Bersin Discusses Joint CBP-Mexico Police Patrols, Inspections, Etc.
On November 10, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Bersin addressed the 6th Sovereign Challenge Conference in El Paso, TX and discussed CBP’s approach to border management and how CBP is working with its Mexican and Canadian partners on border security issues. Highlights of the Commissioner’s remarks include:
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U.S. and Mexico Adopt “Corridor Security” Approach for Border
The U.S. and Mexico have adopted a set of principles to guide their approach to building a 21st Century Border. These principles include: developing and managing the border in a holistic fashion; collaboratively administering, managing the border, etc.
Such principles are being applied through an approach called “corridor security.” Securing the corridors means attacking the whole of the criminal continuum—at its source points, in the transit zones, at the border, and in the interior and distribution areas—in a systematic and coordinated fashion, as opposed to compartmentalizing the corridor and pursuing individual enforcement efforts in a vacuum.
“Corridor Security” Is Being Pioneered Using Multi-Agency ACTT
The corridor security approach is being pioneered in the Arizona-Sonora, Mexico corridor through the Operation Alliance to Combat Transnational Threats (ACTT). Initiated in September 2009, ACTT is a multi-agency operation that brings together over 50 federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement and public safety organizations. It employs a collaborative enforcement approach against criminal organizations, capitalizing on the capabilities and resources of strategic partners.
ACTT Includes Joint Patrols with Mexican Federal Police
As part of the ACTT, the U.S. is partnering more closely with Mexico than it ever has before to secure the shared border, including establishing joint patrols with SSP, the Mexican federal police.
U.S.-Mexico Coordinating on Inspections, Info Sharing, Etc.
The U.S. is also working jointly with Mexico more closely than ever before in other ways, including: (i) coordinating inspections and law enforcement efforts, coordinating and capacity building, and providing assistance to Mexico; and (ii) improving information sharing regimes, including sharing information about potentially dangerous individuals and cargo traveling into Mexico by land, air, and sea.
New Border Intelligence Fusion Section in El Paso, TX
In summer 2010, the U.S. and Mexico started an effort to enhance and improve the information sharing effort among border enforcement agencies by creating a new fusion section at the El Paso Intelligence Center. The new section focuses on all threats and hazards, and will be responsible for “pulling” in and analyzing data from border enforcement agencies and “pushing” out leads and actionable real-time intelligence on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week basis.
U.S. and Canada Using Technology, Partnerships to Manage Border
The U.S. has also tailored border management strategies to fit the U.S-Canadian border environment. In order to effectively manage the Northern border, the U.S. multiplies its efforts through technology and through close partnerships with Canadian, state, local, and tribal law enforcement.
(Commissioner’s remarks, dated 11/10/10)