Mexico, US govs ask for border help

Mexico, US govs ask for border help

	Published : Fri, 28 Sep 2007 22:57 By : Agencies Print this Story

PUERTO PENASCO, Mexico (AP) - Mexican and U.S. governors called for help from Washington Friday in alleviating massive traffic jams at the U.S.-Mexico border, saying the U.S. security concerns shouldn't mean long bottlenecks.

The demands arose at the annual U.S.-Mexico border governors conference at this resort on the Gulf of California, where U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was expected to discuss increased border fencing and stepped-up security later in the day.

'We have the biggest parking lots in the world, at all times of day, and moreover, it is creating a pollution problem,' said Baja California Gov. Eugenio Elorduy. 'It's inhuman to see people have to sit and wait in their car ... for two or three hours. Unfortunately, we are not getting any response from the U.S. government.'

Arizona Gov. Jane Napolitano said the long border waits were part of the conference's discussions.

'Our missing partner is the federal government, and that is where we need to put our efforts next,' Napolitano said. 'Our federal governments can no longer satisfy us simply by coming to a meeting and giving a speech. What we require is resources and dedication and priority setting that has yet to be seen.'

Mexican President Felipe Calderon, speaking on Thursday, also called for more new crossings to relieve the strain.

'Having more border crossing points doesn't imply reducing security,' he said. 'On the contrary, the border can be more fluid and at the same time, with technology and political will, be made more secure.'

The governors agreed to support the use of 'tandem' inspection booths at crossings, where one booth located immediately behind another allows two vehicles to pass through at a time.

But the United States appeared to remain largely focused on security.

Napolitano said the meeting had focused on stopping the trade in methamphetamines and precursor chemicals, money laundering from drug and human trafficking, and the availability of prescription drugs in border communities. Some Mexican pharmacies frequently sell medications without a prescription.

Chertoff is also expected to face questions over proposed routes for border fencing that environmentalists, farmers and others say will damage the region's environmental and economic landscape.

On Monday, the U.S. government announced proposed routes and designs for some of the 370 miles of fencing and 200 miles of vehicle barriers to be put in place by the end of 2008.

'This is the great tragedy,' said Carlos de la Parra, a Mexican participant in the conference's environmental panel, as he pointed to a map of proposed border fences cutting through nature reserves. A researcher at Mexico's Colegio de la Frontera Norte, he listed wildlife species that routinely cross the border and said, 'These animals don't cross the border to shop. They do it out of necessity.'

While all the border's Mexican governors were scheduled to attend, half of the U.S. contingent of governors -- New Mexico's Bill Richardson and Texas' Rick Perry -- were not coming.

Richardson, who is making a presidential bid, did not give a reason for his absence; Perry's office cited a scheduling conflict.