http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 22731.html

Aug. 16, 2006, 10:44PM

Border mayors fear tough laws will hurt trade
Officials reject link between terror and immigration
By JAMES PINKERTON
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

HARLINGEN — A trio of Texas border mayors said Wednesday they fear that overzealous immigration enforcement on America's southern frontier could undermine billions of dollars in U.S.-Mexico trade critical to the nation's economy.

The mayors of El Paso, Del Rio and McAllen expressed concerns that as congressional field hearings are being held across the nation, including one in Houston on Wednesday, the views of border leaders are being ignored.

''This, in my opinion, revolves around the November elections and the people in the interior being sold a bill of goods," Del Rio Mayor Chad Foster said in a conference call. ''You've never seen a terrorist come out of Mexico."

The mayors said they support a guest-worker program that they said would not only replenish an aging American work force but clamp down on human smugglers who prey on the illegal immigrants.

''There's no doubt that America is threatened by terrorism. What we don't want is to mix our fight against terrorism with immigration," said McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez, who said trade with Mexico provides 37 percent of the fast-growing city's economic activity.

Since the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect in 1994, Mexico has become the United States' second-largest commercial partner — trailing only Canada — in two-way trade valued at $244 billion in 2003.

''Trade with Mexico is an American national treasure, important to our economic security," said Cortez, adding that smart allocation of assets at border ports wouldn't force communities to ''choose between security and prosperity."

El Paso Mayor John Cook said improved technology could ''triage" the millions of legal visitors entering El Paso from Mexico. Besides eliminating delays to frequent crossers, it would allow authorities to concentrate on law breakers.

The El Paso police chief, Richard Wiles, said using local police to enforce immigration laws ''is not going to work." Not only would it chill communication with immigrants who are crime victims but would reduce enforcement of local and state laws, he said.

james.pinkerton@chron.com