Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced the appointment of "border czar" Alan Bersin during a visit to El Paso, Texas on April 15, 2009. Bersin will report to the Department of Homeland Security and will be responsible for controlling the illegal immigration and drug violence along the U.S.-Mexican border. The appointment came the day before President Obama will make a scheduled stop in Mexico on the way to attend the Fifth Summit of the Americas.L.A. Times: Border czar will try to repeat his success (April 15, 2009)Reuters: US names official as US-Mexican 'border czar' (April 15, 2009)
Alan Bersin
Alan Bersin, the newly-appointed U.S.-Mexican border czar, is a former U.S. attorney, San Diego superintendent of schools and California secretary of education. From 1995 to 1998 Bersin held a position similar to border czar under President Bill Clinton. During his three-year appointment as unofficial border czar, Bersin was credited with improving relationships with Mexican law enforcement, adding border fencing and increasing immigration enforcement officers along the U.S.-Mexican border.L.A. Times: Border czar will try to repeat his success (April 15, 2009)
Border Czar News
CNN: U.S. 'border czar' held similar post under Clinton (April 15, 2009)
L.A. Times: Border czar will try to repeat his success (April 15, 2009)
Reuters: U.S. names official as U.S.-Mexican 'border czar' (April 15, 2009)
UPI: Former Justice official named border czar (April 15, 2009)
Voice of America: US Homeland Security Chief Names 'Border Czar' (April 15, 2009)
San Diego Union Tribune: Obama picks Bersin to serve as border czar (April 15, 2009)
Washington Times: Border czar to be named before Latin talks (April 15, 2009)
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Bersin is credited with taming a lawless area along the Tijuana-San Diego border during the Clinton administrationL.A. Times: Border czar will try to repeat his success (April 15, 2009)
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Bersin will be tasked with controlling illegal immigration and drug violence connected to Mexico's war against organized crimeL.A. Times: Border czar will try to repeat his success (April 15, 2009)
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Position will also focus on stopping southbound drug trafficking and cash smugglingL.A. Times: Border czar will try to repeat his success (April 15, 2009)
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Obama administration also announced that they are placing three Mexican drug gangs on a list of significant foreign narcotics traffickers targeted for special sanctionsReuters: US names official as US-Mexican 'border czar' (April 15, 2009)
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