Congressman Mike McCaul giving Certificate of Appreciation to Senator John Cornyn. From left to right: Honorable Al Zapanta, Senator John Cornyn, Amb. Arturo Sarukhan and Congressman Mike McCaul.
Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congressman Henry Cuellar and Suzanne Petrie, Director of Homeland Security, TASC, at the Strengthening U.S.-Mexico Security Cooperation & the Merida Initiative Panel.
Congressman Silvestre Reyes speaking at the Congressional Reception. From left to right: Honorable Al Zapanta, Congressman Silvestre Reyes and Congressman Mike McCaul.
Panel #3: Strengthening U.S.-Mexico Security Cooperation and the Merida Initiative
BINATIONAL EVENT / EVENTO BINACIONAL
This focus of this panel discussion was to address positive developments in border security, for example, the increase of local surveillance, better training of Mexican police forces and the United States’ support for the Mexican initiative called “el mando único.” This program calls for a single chain of command for local police, similar to the command structure of the army.
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David Aguilar, Deputy Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, assured the audience that the border is safer today than just a few months ago, thanks to the commitment of residents and border protection officials to safeguarding against illegal immigration and organized crime. In conclusion, the XV Annual U.S.-Mexico Congressional Border Issues Conference, as in previous years, was a complete success. More than 280 guests—including members of Congress from several states, and business men and women from both sides of the border— attended the conference. They were educated about the challenges that the U.S.-Mexico border region faces every day, but also what actions are taking place to improve the situation. Participants left with a generally optimistic and hopeful attitude about the opportunities that lie ahead. Presenters: U.S. House of Representatives • Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-TX)
• Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX) • Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) • Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) • Rep. Francisco Canseco (R-TX) • Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) • Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) Guests of Honor: • Mayor Juan Carlos Escamilla, City of San Luis, Arizona • Mayor Manuel de Jesús Baldenebro, Municipality of San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora Keynote Speakers: • Secretary Janet Napolitano, U.S. Department of Homeland Security • Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) • Amb. Arturo Sarukhan, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States Moderators: • Honorable Al Zapanta, President & CEO, USMCOC • José Carreño, Invited Researcher, Centro de Diálogo y Análisis sobre América del Norte (CEDAN- ITESM Campus México) • Gerald Schwebel, Executive Vice President, International Bank of Commerce • Suzanne Petrie Liscouski, Director, Homeland Security, TASC Panelists: • Paul Weisenfeld, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Latin American and Caribbean Bureau, USAID • Veronica Escobar, El Paso County Judge • John W. Rendon, President and CEO, The Rendon Group, Inc. • Guillermo Valenzuela, Director of Aliviane, Inc. • Lucinda Vargas, New Mexico State University and Board Member, Plan Estratégico de Juárez • Matthew Rooney, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, • U.S. Department of State • Thomas S. Winkowski, Assistant Commissioner, CBP Office of Field Operations • Antonio del Rosal, Marketing Coordinator, Mexico Tourism Board • Oscar Kuri, Director General, Coalición Empresarial Pro Libre Comercio S.C. • Martin Rojas, Vice President of Security & Operations, American Trucking Association • David Aguilar, Deputy Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection • Brian Nichols, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, U.S. Department of State • William F. Wechsler, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Counternarcotics and • Global Threats, U.S. Department of Defense UNITED STATES-MEXICO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CÁMARA DE COMERCIO MÉXICO-ESTADOS UNIDOS USMCOC Thanks its Sponsors for Supporting the:
XV Annual U.S. - Mexico Congressional Border Issues Conference March 16 - 17