Smart Border: 22 point agreement

1.Long Term Planning Develop and implement a long-term strategic plan that ensures a coordinated physical and technological infrastructure that keeps pace with growing cross-border traffic.

2. Relief of Bottlenecks Develop a prioritized list of infrastructure projects and take immediate action to relieve bottlenecks.

3.Infrastructure Protection Conduct vulnerability assessments of trans-border infrastructure and communications and transportation networks to identify and take required protective measures.

4.Harmonize Port of Entry Operations Synchronize hours of operation, infrastructure improvements, and traffic flow management at adjoining ports of entry on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

6.Cross-Border Cooperation Revitalize existing bilateral coordination mechanisms at the local, state, and federal levels with a specific focus on operations at border crossing points.

7.Financing projects at the border Explore joint financing mechanism to meet the main development and infrastructure needs.

8.Pre-Cleared Travelers Expand the use of the Secure Electronic Network for Traveler’s Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) dedicated commuter lanes at high-volume ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border.

9.Advanced Passenger Information Establish a joint advance passenger information exchange mechanism for flights between Mexico and U.S. and other relevant flights.

10.NAFTA Travel Explore methods to facilitate the movement of NAFTA travellers, including dedicated lanes at high-volume airports

11. Safe borders and deterrence of alien smuggling Reaffirm mutual commitment to the Border Safety Initiative and action plan for cooperation on border safety, established in June 2001. Enhance authorities and specialized institutions to assist, save and advise migrants, as well as those specialized on curbing the smuggling of people. Expand Alien Smuggling and Trafficking Task Force. Establish a law enforcement liaison framework to enhance cooperation between U.S. and Mexican federal agencies along the U.S. – Mexico border.

12. Visa Policy Consultations Continue frequent consultations on visa policies and visa screening procedures. Share information from respective consular databases.

13. Joint Training Conduct joint training in the areas of investigation and document analysis to enhance abilities to detect fraudulent documents and break up alien smuggling rings.

14. Compatible Databases Develop systems for exchanging information and sharing intelligence.

15. Screening of Third-Country Nationals Enhance cooperative efforts to detect, screen, and take appropriate measures to deal with potentially dangerous third-country nationals, taking into consideration the threats they may represent to security.

16.Public/Private-Sector Cooperation Expand partnerships with private sector trade groups and importers/exporters to increase security and compliance of commercial shipments, while expediting clearance processes.

17. Electronic Exchange of Information Continue to develop and implement joint mechanisms for the rapid exchange of customs data.

18. Secure In-Transit Shipments Continue to develop a joint in-transit shipment tracking mechanism and implement the Container Security Initiative

19. Technology Sharing Develop a technology sharing program to allow deployment of high technology monitoring devices such as electronic seals and license plate readers.

20. Secure Railways Continue to develop a joint rail imaging initiative at all rail crossing locations on the U.S.-Mexico border.

21. Combating Fraud Expand the ongoing Bilateral Customs Fraud Task Force initiative to further joint investigative activities.

22. Contraband Interdiction Continue joint efforts to combat contraband, including illegal drugs, drug proceeds, firearms, and other dangerous materials, and to prevent money laundering.

Radio Address by the President to the Nation 3-23-2002

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week I'm traveling in Latin America, visiting three strong American allies -- Mexico, Peru, and El Salvador -- to reaffirm the central importance I place on American relations with the rest of our hemisphere.

Our country's future is closely tied to the success and security of our closest neighbors. Problems like drug trade and poverty produce terrible consequences for all our countries. And prosperity in our hemisphere will produce profound benefits for all our countries. The United States is strongly committed to helping build an entire hemisphere that lives in liberty and trades in freedom.

The NAFTA trade agreement is a model for the world. NAFTA has created jobs and lifted lives, in Mexico and Canada and the United States. During NAFTA's first seven years, 15 million jobs were created in the United States. Our trade with Mexico now averages more than $650 million a day. And that's why our border is one of the busiest in the world, and keeping trade and traffic moving freely is essential to America and American jobs.

Yet, we must also prevent our terrorist enemies from using the openness of our society against us. Even our welcoming country must be able to shut its doors to terrorists and drugs and weapons at our own borders. So America, working closely with Canada and Mexico, has set a goal: We are working for a common border that is open to commerce and legitimate travel, and closed to drug trafficking and terror. We want to speed the movement of legal goods and people across the border, and stop the illegal movement of goods and people. And we will use the most up-to-date technology to achieve this goal.

This week, I saw some of that technology at work on a visit to a border near El Paso, Texas. X ray machines are being used to thoroughly screen cargo more efficiently than ever before. During my visit to Mexico, President Fox and I announced an agreement to move toward a "Smart Border" between our countries. Through close cooperation and advanced technology, we'll make our shared border more open and more secure.

We'll work with the Mexican government to identify individuals who pose threats to North America before they arrive here. We will share technology to inspect traffic on cross-border rail lines and at major ports of entry. We will make sure that people with legitimate business, who travel regularly across the border, can cross easily -- so border authorities can focus on greater risks. And we will share information more quickly and efficiently with our Mexican friends.

America's border with Mexico is a region of tremendous economic vitality, and that must not change. Both our nations benefit from close ties of family and culture and commerce. Our new approach to strengthened border security will preserve that openness, and increase the safety of our country. America will defend ourselves against new threats, at the same time that we build closer relationships with our neighbors.

Thank you all for listening.

24. Take all steps to facilitate entry of goods by truck, rail and air as quickly as possible into the USA, understanding that libertarian principles are a moral good and security for the American people an externablizable cost.

25. Work with friends at the Wall Street Journal to create talking points and indignant responses to queries whether these facilitiations masquerading as secuirty are aimed to undermine the American poor and middle classes for the sake of Globalization and lining a few pockets.

25. Resign, take a consultant job at Grover Norquist's firm. Advise sweatshops, terrorists, drug dealers, and immigrant smugglers how to buy or create front companies with "NAFTA Traveller" status or can otherwise use the privileges of rapid border transit, noting that these trucks, et al, will not only not be inspected, but will be less inspected than before 9/11.

26. Make millions, retire.

-- James Ziglar, INS

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