By Meagan Wiseley – University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News Service

“I was threatened to die because I was trying to do my job”, said Emilio Guiterez Soto, a Mexican journalist who was forced to flee Mexico after threats from the Chihuahuan government over his coverage of corruption in the army. Soto reflected on his journey from the Mexico to the U.S. in a press conference on the dangers drug cartels are presenting to journalists in Mexico hosted by the organization Reporters Without Borders

Soto and his son crossed the border into the U.S. knowing that they would be arrested by immigration officials. Soto spent seven months in a homeland security detention camp, and his son was in a custody for two months.

“I had to be in prison for seven months…and that was better than the situation [I was in] in Chihuahua”, said Soto.

According to a report released by Reporters Without Borders on Monday, Mexico is the most dangerous country for the media in the western hemisphere. Since year 2000, 55 journalists have been killed and eight are still missing.

“The Mexican government is reporting that eighty percent of the arms, or weapons, are coming from the U.S.”, said Jose Luis Sierra, a Mexican investigative reporter who works in the Rio Grande River Valley along the border of Mexico and Texas.

Sierra said, “nearly 70% of the local authorities are corrupted by drug traffickers”, and he believes this violence will not end without federal investments from both Mexico and the U.S.

Reporters Without Borders is urging the U.S. Senate to ratify the Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in the Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials, knows as CIFTA.

The future of Emilio Guiterez Soto and his son remains unknown. An immigration hearing is scheduled for March 2010. Soto and Reporters Without Borders are confident that immigration will give them refugee status and allow them to stay in the U.S.

Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, says that the Federal government should work with local governments in order to protect national security and stop Mexican drug cartels (0:24).

 

 Standard Podcast [0:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) says that President Felipe Calderon is the bravest elected official he has ever met. Bilbray added that the U.S. must work with Mexico to stop the drug cartels (0:18).

 

 Standard Podcast [0:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano explains that the U.S. is slated to start training Mexican officers to provide additional security around the U.S.-Mexico border. This is the result of the enhancement of the 2007 Bilateral Strategic Plan. (0:32)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano discusses a recently enhanced plan to strengthen the cooperation between Mexico and the U.S. in policing the border. Napolitano goes on to explain that this focus on cooperation will result in a South-bound law enforcement strategy and greater data sharing among agencies. (0:46)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano discusses the accomplishments of the 2007 Bilateral Strategic Plan designed to promote cooperation between Mexico and the U.S on border security. Napolitano also explains how Monday’s extension of the 2007 initiative is expected to allow for more inspections and more use of technology during customs control. (0:46)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Mexican Finance Minister Agustin Carstens discusses the significance of today’s enhancement of the Bilateral Strategic Plan, which ensures the safeguard of legitimate commerce . Additionally, Carstens reaffirms Mexico’s commitment to cooperate with the U.S in providing additional security for the nation’s border. (0:43)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Celia Canon

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Mexican Finance Minister Agustin Carstens signed a letter of intent announcing new areas of cooperation on the U.S-Mexican border during a press conference Monday at the Ronald Reagan Center.

In 2007, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had agreed upon a bilateral program that allowed Mexico and the U.S to join forces in order to safeguard trade and combat illegal activity at the border.

Today’s announcement boosted the 2007 Bilateral Strategic Plan by updating agencies’ technology, training Mexican officers for Border Patrol service, and preventing criminals from entering Mexico.

Napolitano praised the extension, saying “The U.S is a full partner with Mexico and the Calderon administration as we satisfy our twin goals of a secure border and a resilient border that allows legitimate trade and commerce to pass but that keeps out drugs, that keeps out weapons, keeps out the cash that fuels these cartels and… makes certain that the border is safe and secure for those who live there.”

Carstens reflected on the importance of this fundamental cooperation for the completion of both Mexican and American interests.

“We both acknowledge that…our joint efforts will translate into more secure and competitive North America,” said Carstens.

The 2007 initiative has already been met with considerable success.

“We have seized [three times] the amount of arms, we’ve seized 50% more drugs,” said Napolitano.

Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News

House Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) presented the House Democrats’ agenda for the economy, energy, education and healthcare.

The economy remains the top item, divided between the budget and legislation to address the crisis. “The economy is continuing to suffer, we’re continuing to see the loss of jobs, many Americans continue to be put at risk,” Hoyer said.

The budget focuses on making “strategic investments” and reversing “years of irresponsible Republican policies,” he said. “We believe all of the bills we’ve passed are consistent with trying to create jobs and invest (in economic recovery).”

Two corrective legislations arebeing proposed. The “Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009”, which is designed to require fairer interest rates and practices for consumers. For example, it would require that the highest interest rate-bearing part of a debt be reduced first by payments, rather last, as is now the often the case.

“In addition, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act should come out of committee this week or next,” Hoyer said.

There is a 600 page “discussion document” and four more hearings to shape the American Security and Clean Energy Act, which the House hopes to consider in early summer. He noted that this is this is the 39th anniversary of Earth Day, “I remember because I’ve been working here since the first one.”

The Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means and the Education and Labor Committees are all simultaneously working on healthcare reform. Democrats hope to have healthcare legislation on the House Floor for consideration by the August break. The goal is universal coverage and accessibility, though probably not a publicly funded single-payer model.

Hoyer discussed his recent trip to South America. Mexico seems to be committed to working with the U.S. to fight drug smuggling and related violence. Panama is willing to work on their role as a drug smuggling highway, which has increased as American forces become more successful at interdiction at sea, and on money laundering. Columbia has reduced the power of the drug lords. He described the discussions with Brazil as “positive’” “useful” and “engaging,” and said they are interested in advancing a partnership with the U.S.

Gun control may have to remain in the DC voting rights bill, if it is to pass within this session, according to Hoyer, who said, “The biggest objective is to enfranchise the roughly 600,000 citizens of the United States who happen to live in the District of Columbia.” He called their current lack of voting rights “an egregious hole in the integrity of our democracy.”

Next congress looks at hate crimes legislation

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico

Today, Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said that the United States, Mexico and Canada all rely on trade but with the increase in illegal immigration and drug and weapon trafficking, it is time for more modern and safe border security. Napolitano said that we need to recognize that there are “actual” borders, north and south, not “metaphorical” borders. (00:45)

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download