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Alan Bersin Urges the Doubling of U.S.-Mexico Border Crossing Sites

Former superintendent of San Diego schools addresses 22 mayors at summit in San Diego.

Saying “we are all border-landers,” Alan Bersin told members of the U.S.-Mexico Border Mayors Association on Friday that the number of ports of entry between the two countries needs to more than double to 100.

Bersin—the former superintendent of San Diego Unified School District now serving as the assistant secretary of international affairs for the Department of Homeland Security—kicked off the third binational summit of the U.S.-Mexico Border Mayors Association alongside San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and Tijuana Mayor Carlos Bustamante.


Bersin spoke to a group of 22 mayors—13 from the U.S. and nine from Mexico—and said the relationships formed between the two countries will shape the “future” of the North American economy.

“We need to go from 46 ports of entries to a 100 ports of entries and we need to do that over the course of 40 years,” he told the audience at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. “What we are talking about is a North America that is able to provide a quality of life to our people in ways that are dramatic.”

Bersin—alongside Sanders, Bustamante and El Paso Mayor John Cook who previously hosted a summit—also spoke about the importance of the U.S.-Mexico Border Mayors Association.

Sanders said his relationship with Bustamante has developed over the years and the two often work together.

“I can’t remember a time when our cities worked more closely together,” said Sanders, who noted the two will take a trip to Washington, D.C., in the coming weeks to advocate for border projects.

The two also noted the importance of “one voice” when bringing forth ideas to Mexico City or Washington.

“We can lobby on both sides of the border,” Bustamante said. “There are lot of people from my country that live here and there are a lot of U.S. citizens that live in Tijuana.

“A together voice gives us more clout and credibility.”

The 22 mayors planned sessions throughout the day focused on trade, policy, immigration and tourism.

Bersin said the young association is developing a border region that’s needed in the future.

“The future is not what it was and need to build on that,” he said. “There’s a certain amount of competition that will always exist but there is more in common. The respect is mutual and we need to build on that. The challenges that are better coming will require these relationships.

“We are all border-landers,” he said. “We are all people who live and work on this border.”

Ed Sorrels August 24, 2012 at 04:02 pm
" Double Border Crossings" Really stupid idea, What we actually do is halve them, making border more secure and easier to control, allowing for more drug arrests and more illegal alien arrests and more discovery and confiscation of illegal copy items. We should have done this years ago,
John Galt August 24, 2012 at 05:14 pm
Correct
John Galt August 24, 2012 at 05:15 pm
Who is going to pay for this? Let me guess... U.S. for both sides.
Bad idea.
Stephen Wilkinson August 24, 2012 at 05:37 pm
Why don't we just annex Mexico as the 51st state already ... plus then we can start taxing them.
Batman August 24, 2012 at 06:11 pm
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 an organization was formed called "9-11 Truth" who's goal was to prove a conspiracy involving our own government. Although I myself suspect a conspiracy, I don't believe the conspirtators will be found in the rubble of the demolished buildings.
Answer these questions and you will find the conspirators: - Who let these illegal alien terrorists into the country to begin with? - Who let them stay here unchecked for years on end? - Who let them get away with taking flying lessons? - Who is aiding and abeting the next terrorist attack by continuing to leave the borders wide open?
Kevin George August 24, 2012 at 06:21 pm
It was Sheriff Bill Gore when he was still in the big leagues?
"However, in a 900-page report, the House and Senate intelligence committees criticize the pre-Sept. 11 counter terrorism analysis done by the Agent Bill Gore in San Diego, noting that intelligence failures were especially obvious there, where two hijackers were known to a longtime FBI informant.
Jimmy Sanders August 24, 2012 at 06:47 pm
We already have several hundred border crossing sites. Oh wait, my bad, Bersin probably meant "legal" crossing sites!
Sarah Riccitelli August 25, 2012 at 10:01 pm
@ Batman & Kevin- Arab terrorists committed 9/11, not Mexican. Mexico had nothing to do w/it. Stay on topic please.
Jay Berman August 27, 2012 at 01:36 pm
Bersin ... typical government hack ... getting appointed to jobs he has no qualification for ... Just like Panetta .. time to get rid of these hacks and put people in positions they actually know something about ..
Censorship? August 27, 2012 at 01:40 pm
Censorship?
9:39 am on Monday, August 27, 2012 Jennifer Vigil - Why are you not printing comments on the Mansion Mysteries that support that Rebecca Zahau committed suicide because she hurt Max Shacknai? Why are you only printing comments that state the Shacknais or Romanos killed RZ, when they have been cleared by police and her death ruled a suicide? Why don't you care about the death of a little 6-year old boy???
Censorship? August 27, 2012 at 01:43 pm
Jennifer Vigil -
Why are you not printing comments on the Mansion Mysteries that support that Rebecca Zahau committed suicide because she hurt Max Shacknai? Why are you only printing comments that state the Shacknais or Romanos killed RZ, when they have been cleared by police and her death ruled a suicide? Why don't you care about the death of a little 6-year old boy???
Batman August 27, 2012 at 01:59 pm
Anyone from any country can walk across an open border. Only 60% of the illegal aliens in our country are Mexican.
Jay Berman August 27, 2012 at 02:02 pm
Mr. Batman .. where did you get that only 60% are Mexican ? Is someone down there with a counter ?
Susan Brinchman August 27, 2012 at 03:24 pm
If Bersin recommends it, I strongly suggest exploring what is behind these recommendations. As a teacher who worked under the failed "Blueprint for Progress" when Bersin was superintendent, I saw that "the spin" is often financially motivated, political, and/or flawed. For instance, some felt, driving the older teachers out of the system because they were more expensive, so the school district could hire two (rookies) for one (experienced) teacher. In addition, it is my understanding that he owned land near the border. Then, there was the port district fiasco...
Kevin George August 27, 2012 at 04:15 pm
– Fifty-eight percent of the illegal immigrant population is from Mexico. (Pew)
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/15/facts-on-immigration-in-the-united-states/
George Mitrovich August 27, 2012 at 04:19 pm
A "typical government hack." Really? Let's see, Alan Bersin is a Harvard and Yale Law graduate, Rhodes Scholar, U.S. Attorney, California's Secretary of Education, San Diego's Superintendent of Schools, Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Under-Secretary at Homeland Security, who just happens to speak Spanish. But, yea, Jay Berman must be right, Bersin's is just a "typical government hack."
Would Mr. Berman mind telling us who he is?
Jay Berman August 27, 2012 at 04:47 pm
Goes from government job (appointment) to job .. education to border ... like Panetta as sec of defense or Napalitano as sec of homeland security ...
Jay Berman August 27, 2012 at 04:52 pm
How can you have "facts" like this when there is no one counting ? They have been saying 8 to 12 million illegals here for the last 10 years ... the fact is, it is impossible to say how many illegal aliens are here, and how they break down by where they are from or race ... simply impossible. One thing is for sure, illegal immigration has negatively affected the continental 48 states .. the flow may have slowed down but they are still coming .... last few weeks I think 2 or 3 boatloads were caught .. wonder how many get through .. who's counting ?
Things I Learned August 27, 2012 at 05:26 pm
Alan Bersin is an atypical government hack.
ibbarbara August 27, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Can someone please make "Censorship?" go away? Tired of reading this same comment on articles that have NOTHING to do with what he/she is saying. Where is the censorship on that?????
Affenhauer August 30, 2012 at 11:44 am
That would be one big-@$$ed state. I think Mexico already has its own states - just annex them all as they are...
Fuku Jones September 7, 2012 at 01:55 pm
Me too. The damage no-nothing Bersin did to the schools is San Diego is legend. He is a loyal dog to whatever master has a half-baked reform scheme that needs a bully to push it thru. If Bersin is involved, look for the money going into his pocket, the babes into his bed and the bodies over which he is crawling.
Fuku Jones September 7, 2012 at 01:57 pm
Oh yeah, all those degrees and rich friends, talk to the man for a minute and you will see how empty all his "education" is. I've done it. Bersin, a rimless cypher, as my Brooklyn granddad would have called him.
Fuku Jones September 7, 2012 at 02:01 pm
Poor George, he has confused the good with the powerful. While it does take effort to get into all those schools, it isn't intellectual effort, it's social connection. Many brilliant people never get to Harvard. Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers makes a liar of anyone who is impressed with the search tag, Harvard, or Oxford. Empty, useless elites. Who from these places works for justice? Hah!

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Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Marcus Boyd June 17, 2013 at 05:41 pm
My daughter made one for me on her laptop... now I see why! Lucky me though, it was one-of-a-kind!
Vanessa Olvera June 18, 2013 at 10:12 am
I contributed to this lack of cards.
ibcalif June 17, 2013 at 01:10 pm
Poor Tom still unhappy when pet owners DO pick up after their pets?? Yes, Tom, kids do play on theirRead More parents lawns. And on all their neighbors lawn. And in the streets. And on their cars. And demand their neighbors pay for parks programs so the kids parents don't have to. It must be that "we all live in the same community" thing and have to get along thing, eh? Yes, you are as "wierd" (sic) as you guessed. BTW, nice bragging about threatening to make someone eat dog crap from your yard.
Ed Kravitz June 17, 2013 at 01:56 pm
Wow...another flying monkey just flew bye!
Tammy Petersen Jenkins June 18, 2013 at 06:53 pm
My faith has been restored. Looking outside my kitchen window this a.m. I saw a man walking his dogRead More with a bucket and pick-up grabber. I couldn't believe my eyes. He was cleaning up all of the dog feces along the estuary on Seacoast. I will keep my eyes out for him again so that I can go out and personally thank him for his great volunteer work. What a great IB resident!!
Ed Kravitz June 16, 2013 at 08:34 pm
You could call Pacifica Companies...Maybe Alison Rolfson? You could call your local City CouncilRead More Representative or go to the Council Meeting early on Wednesday evening and fill out a speakers card and post the same question to the City Council. Share with us what you find out! (If Anything?) Tell them you don't care for the way they pick City Attorneys, City Managers or replacement Council Members in closed session while you're at it.
TV in IB
Jim June 7, 2013 at 10:58 am
This is a delaying tactic. They are going to try to appease enough of the groups to break up theRead More coalition. The IBCC has given away millions to some of the richest men in San Diego County. Why are the people forced to take a hair cut on the budget crisis. Let the city employees who stood by and did nothing while getting raises as IB was looted. Sincerely, IBMad@madenoughyet.com
Marcus Boyd June 7, 2013 at 11:46 am
Thank you for posting this. Great job to all who were involved with the Alternative Solution to IBRead More Sports Park Privatization Planning Committee. While the above referenced "delaying tactic" is likely true, it will be up to the community's grassroots activism to force the council to a public decision on the issue. Their "delaying tactic" comes with a price in 2014 - when two council seats and the mayors seat is up for grabs. Who's interested?
Ed Kravitz June 7, 2013 at 01:42 pm
Mayor Janney seems anguished at finding a process he can still control ? Probably so he can finishRead More the deal and deliver the goods; per the previous DONE DEAL. He acts like; No matter what process they do, the only decision will be YMCA. 16:08 Janney: "We can appoint our plants on the committee?" Gary Brown: "Oh Yea!" "OH YEA!" _____________________________________ If the YMCA took over ownership of Municipal Property and then went Bankrupt....would tax-payer assets be sold off to the highest bidder via Bankruptcy Proceedings? Maybe the YMCA is going to pass the properties through to another entity that will buy them out when they file for planned future bankruptcy? Hey ...If the YMCA is running the Municipal Pools in Chula Vista and National City now...maybe they'd like to build a pool for Imperial Beach with their own money; since all the Imperial Beach RDA money went for "OTHER PROJECTS"? Is this a classic struggle over who controls the children in the community?
10News Hidden Camera
Melissa Jacobson June 5, 2013 at 08:15 pm
@ john 10 news found expired canned food from December..
John Galt June 5, 2013 at 09:06 pm
Melissa - I know that. My comment is saying that canned goods keep past the expiration date justRead More fine. It is the processed meats in the cold sections that concern me most, followed by produce.
Kelly Tracy June 6, 2013 at 09:03 am
I have been here in IB for ten years and maybe shopped at moldies/Wallys a dozen times 9 of thoseRead More were for wine. The first experience at walley was a sale on bad meat for a BBQ and yogurt that was expired the second time was canned goods that were on sale and I was charged full price the third time was a watermelon well at least the mellon was good ;-/ we need a Whole foods or Trader Joes in IB
Erika Lowery June 11, 2013 at 12:23 pm
Is there any update? I see the flyers as I go around town and I worry about her.
Pat P June 12, 2013 at 07:30 am
Have you checked Chula Vista AC on Beyer? They pick up dogs in IB that are loose.
Agenta Nines June 13, 2013 at 10:10 pm
i seen a dog that looked like her in a yard on the corner of elder and 3rd. small house. It might beRead More their dog. but it is worth driving by
The Imperial Beach Optimist Club invites you!
IB Candy June 12, 2013 at 12:13 am
I didn't know the actual name of the event was "The Port of San Diego Sun & Sea FestivalRead More Imperial Beach" ...and i'm on the steering committee. HA!