Border leaders rally behind Napolitano nomination

Monday, December 01, 2008 at 3:13 p.m.

Texas Border Coalition is supporting the nomination of Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama said last week that he intends to nominated Napolitano for post.

Eagle Pass Mayor Chad Foster serves chairman of the Texas Border Coalition and issued a statement about the intended nomination on Monday.

“The Texas Border Coalition welcomes Gov. Napolitano’s nomination to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security," Foster said. “As governor of a border state, Gov. Napolitano understands from practical experience that securing our nation’s borders and maintaining an efficient flow of commerce between the U.S., Canada and Mexico cannot be mutually exclusive, especially in these tough economic times."

Foster said Napolitano is to fixing the nation’s broken immigration system through comprehensive immigration reform, which includes a temporary guest worker program.

"We share her commitment to immigration reform as an essential element of real border security," Foster said.

Texas Border Coalition officials have been fight for the past year against the controversial border fence.

Foster said he believes that Napolitano's appointment would end that political stalemate in the coalition's favor.
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