By Justin O'Brien
February 9, 2004

The U.S. Conference of Mayors' Cities and Borders Task Force met January 22nd and mayors joined with federal, state, local and private sector officials to discuss state-city and cross'border security cooperation and the U.S. Visa and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (U.S. VISIT) system. The Task Force is co-chaired by Laredo Mayor Betty Flores and Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick. Laredo and Detroit are the largest and busiest inland ports of entry in the country.

Joined by Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Jim Turner (TX), guest speakers included Mr. Frank Navarrete, Homeland Security Director for the State of Arizona, Mr. Shelby Slater, Homeland Security Director for the City of Detroit, Jim Williams, Director of the US VISIT program at the Department of Homeland Security and Theresa Brown, Director of Americans for Better Borders at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Turner: "If Border Security Is Not Done Right, The Risk Of Adverse (Economic) Impact Is Serious"

In his remarks, Rep. Turner noted that mayors have new and unique responsibilities in light of the threat of terrorism. With these responsibilities and the mayor's unique role come unique problems; situations that are particularly acute in border cities as they have historically suffered from inadequate infrastructure investments. Best-positioned to understand essential protective needs, mayors need the flexibility to focus upon their cities' unique priorities to mitigate risks, he said.

Turner said that the new system should be implemented only with sufficient resources invested in border security infrastructure, citing dual use benefits of significant investments. Turner urged the mayors to continue to speak out on the critical issues that mayors face with regard to border infrastructure investments. Waukegan (IL) Mayor Richard Hyde described the impact of large undocumented communities on service delivery in cities far from the border and urged greater enforcement of immigration laws.

Regional Cooperation Key to Effective, Efficient Security Efforts

Arizona Homeland Security Director Frank Navarrete explained the significant costs associated with alert level changes in the national color-coded alert system. While recommended for state and local jurisdictions, federal agencies are mandated to implement additional security measures when the alert level is raised. Port St. Lucie (FL) Mayor Robert Minksy noted that in the case of smaller ports-of-entry, public information sharing efforts continue to be inadequate.

Navarrete also described Arizona's efforts to improve state-local cooperation including the creation of a statewide Coordinating Council where cities sit on the Advisory Board and the tiered implementation of radio-interoperability from along the border moving progressively inland. He noted that in his estimation, given infrastructure and cost considerations, regionalization is critical to strengthened security in border states.

Navarrete shared information about Arizona's highly successful cross-border WMD exercise, which focused upon city and state response coordination for contingencies in both the cities of Nogales (AZ) and Nogales, Mexico.

Northern Border Cooperation Continues to Improve

Detroit Homeland Security Director Shelby Slater explained Detroit's security focus on strengthening cooperative relations with federal, state and local agencies both in the Detroit metro region and with Canadian counterparts. Slater also described inter-operability investments and how Detroit is working within the framework of cross-border and contingency response working groups including the conduct of joint "table-top" exercises which the city anticipates will continue and expand to practical exercises.

In support Kilpatrick described the critical need to enhance technology, infrastructure and business processes in border ports'of-entry and cross'border metro areas. Similarly, he described the need to equally emphasize prevention in addition to focusing upon response. Kilpatrick also spoke of the need to mold a unified, cooperative approach to border and homeland security with state and local officials from the northern border.

DHS: US VISIT; Many Successes in a Few Short Weeks

Director at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for U.S. VISIT, Jim Williams explained some of the problems experienced in initial implementation of the program and several immediate successes such as the apprehension of criminals and others in violation of immigration laws, many resulting from pilot programs in Baltimore and Miami.

Theresa Brown explained how the Americans for Better Borders coalition was formed specifically to deal with the new entry-exit system. Visa processing delays are beginning to cost business. Not all elements of the US VISIT program need to be implemented at land ports-of-entry she said.

Flores, describing a lack of understanding of inland ports-of-entry concerns outside border states, noted that while the DHS response to border city concerns has been open, if more time is needed to implement US VISIT properly then the time should be taken. Flores added that there is a definitive need for short-term admissions for business and personal travel due to the very substantial impact of cross-border business and visitor traffic that border economies are dependent upon.