NACTS congratulates Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano for being named as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Governor has worked tirelessly on border security and trade issues with a large number of key stakeholders in the U.S. and Mexico and is well-versed in these complex issues.

Specifically, the governor has long been a proponent of investment in port of entry infrastructure to facilitate trade and tourism; an advocate that the federal government take fiscal responsibility for local, tribal and state government costs “hosting” irregular migrant in its hospitals, jails and courts; and a rational voice for better securing the border. Her recognition of the border region’s half trillion dollar infrastructure deficit is encouraging in that she would expedite funding not only for the long-neglected ports but also for the essential corridors that enable NAFTA trade and North American competiveness. She recognizes the need to assess risk with our neighbors, to exchange intelligence with them, and use technology to “move the border away from the border” to the farms and factories that produce goods for consumers in the United States.