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June 22, 2001 Joint Statement El Centro/San Diego In accordance with agreements reached at a high-level meeting regarding border safety in San Antonio, Texas on June 6, a series of meetings were held in Tucson, Arizona last week and in El Centro and San Diego, California over the last two days respectively. The two recent meetings involved representatives from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Grupo BETA, Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR), and the Mexican Consuls from California. The objective of the meetings was to conduct detailed talks about specific border safety issues and renew our binational commitment to reduce the loss of life along the border. Additionally, our purpose was to discuss additional measures each nation might take to achieve that goal. During these discussions, officials concentrated on the risk factors confronting migrants considering entries in these particular locations. The dangers range from the swift and often treacherous currents of the All-American Canal, to the hazards posed by the highly polluted waters of the New River, to the violence and brutality inherent in the human smuggling trade. Two specific concerns to both delegations are the All-American Canal and the New River in the Imperial Valley. Because of the unique danger posed by these waterways and the number of lives that have been lost there, the delegations decided to designate these waterways as “high risk zones.” The high-risk designations extend along the All American Canal 15 miles west and east of Calexico, California and Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. It will also include the New River within the border area. The participants agreed to collaborate in the design of joint actions to reduce the risk and lower the likelihood of loss of life. These actions include:
The delegation received a thorough briefing on the historical threat of violence in particular locations along the San Diego-Tijuana border. The U.S. Border Patrol also announced the beginning of a non-lethal weapon pilot program. During the San Diego-Tijuana portion of the talks, the group sought ways to confront the alarming increase of incidents involving compartment smuggling through the San Diego Ports of Entry. They agreed that the serious public threat posed by this dangerous activity requires a serious response. |
Last Modified 02/20/2003