Wednesday, Governor Rick Perry said he wants to keep Texans safe.

He did not release any specifics about what he calls a secret violence contingency plan, which went into effect this week.

But the governor and other lawmakers others agree something must be done to stop the violence from spilling over into Texas, and it must be done now.

U.S. Representative Michael McCaul, R-Austin, believes Perry made the right move.

KVUE News - Austin

"We need to both physically and through technology secure this border because it is such a threat," McCaul said.  "We can use predator drones for surveillance on the Texas-Mexico border; in fact, we do have some already, but I think we can use more of that kind of technology to assist border control to stop these drug cartels from Mexico from crossing into the United States."

Some experts believe economics play a large part in the growing violence, as well as the demand for drugs in the US.

McCaul says assisting Mexico in the fight against drugs and beefing up border security is the only way to keep the violence from spilling over onto American soil.

"I think we need to entertain the idea of the National Guard providing more resources to free up the Border Patrol's time to do what they're supposed to be doing," McCaul said.

The Homeland Security Committee in Washington, D.C. is holding a hearing Thursday on how to use additional technology to monitor the border. Governor Perry's plan is expected to be a major topic of discussion.