Mexican-U.S. Strategic Alliance

Presidents Felipe Calderón and Barack Obama met in Washington on May 19, for the second state visit since President Obama took office. The protocol and festivities of the state visit were suitable for two large countries with deep historical traditions and rich cultures. The visit also marked an agenda that will create more jobs in both countries, develop new markets for renewable energy, fight the threat of organized crime, and continue to strengthen the ties between the peoples of Mexico and the United States.

The personal connection is important. President Calderón was the first head of state to meet Obama after he was elected president. President Obama has made two official visits to Mexico since then. First Lady Michelle Obama made her first official trip abroad alone to Mexico City just six weeks ago. Her visit to Mexico is still fresh, and her statement, “Yes, we can,” still resonates with young people. These visits speak eloquently about the importance and closeness of the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico.

The state visit was also very substantial. By shifting their attention to our shared border, our presidents confirmed a position that is transformative. Ensuring the speedy flow of passengers and neighbors, as well as commercial trade in both directions between north and south is the basis of our mutual prosperity. Stopping illegal flows — of arms and cash southward, and drug trafficking northward — is the key to our shared security. The presidents challenged our governments to develop new mechanisms for internal ports, and for the pre-inspection of goods that involves the concept of fast flows and insurance. With this, the border would not only be a legal boundary, but it would be dynamically revitalized to connect our towns and economies. That vision is crucial for the people and communities along our shared border. It is crucial for the security and prosperity of our two nations.

We have already begun to work toward this new border infrastructure. In December 2009, we opened the Anzalduas International Bridge, the first new border crossing in 10 years. At the same time, our law enforcement agents of the Bureau of Customs, Border Protection and of the Public Security Secretary agreed on principles that permit coordinated applications of the law in dangerous sections of the border. A new, major commercial crossing will be opened between San Luis, Ariz., and San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, this year. We have extended trustworthy sending programs and increased the number of expedited crossing lanes at points of entry.

To chart the way forward, we have created a Mexican-U.S. Committee Executive Guideline to evaluate potential sites in the interior of both countries to pre-inspect cargo and trucks. Once the inspection is performed and approval is given, satellite positioning (GPS) will be used to track these shipments, ensuring the security of legitimate trade in both directions. This will take physical pressure off the already congested crossing points in border communities. Also, illegal traffic will be intercepted farther from the border. The authorities of both countries will be allowed, at points of entry, to concentrate on a more efficient way to do inspections to curb illicit traffic.

In recent weeks, two border matters have caused great concern in Mexico. President Obama repeated last Thursday that “The Arizona law is not a success. It’s the wrong way.”* His administration carefully examined the Arizona law and its impact on civil rights in that state. He is also reexamining the legal implications of this law in an area that is the inherent responsibility of the federal government of the U.S.

The right way is what is working. The Obama administration has devoted unprecedented resources over the past 16 months to fulfilling its responsibility to provide security along its southwestern border. It has increased federal border protection, law enforcement and counter-narcotics efforts. It has strengthened its cooperation on security issues with Mexico to dismantle illegal transnational networks that undermine the security of citizens on both sides of the border. Similarly, it has significantly increased the resources available to the law enforcement agencies of local and state governments to support their efforts in fighting crime.

These efforts have been successful in increasing the pressure on criminal organizations, have achieved an historic seizure of illegal weapons and cash from the U.S. to Mexico, and significant seizures of illegal drugs in the opposite direction. Although concerns remain, crime statistics continue to decline in violent border states and several major cities in the southwest of the U.S. The city of El Paso, for example, recorded its lowest homicide rate in 23 years during the last six months.

To further develop this approach, President Obama requested an additional $500 million to increase non-military reinforcements from institutions such as border patrol and other law enforcement agencies working on the border. Until those resources are available, the president authorized the deployment of up to 1,200 National Guard troops for one year along the southwestern border of the United States. His decision is not in response to the Arizona law. It is part of a strategy for broader law enforcement, with the aim of disrupting transnational criminal networks. The National Guard will develop intelligence work and analysis and monitoring, thereby allowing a greater number of federal and non-military law enforcement officials to focus on stopping the illegal movement of arms and cash southward, as well as narcotics and northward trafficking. If we want to expedite the legal flow of arms and stop the illegal flow of money and drugs, then we have to carry out inspections. The only way to accomplish both things — speed and inspection — is to invest more in staff, equipment, technology and infrastructure.

As President Obama said last Thursday, these are not treated as isolated issues. There is no single solution. Resolving them requires a modern border infrastructure with real capacity to expedite the flow of legitimate goods, as well as friends and neighbors, and to stop illegal trade in all forms. However, solving these problems also requires a legal framework for orderly, fair, humane migration, in which people may migrate legally to the U.S., and in which U.S. employers are responsible for hiring only legal workers.

We can solve these issues only if they are approached in a strategic manner that recognizes the interrelationships between them. Presidents Felipe Calderón and Barack Obama reaffirmed that this is the essence of the strategic alliance between Mexico and the U.S. on May 19.

*Original English quotation could not be verified.