Chertoff meets with trade group during Arizona trip
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff made his first visit to the southwest border as U.S. secretary of homeland security on Thursday to see first hand the immigration and trade issues facing customs and border patrol agents.
During his trip to Arizona, where he was accompanied by Republican Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl, Chertoff met with members of the Border Trade Alliance, a group that works to promote free trade in North America.
The Border Trade Alliance said in a news release that its president, Maria Luisa O’Connell, and others, raised the issue of inadequate infrastructure at ports of entry able to provide expedited customs processing for security-certified truckers and their cargo.