|
| BTA Continues Push for Increased CBP Resources at the Ports of Entry |
President signs border security funding package as Congress heads to August recess
 The president on Friday signed a bill that directs $600 million to increased border security.
The legislation reached the president's desk after weeks of back-and-forth between the House and Senate over the size and scope of the package and over how the bill would be paid for.
Both chambers had to return to Washington from their August recess in order to pass the bill in its final form.
The BTA this year has consistently urged Congress and the Obama administration to devote more resources to the land border ports of entry. A previous version of the bill passed by the House funded an additional 500 CBP officers at southwest border ports of entry, yet the version sent to the president only funded 250 positions.
"This funding is a step in the right direction and begins to recognize the critical needs of border communities," BTA Chair Kathy Neal said. "While devoting more manpower to the ports of entry strengthens our nation's physical security, it also improves our ability to process legitimate trade and travel, which is critical to the country's economic health."
Bill highlights:
The bill provides $394 million for the Department of Homeland Security. The bill includes $244 million to hire new and maintain existing levels of Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection Officers, $32 million for two new unmanned aerial detection systems, $6 million for forward operating bases for Border Patrol agents, $14 million for tactical communications to support enforcement activities, and $80 million for new ICE agents and supporting investments along the border, and $8 million to train new law enforcement staff.
|
| US-VISIT |
Border communities stand to suffer if lines leaving country mirror long lines to get in
With the U.S. economy still struggling to show signs of life, President Obama has made bolstering trade and exports a key to getting the country's economy back on track. In March, the president announced his National Export Initiative, with the goal of doubling exports over the next five years, and he appointed captains of industry to the President's Export Council, a body tasked with giving the president its best ideas for growing U.S. exports.
But before you get your hopes up expecting to see trucks full of U.S. goods exiting our land borders to store shelves in Canada and Mexico, remember those long lines of trucks still waiting in the summer sun to enter the U.S. Those hours-long waits are likely to continue and certainly are unlikely to boost your confidence in the government's commitment to robust international trade.
And keep in mind that immigration enforcement resources are increasing at the nation's borders, with the president just signing into law legislation that directs over 1,000 new Border Patrol personnel to the southwest border. These efforts to prevent contraband and illegal crossers from entering the U.S. could also hold ramifications for the people and cargo leaving the country.
Since 1996, Congress has enacted legislation requiring immigration and visa-overstay enforcement through an immigrant exit control system for foreign travelers leaving the U.S to match the enhanced immigration entry process. An immigration exit program to biometrically (fingerprint) verify the exit of foreign visa holders and others foreign travelers (not including border crossing card holders and other "trusted travelers") can surely increase immigration enforcement.
If the Department of Homeland Security is looking to its management of the border entry process for inspiration, then border communities should hold their collective breath when it comes to DHS' development of the congressionally-mandated immigration exit process.
|
| International Trade Advisory Committees |
BTA named to International Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business
Border Trade Alliance President Nelson Balido in July
BTA President Nelson Balido
 |
was appointed by Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and the United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Ron Kirk, to represent the BTA on the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business.
The ITACs serve as a body for industry stakeholders to advise policymakers on trade-related matters across all sectors of the economy, giving U.S. negotiators deeper insight into how trade agreements will affect various industries and communities.
"I'm proud that the BTA has been named to the ITAC and I'm excited to get to work," Balido said. "I'm confident that I'll bring the perspective of border communities to policymakers charged with negotiating U.S. trade agreements and ensure that they are opening new markets to small and minority businesses. Trade is often discussed in terms of its effect on large companies. The BTA believes that trade also benefits small and minority businesses by exposing their products to consumers in new and emerging markets."
|
| McAllen, Texas Event in Sept. Welcomes Congressmen |
|
Congressman Henry Cuellar
The 21st Century Border
Sept. 8-9, 2010
McAllen Convention Center Ballroom
The BTA is proud to host this forum in September in McAllen, Texas looking at the 21st Century Border.
Already confirmed to address the event are Texas Congressmen Henry Cuellar and Ciro Rodriguez.
Both congressmen are key to the direction our borders are headed in the coming years. Rep. Cuellar chairs the House Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism.
Congressman Ciro Rodriguez
Rep. Rodriguez is the vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee's Homeland Security Subcommittee, and is critical to the funding of important agencies like Customs and Border Protection.
|
|
About the Border Trade Alliance
Founded in 1986, the Border Trade Alliance (BTA) is a grassroots, non-profit organization that serves as a forum for participants to address key issues affecting trade and economic development in North America. Working with entities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the BTA advocates on behalf of policies and initiatives designed to improve border affairs and trade relations among the three nations.
Our mission is to initiate, monitor and influence public policy and private sector initiatives for the facilitation of international trade and commerce through advocacy, education, issue development, research and analysis, and strategic planning.
|
|
|
| Seen and Heard |
 |
|
|
| Quick Links |
|
|
| Staff contacts |
| Nelson Balido
President
Policy and Communications
|
|
|
