Update: Secretary Napolitano Visits El Paso
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano visited with border mayors and businessmen in El Paso. Her message: “The border is open for business.”
Secretary Napolitano highlighted the efforts of the federal government to encourage cross-border trade while maintaining security.
Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sanchez, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin and El Paso Mayor John Cook attended the event at the Bridge of the Americas. Also attending were Nogales mayor Arturo Garino and Mayor Al Kreiger of Yuma, Arizona.
The mayors talked about the misconceptions that border communities in the U.S. are not safe. Secretary Napolitano assured them the administration’s priority is to ensure balance between security and economic development.
“The Obama administration is committed to fostering a secure and prosperous border region,” said Napolitano.
According to Customs and Border Protection, 250 new officers are being sent to the border to keep traffic flowing and expedite security checks.
Secretary Napolitano added that considerable investments have yielded a 40-percent increase in import values in the El Paso area from fiscal year 2009 to 2010, and touted a 22-percent jump in the total value of imports crossing into the U.S during the same period.
