As a citizen in Kansas City, Missouri I'm fighting against this proposed pilot program.
Considering the historic nature of this arrangement, however, one would expect that there would be some documentation, including documented permission from the federal government, which traces the genesis of locating a Mexican customs facility within the sovereign border of the United States.
Surprisingly, Kansas City SmartPort president Chris Guiterrez and Councilwoman Bonnie Sue Cooper claim that there are no documents. And shockingly, the Kansas City, Missouri City Council obligated the funds for this pilot project based on nothing more substantial than it being a good idea.
Moreover, there are major concerns that have not been adressed.
We may be able to glean some information regarding the various issues associated with cross-border inspection services from the National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade. The Center’s findings are contained in a study, “Expanding Trade through Safe and Secure Borders,” conducted by The University of Arizona’s Office of Economic Development.
The Center suggests that, “If cross-border inspection services are envisioned as an eventual element of the CyberPort concept, it would be advisable to conduct an in-depth study of possible civil liability and insurance issues, which could very likely become a concern for certain U.S. agencies.” Moreover, the Center also noted that the concept of an inland port would require “enhanced security.”
The Center’s April 2004 newsletter, “The Inter-American Trade Report” Carlos Guzman-Leuffer explains that, “One of the most important obstacles that would face any proposal of the Cyberport project is the sovereignty issue in the NAFTA countries...”
Our City Council and economic development officials seem unconcerned about the state of Missouri's sovereignty.
they have make it that NAFTA laws, supersedes states laws