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Author Archives: Director of Policy


Border Trade Alliance Issues Support for Critical Legislation Impacting Border Wait-Times

Published by Director of Policy.
April 18, 2008 – 8:15 pm in Advocacy, Legislation, Import & Export, Press Releases 0 Comments

The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) today announced its strong support for the PORTS Act, H.R. 5622, recently introduced by Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX). The PORTS (Putting Our Resources Toward Security) Act authorizes significant increases in funding for security personnel and infrastructure at all U.S. land ports of entry in order to meet […]

BTA Border News Roundup: DHS at 5

Published by Director of Policy.
March 7, 2008 – 10:44 pm in Border News 0 Comments

This month marks the 5th anniversary of the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. A Washington Post article reflects on the past success and current challenges facing DHS as it looks forward toward the next five years. One current challenge facing DHS is the completion of nearly 670 miles of border fence […]

Border Fence Compromise: A Local Solution to a National Issue

Published by Director of Policy.
February 19, 2008 – 11:45 pm in Border News, noteworthy 2 Comments

Recently the BTA expressed our support for the announced compromise by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Hidalgo County, Texas to simultaneously upgrade the existing levee along the Rio Grande for both flood control and border security purposes. We are hopeful that DHS’s willingness to support this innovative alternative to the construction […]

BTA Policy Update: DHS Announces Support for Hidalgo County, Texas Proposal on Border Fence

Published by Director of Policy.
February 8, 2008 – 9:55 pm in Advocacy, Border News, Travel & Immigration 0 Comments

Today, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced support for a proposal to enhance the existing levee structure along 22 miles of the Rio Grande River in Hidalgo County, Texas. The construction of a concrete retaining wall along land owned by the International Boundary and Water Commission will address flood control and […]

WHTI: State Dept. Releases Final Rule on PASS Card

Published by Director of Policy.
January 11, 2008 – 11:13 pm in Advocacy, Border News, Travel & Immigration 2 Comments

On December 31, 2007 the U.S. Department of State published a final rule in the Federal Register on the development of the PASS Card. The wallet-sized, low cost alternative to a U.S. Passport is designed to facilitate efficient and secure cross-border travel at land and sea ports of entry. On June 1, […]

The Importance of Trade: NAFTA Bolsters U.S. Economy

Published by Director of Policy.
January 5, 2008 – 5:21 am in Advocacy, Import & Export 1 Comment

The second day of 2008 marked the end of the remaining tariffs on agricultural products traded between the United States and Mexico, achieving a remaining objective of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Tri-lateral trade between NAFTA members, the United States, Canada and Mexico has increased dramatically since the 1994 inception of […]

House Committee Holds Hearing on Wait-times

Published by Director of Policy.
January 5, 2008 – 12:08 am in Import & Export, Border News 0 Comments

On Thursday the House Homeland Security Committee held a field hearing in El Paso, Texas entitled, “Ensuring Homeland Security While Facilitating Legitimate Travel: The Challenge at America’s Ports of Entry.” GSA Administrator Lurita Doan, CBP Assistant Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski and Richard Stana Director, Homeland Security and Justice at the Government Accountability Office were […]

BTA Welcomes Legislation to Study Wait-times - Urges Swift Passage

Published by Director of Policy.
December 27, 2007 – 8:47 am in Advocacy, Legislation 3 Comments

The Border Trade Alliance (BTA), a leading trade organization, issued its strong support for legislation introduced earlier in December by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez (D-TX) to study the impact of growing wait-times at land border crossings along the U.S. border with Canada and Mexico.
In late August, the BTA […]

WHTI: Passport Requirement Delayed

Published by Director of Policy.
December 19, 2007 – 11:00 pm in Advocacy, Border News, Travel & Immigration 3 Comments

Border communities in the United States, both north and south, are breathing a sigh of relief. Congress has moved the implementation date for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) until June 1, 2009 at the earliest. This change means that U.S. citizens will be able to cross our borders at land and […]

The Importance of Trade: Impact on Border Communities

Published by Director of Policy.
December 18, 2007 – 10:43 pm in Import & Export, Border News 0 Comments

The economic importance of trade is no more apparent than in U.S. border communities. The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) as an organization that represents border communities and trade has witnessed how cities along both the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders are integrally linked economically with their counterparts north and south and through them, the […]

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