Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MEXICO966
2007-02-26 22:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Mexico
Cable title:
DHS SECRETARY FEBRUARY 15TH MEETING WITH MEXICO'S
how-toVZCZCXRO8214 RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM DE RUEHME #0966 0572218 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 262218Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5550 RHMFIUU/CDR USNORTHCOM RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC RUEAHLA/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RUCNFB/FBI WASHDC INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MEXICO 000966
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL; WHA/MEX
DHS FOR A/S J. MYERS; OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS -
K.O'REILLY; CBP - C.STALLWORTH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SNAR MX
SUBJECT: DHS SECRETARY FEBRUARY 15TH MEETING WITH MEXICO'S
FINANCE SECRETARY AGUSTIN CARSTENS
THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE
ACCORDINGLY.
UNCLAS MEXICO 000966
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL; WHA/MEX
DHS FOR A/S J. MYERS; OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS -
K.O'REILLY; CBP - C.STALLWORTH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SNAR MX
SUBJECT: DHS SECRETARY FEBRUARY 15TH MEETING WITH MEXICO'S
FINANCE SECRETARY AGUSTIN CARSTENS
THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE
ACCORDINGLY.
1. (SBU) During a two-day trip to Mexico City, Secretary of
Homeland Security Michael Chertoff met February 15 with
Mexican Secretary of Finance and Public Credit Agustin
Carstens. Both secretaries reaffirmed long-standing
cooperation between the U.S. and Mexican customs officials.
2. (SBU) Secretary Carstens proposed that the two
secretaries sign a memorandum of understanding to create a
SIPDIS
framework for bilateral cooperation, presenting Secretary
Chertoff with a "discussion draft" entitled "United
States-Mexico Customs Cooperation Framework Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU)." Carstens proposed that both
secretaries sign the MOU during the upcoming meeting between
SIPDIS
presidents Calderon and Bush, scheduled to take place on
March 13 in Merida.
3. (SBU) Secretary Carstens said an MOU would serve as a
framework to develop and implement mutually beneficial
customs initiatives. The draft he presented to Secretary
Chertoff proposes the following technical working groups:
(1) Customs Personnel; (2) Strategic Border Management; (3)
Customs Procedures and Information Technology; (4) Regional
Customs Security; and (5) Customs Enforcement.
4 (SBU) Secretary Chertoff welcomed the initiative and said
he would circulate it within the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) for review and comment, adding that he would
ask Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Ralph
Basham to take the lead within DHS to review the Mexican
draft and develop a coordinated response. The Secretary said
that in developing that response, Commissioner Basham would
work closely with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Assistant Secretary Julie Myers. Carstens agreed that no
cooperation agreement would be complete without the full
involvement of both CBP and ICE.
5. (SBU) Without committing to sign a MOU at Merida,
Secretary Chertoff agreed to work closely with Secretary
SIPDIS
Carstens to develop a combined U.S.-Mexico customs strategy
and expressed the hope that Presidents Calderon and Bush
could highlight that effort in public comments at Merida.
6. (SBU) Secretary Chertoff did not have an opportunity to
review this message before leaving Mexico.
Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity
GARZA
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL; WHA/MEX
DHS FOR A/S J. MYERS; OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS -
K.O'REILLY; CBP - C.STALLWORTH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SNAR MX
SUBJECT: DHS SECRETARY FEBRUARY 15TH MEETING WITH MEXICO'S
FINANCE SECRETARY AGUSTIN CARSTENS
THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE
ACCORDINGLY.
1. (SBU) During a two-day trip to Mexico City, Secretary of
Homeland Security Michael Chertoff met February 15 with
Mexican Secretary of Finance and Public Credit Agustin
Carstens. Both secretaries reaffirmed long-standing
cooperation between the U.S. and Mexican customs officials.
2. (SBU) Secretary Carstens proposed that the two
secretaries sign a memorandum of understanding to create a
SIPDIS
framework for bilateral cooperation, presenting Secretary
Chertoff with a "discussion draft" entitled "United
States-Mexico Customs Cooperation Framework Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU)." Carstens proposed that both
secretaries sign the MOU during the upcoming meeting between
SIPDIS
presidents Calderon and Bush, scheduled to take place on
March 13 in Merida.
3. (SBU) Secretary Carstens said an MOU would serve as a
framework to develop and implement mutually beneficial
customs initiatives. The draft he presented to Secretary
Chertoff proposes the following technical working groups:
(1) Customs Personnel; (2) Strategic Border Management; (3)
Customs Procedures and Information Technology; (4) Regional
Customs Security; and (5) Customs Enforcement.
4 (SBU) Secretary Chertoff welcomed the initiative and said
he would circulate it within the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) for review and comment, adding that he would
ask Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Ralph
Basham to take the lead within DHS to review the Mexican
draft and develop a coordinated response. The Secretary said
that in developing that response, Commissioner Basham would
work closely with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Assistant Secretary Julie Myers. Carstens agreed that no
cooperation agreement would be complete without the full
involvement of both CBP and ICE.
5. (SBU) Without committing to sign a MOU at Merida,
Secretary Chertoff agreed to work closely with Secretary
SIPDIS
Carstens to develop a combined U.S.-Mexico customs strategy
and expressed the hope that Presidents Calderon and Bush
could highlight that effort in public comments at Merida.
6. (SBU) Secretary Chertoff did not have an opportunity to
review this message before leaving Mexico.
Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity
GARZA