For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano plans to travel to the Southwest border on Wednesday to survey border operations in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona and coordinate with state and local law enforcement officials as part of a major effort to disrupt illegal arms and cash smuggling, and to curtail illegal immigration.
On March 24, Secretary Napolitano announced deployments of border security personnel and other resources to the Southwest border in response to escalated violence in Mexico. This week’s trip comes on the heels of today’s visit to Los Angeles, where Secretary Napolitano met with Congressional, state and local officials at air and sea ports of entry.
Secretary Napolitano previously traveled to the Southwest border and Mexico on April 1-3 to see border operations firsthand and meet with Mexican officials, including President Felipe Calderón. On Wednesday, Secretary Napolitano will visit El Paso, Texas, followed by stops at ports of entry in Columbus, N.M., and Nogales, Ariz.
Details of Secretary Napolitano’s trip to the Southwest border:
| 12:00 PM MDT | Press Conference at El Paso Port of Entry Bridge of the Americas 3600 Paisano Drive El Paso, Texas OPEN PRESS |
| 2:00 PM MDT | Tour of Columbus Port of Entry New Mexico Highway 11 Milepost 0 Columbus, New Mexico OPEN PRESS |
| 3:45 PM MST | Press Conference at Mariposa Port of Entry 120 North Mariposa Road Nogales, Arizona OPEN PRESS |
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