U.S. Under Secretary of Homeland Security Bersin Meets Mexican Counterparts
Mexico City, June 3, 2009 – Following three days of meetings at the U.S. Embassy and with Mexican counterparts, Alan Bersin, Department of Homeland Security’s Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative for Border Affairs, expressed confidence that cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico is showing solid results. He noted that inspections of south-bound vehicles by U.S. law enforcement have already resulted in “more bulk cash shipments than we expected.” Mr. Bersin was in Mexico City to discuss our ongoing partnership efforts to fight narco-trafficking and the organized crime networks that threaten citizens on both sides of our shared border.
“Cooperation and collaboration must be the cornerstone of how our two nations address our shared border,” said Bersin. “We support President Calderon’s courageous fight against the drug cartels in Mexico and through this partnership can stop the flow of drugs, curb cartel violence, and ensure our mutual security.
Among other officials, Bersin met with Mexican Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora, Secretary of Governance Fernando Gomez Mont, Secretary of Public Security Genaro Garcia Luna, Chief of Revenue Services Alfredo Gutierrez Mena and Customs Commissioner Juan Jose Moises Bravo.
Alan Bersin was named Special Representative for Border Affairs by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on April 15, 2009, in recognition of his extensive experience with law enforcement cooperation between the United States and Mexico. From 1995 to 1998, he served as the Attorney General of the U.S.’s Southwest Border Representative, coordinating law enforcement efforts along the border. Mr. Bersin is also a former Secretary of Education for the State of California and was Superintendant of San Diego City schools.
