Office of the Governor: ARIZONA-SONORA AGREEMENTS GO BORDER-WIDE
- Governor Attends Border Governors Conference
- Focus on International Cooperation to Fight Crime, Improve Economy

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

August 14, 2008

PHOENIX – Governor Janet Napolitano joins her fellow border Governors today in Los Angeles, California for the XXVI Border Governors Conference, an annual meeting that brings together leaders from the U.S. and Mexico to discuss issues affecting their states and to devise work agreements and policies to solve regional problems.

Security along the international border continues to be a major focus, with the Governors expected to discuss cross-border cooperation on measures to stem the flow of illegal weapons, as well as the apprehension of felony fugitives along the international border. Most recently, Governor Napolitano, and her Sonoran counterpart, Governor Eduardo Bours Castelo, signed working agreements to use Project Gunrunner/eTrace – an information-sharing database that tracks stolen weapons, ammunition and explosives, as well as to build upon the felony fugitives warrant task force created by Napolitano earlier this year.

The Arizona-Sonora agreements in law enforcement have become prime examples of effective binational cooperation, setting precedent among border states.

“Governor Bours and I have made significant progress on our efforts to combat border crime over the last five years, and we are pleased our colleagues have taken note and are eager to follow our lead,” said Napolitano. “Applying what we have learned and what we do in Arizona-Sonora could have a tremendous impact if done along the entire stretch of the international border.”

All ten Border Governors will sign joint declarations to cooperate on Project Gunrunner/eTrace as well as efforts to further enhance sharing and tracking of criminal activity on both sides of the border. The information-sharing agreements will be modeled after those established at the Arizona-Mexico Commission Plenary session earlier this year.

Additionally, during the proceedings which continue through tomorrow, participants will discuss economic development strategies for the border region; identify, share and promote best practices on math, science and technology education; continue cross-border training for first responders; work cooperatively on sustainable energy policies and infrastructure; develop environmental policies with regard to tire waste and disposal; and consider creating protocols for health and disease and risk of binational infection.

The XXVI Border Governors Conference is being hosted by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. For more information about the Office of the Governor, visit http://www.azgovernor.gov.