Border Conference to focus on immigration, trade and border security

By John Hall \ EL PASO TIMES
Posted: 03/16/2011 08:38:42 AM MDT

Watch live streaming video from congressmanreyes at livestream.com

The 15th annual Border Issues Conference will begin Wednesday in Washington, D.C., and will again focus on immigration, trade and border security.

The two-day conference will start with a tribute to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who survived a gunshot to the head on Jan. 8 in a shooting spree in Tucson. Jared Loughner, 22, has been arrested in the shootings. Giffords is a member of the Congressional Border Caucus.

A variety of speakers including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Arturo Sarukhan will be on hand, as will several lawmakers including Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. The co-chairmen of the conference are Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D- Texas, and Michael McCaul, R-Texas.

A series of panel discussions are scheduled for Thursday.
will be a panelist Thursday, focusing on building stronger communities along the border.

One point she said she hopes to get across is that not all border communities are riddled with violence. It's important for lawmakers to understand that immigrant communities are safe, she said. "If we don't tell our story, other people will," Escobar said. "Conferences like this one and like many others about border policy are critical because funding decisions are based on information provided at these conferences, but also the story that we tell helps shape the perception. It's important that before policymakers make any decision, they have accurate information."

John Hall may be reached at jhall@elpasotimes.com; 546-6371.

Watch online

The 15th annual Border Issues Conference will be streamed live on Rep. Silvestre Reyes' Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CongressmanReyes.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_17588342