U.S., Mexico firm up border cooperation

U.S., Mexico firm up border cooperation    U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Mexican Secretary of Finance and Public Credit Agustin Carstens signed a declaration of principles in Washington Monday committing their departments to expand efforts to improve information sharing and coordinate border management.
   The declaration updates a cooperation agreement signed in June to address border security and trade facilitation. The Obama administration has stepped up assistance to Mexico in response to a huge escalation in drug cartel violence that has spilled over into U.S. border communities following a Mexican government crackdown on the crime syndicates.
   The United States will continue to offer training and share best practices on professionalizing the Mexican Customs force and combating corruption, and the two sides will work towards full implementation of the World Customs Organization's SAFE Framework of Standards, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
   SAFE calls for use of risk-management techniques to assess cargo for inspection, collection of advance electronic information, and the formation of private sector partnership programs on supply chain security.
   DHS border security agencies and Mexican Customs also formed an executive steering committee to oversee their efforts to eliminate red tape and improve security.
   Monday's agreement is the third since January increasing U.S.-Mexico cooperation to combat cross-border crime and improve efficiency of border checkpoints.
   Last summer, the two sides agreed to establish bi-national port security committees to improve lines of communication between border communities and port directors on operational, safety and security issues.