U.S. and Mexico sign border agreement

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A broad cooperative agreement has been signed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Mexico Customs.

Recognizing the longstanding relationship and cooperation on customs issues between the United States and Mexico, CBP Commissioner W. Ralph Basham and ICE Assistant Secretary Julie Myers signed Monday a bilateral strategic plan with Mexico Customs Administrator General Juan Jose Bravo.

“CBP, ICE, and Mexico Customs will expand our existing cooperation in matters related to law enforcement, integrity, trade facilitation, border management, customs-trade partnerships, security and business resumption,” Basham said in a statement.

The agreement signed in Mexico City stems from a declaration of principles that U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Mexico Ministry of Finance and Public Credit Secretary Agustin Carstens signed June 8.

The joint goals for customs cooperation as described in the declaration of principles called for the development of a bilateral strategic plan. Officials say the plan will enhance security by providing the framework to help and align security mechanisms, procedures and programs for North America-bound conveyances, shipments and travelers with an effort to prevent and deter terrorism.

“By focusing our resources on shared goals, these bilateral units will investigate, detect and prevent anomalies in international commerce and border security that may be indicative of trade-based money laundering, trafficking and smuggling operations, or other criminal activities,” said ICE Assistant Secretary Myers, in a statement. “Under the initiative, ICE and law enforcement agencies in Mexico are building a platform for critical investigations that will keep our nations safe and facilitate the movement of commerce through our borders.”