By Justin O'Brien
February 3, 2003

Noting that "we have to do things better" Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security Asa Hutchinson joined with mayors from throughout the country "to listen and learn" and participate in a panel discussion of border problems at the Conference of Mayors Cities and Borders Task Force meeting on Thursday January 23rd in Washington D.C. The Task Force met as part of the 71st Winter Meeting of the Conference of Mayors. Hutchinson explained his understanding and appreciation of the unique problems of the borders and border cities including transportation, inspections and infrastructure.

Need to Balance Security with Trade and Travel Needs

Under Secretary Hutchinson described programming underway at the Border and Transportation Security directorate of Homeland Security and expressed his commitment to work with mayors in alleviating congestion at the border to improve cross-border commercial traffic and NAFTA trade while protecting legal migration and travel at the same time protecting against terrorism and other illegal activities. Responding to questions about immigration and inspections Hutchinson drew differences between immigrants searching for work and a better future and those engaged in drug and arms smuggling. He also noted the need to build a respectful culture in Homeland Security with no toleration for civil rights violations. Hutchinson also discussed the role and importance of implementing technology programs to improve security and increase efficiency at cross-border ports-of-entry.

The discussion was moderated by Task Force Co-chairs, Elizabeth G. Flores, mayor of Laredo Texas and Kwame M. Kilpatrick, mayor of Detroit. Laredo and Detroit are the busiest inland ports-of-entry on the country's borders with Mexico and Canada respectively. Other panel members included Luis Cabrera Mexican Minister for Border Affairs; Bill Heffelfinger, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Field Operations at U.S. Customs, and Border and Transportation Security expert Stephen Flynn from the Council on Foreign Relations.

Cabrera: New Era of Bilateral Cooperation

Noting that investment in border infrastructure has failed to keep pace with bilateral trade growth and that 80 percent of US-Mexico trade crosses our common border, Minister for Border Affairs Cabrera argued that investment must accompany the exponential growth in trade and traffic, reiterating the need to balance security needs with the movement of people and goods. Cabrera also described US-Mexico inter-governmental cooperation including the US-Mexico binational 22-point plan agreed in Monterrey, Mexico in 2002 on a wide range of border-related topics which Mexico is doing its part to implement. Cabrera emphasized the necessity of a common approach to border planning and infrastructure in US-Mexico bilateral relations.

Stronger City-Customs Relationship Envisioned

Acknowledging the lack of attention paid to borders historically and in more recent years, the U.S.-Canada border, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Heffelfinger described the anti-terror focus in Customs operations at the same time explaining that with the application and use of risk management techniques and principles the Service has been getting better at facilitating legitimate traffic and is actively focusing on greater efficiencies. Heffelfinger noted that the country cannot afford to let a single weapon of mass destruction through, but that customs is compelled to ensure the free-flow of continuing legitimate trade due to the critical nature of trade to the national economy and security. He also described increasing cooperation and close partnership with his Mexican and Canadian counterparts including data'sharing so critical to continuing improvements in cross-border trade and travel procedures. Commissioner Heffelfinger said that Customs is concerned with border cities- needs and must work with ports-of-entry in a cooperative effort to improve border processes and expressed optimism for even greater efficiencies at the border as a result of streamlined decision-making and consultation within the newly created Department of Homeland Security.

l procedures. Commissioner Heffelfinger said that Customs is concerned with border cities- needs and must work with ports-of-entry in a cooperative effort to improve border processes and expressed optimism for even greater efficiencies at the border as a result of streamlined decision-making and consultation within the newly created Department of Homeland Security.

National Security Imperatives of Borders, Infrastructure, Economy Require Change in National Understanding

Stephen Flynn of the Council on Foreign Relations described the national security imperatives of improved border and border city infrastructure and why attention needs to be paid to the needs of border cities, as well as the need to build security measures into international transportation and logistics systems. Flynn stated that a border-centric focus and approach to ensuring homeland security is misguided and dangerously inefficient noting that history has shown that in terms of infrastructure, the more inefficient the system, the more difficult it is to police. Flynn also explained the critical need for the country to address the historic neglect of border trade and travel infrastructure because removing bottleneck-type inefficiencies and congestion at the borders eliminates opportunities that terrorists and drug smugglers thrive on. Flynn reiterated the essential nature of trade to the collective security of the three NAFTA countries, adding that the national security rationale compels new thinking about the border as the country simply cannot afford the current policy from a physical or economic security perspective.

he collective security of the three NAFTA countries, adding that the national security rationale compels new thinking about the border as the country simply cannot afford the current policy from a physical or economic security perspective.