4. Expand joint risk assessment and preparedness with Canada and Mexico. The U.S. security community is focused on the preventi on of another terrorist att ack. These criti cal eff orts can be bolstered by engaging the our North American neighbors as true partners—not as buff ers, origins of threats, or passive bystanders. Joint defense of the common, conti nental homeland begins with a shared assessment of the threats, vulnerabiliti es, and consequences of intenti onal, as well natural, events. This planning, preparati on, and subsequent response and recovery (P2R2) starts with general conti ngency planning and emergency response planning for natural and other disasters. The preventi on or response to droughts and fl oods, epidemics and subsequent quaranti nes, hazardous material spills or emission, and train or aircraft accidents have similar elements. The inter-operability of plans ensures an adequate response to intenti onal acts of bioterrorism or other malicious att acks. Currently, risk assessment in North America is managed largely through a nati onal, rather than a multi lateral lens. The United States has historically led the security agenda in North America with Distant Early Warning and NORAD and also in the post-9/11 era with the establishment of Northern Command and the Department of Homeland Security. Congress has mandated that both North- Com’s and DHS’ strategies be risk-based, meaning that they balance resources in a multi -threat world by assessing and managing the risk. In practi ce this becomes problemati c for a number of U.S. federal agencies, since the concept of a “one percent soluti on” was aimed at assuring “never again” for an event like 9/11 on U.S. soil. This mentality drives much of the U.S. security agenda and is responsible for its highly unilateral nature. Joint risk assessment and emergency response preparedness is one of the major arenas in which eff ecti ve communicati on and a pre-arranged joint response are criti cal. Indeed, conti nental disaster planning, preparedness, response, and recovery (P2R2) is a real opportunity in cross-border collaborati on. One practi ti oner has described to the North American Center for Transborder Studies his department’s goal as being interoperability, or “plug and play,” as opposed to integrati on. Cross-border emergency response networks have a criti cal need to be able to address catastrophes quickly and effi ciently without being hindered by politi cs. Ongoing eff orts to achieve interoperability of such basic infrastructure as maps, radio frequencies, and weather warnings, as well as emergency procedures and resource sharing are criti cal. Indeed, multi lateralism, cross-border cooperati on, and shared responsibility and privilege distribute both accountability and benefi ts to all parti es involved. Additional recommendations on managing our borders and security with Canada and Mexico Adopt the recommendati ons on security of key regional groups such as Border Governors Conference, the Border Legislators Conference and others which have multi -parti san as well as trinati onal input and buy-in. Regional understanding of crossborder issues has advanced signifi cantly in recent years with valuable insights on crossborder policy, including governors, legislators, NGOs, academics, advocacy groups and others. Partnering eff ecti vely with these groups will build bett er policies for managing our borders and our sustainable security with Canada and Mexico. Conti nue to move the internal borders away from the borders to the farm and factory by increasing investment in technology and streamlined processes to ease border fl ows. Ports of entry at borders have become thicker, sti ckier, and tenser. One way to ease the congesti on at the U.S.-Canadian and U.S.-Mexican borders is to use technology and intelligence to allow packages, products, and produce to move securely from their points of origin to their desti nati on points secure supply chains. Programs that seek a balance between security and competi ti veness, such as FAST and CTPAT, should be encouraged, evaluated and expanded. North American ingenu14 north america next: a report to president obama ity and innovati on can bring more smart and modern alternati ves to fences, walls, and anti quated ports of entry to bett er control illegal, dangerous and environmentally damaging entry into the United States. Technology could enable rapid assessment of all movements across the border— both at ports and away from them. Early assessment of risks that crossers pose enables management of that risk and speeds overall processing of the majority of crossers, who are low-risk. Technology does have a role in securing our nati on’s borders, although we need to think through its sustainable implementati on. Satellites could ulti mately protect the environment, facilitate trade, and engender bett er U.S.-Mexican relati ons and U.S.-Canadian relati ons. The potenti al successful use of satellites suggests that trade, security, and protecti on of the environment need not be seen as “pick one and delete the rest.” Instead, security, environment and commerce can co-exist if co-developed together. The graphics to the left show an example of how green infrastructure, or natural capital (Figure 3A), can determine where human capital and economic infrastructure goes (Figure 3B). Borders and security infrastructure are oft en then imposed onto the landscape to protect nati onal capital, but they need not destroy the environment or create unnecessary tension between nati ons. Figure 3C shows how in remote and challenging terrain, such as terrain with steep hillsides and riparian habitat, security infrastructure such as satellite telemetry, unmanned aerial surveys, balloon-loft ed radar and stand-off sensors can monitor acti viti es and movements. In urban binati onal metroplexes, some fencing does make sense, if used intelligently with confi gurati ons such as trinati onal customs teams. In other areas, a combinati on of fences and satellites makes sense. This combinati on allows energy, legiti mate vehicle, personnel, and product transfer across the border yet aff ords control of the border. NACTS’ unique amalgam of academe, private sector and former government offi cials is wellpositi oned to make contributi ons to these eff orts as well as to monitor, assess and evaluate them. COUNTRY A COUNTRY B PARK RESERVE OPEN LAND OPEN LAND COUNTRY B PARK RESERVE CITY A CITY B OPEN LAND OPEN LAND COUNTRY A COUNTRY B PARK RESERVE CITY A CITY B OPEN LAND OPEN LAND PORT OF ENTRY R R Figure 3a: Crossborder “green” infrastructure Figure 3b: Human capital and economic infrastructure Figure 3c: Smart border infrastructure north america next: a report to president obama 15 Provide funding to staff key ports of entry 24/7/365. Port of entry infrastructure and staffi ng has not kept up with demand. The Department of Homeland Security must adequately staff key ports of entry to bett er facilitate the fl ow of legiti mate North American commerce, shopping, tourism, and educati on, parti cularly where a clear case can be made by local and regional stakeholders for increased staffi ng. Create a common border crossing permit, “single window” electronic fi ling, joint customs teams, and common booths for all relevant agencies. Currently a truck that is crossing the U.S.-Mexican or U.S.-Canadian border may have to fi le the same or similar informati on several ti mes on each side of the border. Filing all the required informati on— once, electronically— to a CyberPort that all three nati ons are able to view can enable seamless processing and in some cases single-stop crossing. Inspectors for agriculture, hazardous material, and other things must be able to review paperwork ahead of arrival. Joint customs teams can expedite processing for initi al crossing, the return trip, and subsequent trips. The U.S. and Canadian Chambers of Commerce are strong advocates of electronic submission through a single window. Figure 4 describes the CyberPort concept. Establish a North American Advisory Council. To guide the new President and his Departments in implementi ng the next North America, a criti cal component is an independent, transparent (and both inside and outside the beltway) North American Advisory Council, which would include both an economic and a scienti fi c panel. Provide fi rm, constant and creati ve leadership on immigrati on issues that respects basic human rights and needs, local and state concerns, and North American human security. President Obama, together with President Calderón and Prime Minister Harper should form a North American partnership to explore and consider a broader set of concerns that aff ect immigrati on, including development, climate change and human security. This work should have the express goals of reducing the wage diff erenti al Figure 4 CyberPort Guiding Principles 1. Binati onal, interagency and pubic-private cooperati on 2. Integrated and harmonized procedures and systems 3. Incenti ves for pre-clearance, pre-inspecti on, and compliance programs 4. Risk identi fi cati on and management 5. Safety, security and effi ciency through infrastructure 6. Secured shared informati on 7. New technology 8. Maximizing transparency and visibility of shipments 9. Performance standards and systems for measurement. Source: “Nogales CyberPort Project Comprehensive Report,” University of Arizona Offi ce of Economic Development, 2003 between the United States and Mexico, reducing deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border to zero, and creati ng a safe and orderly mobility of laborers, shoppers, students and tourists that is worthy of these neighboring democracies. In additi on, President Obama should urge the Congress to pass a humane and just comprehensive immigrati on reform with a workable system of noti fi cati on/consultati on from states on labor shortages, surpluses, and local impacts of immigrati on. An overly narrow focus on immigrati on and traditi onal border security should be avoided. Any immigrati on reform needs to provide a sustained consultati ve mechanism (with broad public parti cipati on) with Canada and Mexico on enhancing conti nental development, human rights, and human security. Above all, the United States, Canada and Mexico must provide for secure and sustainable lives for their citi zens. “Sustainable” social and economic environments permit parents to feed families and to provide for the educati on of their children.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 12:14:28 +0000
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