Thread: Napolitano :U.S. pursuing integrated strategy for border pro

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U.S. pursuing integrated strategy for border problems
By JANET NAPOLITANO
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Aug. 14, 2009, 8:33PM

As a former U.S. attorney, attorney general and governor of Arizona, I spent more than 15 years working in the Southwest and watching the challenges of our shared border evolve over time. Since the beginning of the Obama administration, our response to these challenges has evolved as well.

The change is needed. For the past eight years the federal government approached the Southwest border as having a set of problems that were somehow independent from our nation's broader challenges with immigration, security, counternarcotics enforcement and international cooperation.

But there's a more strategic, more cooperative path, and we are taking it.

The Obama administration's approach is to view border security, interior immigration enforcement and counternarcotics enforcement as inextricably linked.

At the top of our border security mission is combating violence by Mexico-based drug cartels. To be sure, we haven't seen anything like Mexico's cartel violence here in the U.S. But the smuggling organizations are transnational, and the Obama administration is giving this issue the highest-level attention.

Over the past six months, we have forged a true partnership with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, while building stronger relations with agencies across the federal government, and at the state, local and tribal level.

To build on this unprecedented cooperation, DHS has directed hundreds of additional agents, and tens of millions of dollars in security grants, to the border region. We've dramatically increased inspection of southbound train, car and truck cargo for the bulk cash and weapons that fuel the cartels, and deployed additional technology and resources to the border to bolster inbound security.

While enforcement at the border is critical, it's only effective if paired with smart enforcement of the immigration laws within our borders as well. That begins with a focus on apprehending criminals, whether they are employers who knowingly cultivate an illegal workforce, or criminal aliens who commit crimes that endanger lives.

We've strengthened programs that, when properly implemented, can be extremely effective enforcement tools. One example is a voluntary program, known as “287(g),â€

Janet is a pathic human-being at best .................

Her lies are only beat by Obama's lies!

The two of them share 1/2 a brain when it comes to SECURITY!

Everyone who has come across the border without permission has committed a crime, ergo they are criminals, not some poor innocent souls who came here for a better life and end up getting victimized by "racial profiling."
Actions speak louder than words, and Ms. Napolitano's actions so far have caused me worry.

It's now a Kinder and Gentler Department of Homeland Security. The new moto: We don't handcuff, we hug.

Dixie

Originally Posted by Dixie

It's now a Kinder and Gentler Department of Homeland Security. The new moto: We don't handcuff, we hug.

Dixie

Unless you're an American citizen. They throw the book at us who follow the law.

Originally Posted by CindyB

Originally Posted by Dixie

It's now a Kinder and Gentler Department of Homeland Security. The new moto: We don't handcuff, we hug.

Dixie

Unless you're an American citizen. They throw the book at us who follow the law.

You've got that right!