The report raises the fact that Mexico and the USA must improve their inspection and crossing times.

Diana Baptista

The delays in the transit of goods on the border between Mexico and the United States represented losses estimated in more than 8 billion dollars throughout ten years. This statement was delivered yesterday by Anthony Wayne, Ambassador of the United States of America in Mexico during the Mexico-USA border situation’s report (Reporte del Estado de la Frontera México-Estados Unidos).

According to the report by Woodrow Wilson’s researchers presented yesterday at the Mexican Foreign Affairs Ministry, merchandise with an estimated value of a billion dollars crosses every day the border. This value can grow with the improvement of programs for travelers and trusted shippers.

Such programs like SENTRI, FAST, CT-TPAT allow low risk goods and individuals a fast and expedite border crossing. To improve these programs and considerably increase the recruiting could increase the efficiency of the border requiring minimum investments in resources and personnel.

Both nations are working to reduce the waiting times in the highway by extending the amount of primary vehicles inspection lanes. By developing technology for sharing information of entry and exit and approving new railroad border crossings the rapid flow of goods is guaranteed.

Researcher Erik Lee specified that the border strategies for safety on the United States side have focused in the combat on terrorism and the interception of possible terrorists, which has turned out to be counter-productive for both nations.

It’s paramount meanwhile we develop our public policies regarding the border to move the security far away from it. The border is very busy and jammed and that affects both security and commerce. The border is not a terrorist spot.

Two factors that demonstrate the congestion of efforts on safety matters are the excessive number of members of the Border Patrol (more than 22 thousand agents), as well as the scarce numbers of detentions of persons linked to the terrorism.