By Justin O'Brien
July 1, 2002

The U.S. Conference of Mayors' Cities and Borders Task Force led by Laredo Mayor Betty Flores met on Sunday, June 16th, during the 70th Annual Conference of Mayors. Discussing the direct impact that border issues are having on cities and city development nationwide, mayors in attendance from across the country agreed that concerns in border cities and border ports-of-entry were concerns for cities throughout the country due to the critical interdependence of city economies and businesses involved in NAFTA trade and commercial transportation, job creation and border processes involving the cross-border movement of goods, equipment, workers and tourists. The Cities and Borders Task Force is the U.S. Conference of Mayors forum for discussion of how boTrade, Immigration, Border Security, Transportation Infrastructure Discussed

Trade, Immigration, Border Security, Transportation Infrastructure Discussed

Topics discussed at the meeting ranged from the implementation of smart border and ports-of-entry solutions and technology implementation, to city and mayoral involvement in border policymaking and consultation by federal agencies charged with implementing programs and policy. Discussion substantially involved NAFTA trade and local commerce, immigration, federal-local law-enforcement and cooperation, enhanced security measures at the border and inspection processes and transportation infrastructure; "The longer that we wait to implement technologyÉfor efficient and secure port-of-entry processing, the longer it will be before trade, commerce, travel and tourism get back to the levels that we need," Mayor Flores said. The need for inclusion of a focConsultations with Cities, Mayors in Policymaking, Implementation Urged

Consultations with Cities, Mayors in Policymaking, Implementation Urged

The mayors also discussed how federal consultation with border and non-border cities and their mayors and representatives is critical to restoring commercial activity to pre-9-11 levels and improving efficiency levels for the movement of trade and travelers. The mayors agreed that city and mayoral representation in consultative groups; including the local component of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, that affect city development should be a common goal to ensure that border-related security and commercial concerns are properly addressed. Flores said "Cities and mayors must be an integral part of the (consultation) process to ensure that border-related security concerns are properly dealt with."

Mayors also agreed that the pairing of border security with transportation security issues in a single division of the proposed Department of Homeland Security may provide opportunity to ensure that cities' and mayors' concerns and input on border issues are properly integrated to homeland security solutions.

Presentations were made by Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz of Ciudad Juarez (Mexico), which shares the border with the City of El Paso, Texas and Kris Kobach of the Office of the Attorney General at the Department of Justice, who described how developments, initiatives and program implementation at the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) will enhance security at the border and beyond, and increase federal-local law enforcement information sharing and cooperation.

Trade, Transportation Slowdown Hurting Local Economies

Mayor Reyes Ferriz described how the commercial and international trade slowdown is affecting Ciudad Juarez's economy, which in turn is having a direct economic impact on neighboring cities, with implications for American jobs and manufacturing in cities far from the border. Reyes described how 65,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Juarez since 9-11 and numerous factories of U.S. companies have relocated to overseas locations. Urging quick implementation of new programs and solutions for cross-border processing and inspections and using the example of television sets, Reyes explained how this meant that U.S.-made subcomponents and parts would not be used in the production of the majority of television sets purchased in the U.S. directly affecINS Entry-Exit Control System to Enhance Border, Homeland Security

INS Entry-Exit Control System to Enhance Border, Homeland Security

Kris Kobach of the Attorney General's office described INS' efforts to build a better and improved Exit-Entry system and explained the pivotal role that an INS and local law enforcement partnership will play in ensuring greater homeland security, in part through INS' linking to the NCIC network. He also described how INS plans to include biometric identifiers in travel documentation and implement periodic checks and registration systems, long in use in other parts of the world such as Europe, will go a long way to providing the INS and other authorities with a fully functioning monitoring system.

Kobach also explained that a major element of the envisioned Exit-Entry system would be the development of the Exit-Control system which has historically suffered from under-investment and which will require a great deal of infrastructure investment. In agreement with the mayors in attendance, Kobach explained that the key to making the total Entry-Exit system a functioning and efficient one will be the deployment and integration of technology and automation. Mayors expressed concern that they be consulted on the implementation of many INS measures and that the Office of the Attorney General and the INS make definitive efforts to ensure that cities, mayors and their local law enforcement agencies continue to provide information and be kept apprisedImplementation of Reverse Inspection Processes Urged

Implementation of Reverse Inspection Processes Urged