Aug. 6, 2008
Media Contact: Kimberly Miller
Public Information Officer
The University of Texas at El Paso
915-747-5747 or 915-491-8907
Border Protection and Commerce Top Conference Agenda
Keynote Speakers Include Mexican Foreign Affairs Chief, Customs Commissioner
Border security affects everyone because it involves commerce and education as much as law enforcement. Prominent national and international leaders will gather Aug. 11-12 at UTEP to discuss these issues during the 5th annual Border Security Conference.
“Border Security: A Binational Strategy for Border Protection and Effective Commerce” will include panel discussions about effective trade, security strategies and technologies, the education of future national security professionals and more.
The conference is hosted by The University of Texas at El Paso in conjunction with U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso.
Registration for the free conference is open.
“We are pleased that UTEP once again will host this annual conference which explores the ever-changing opportunities and challenges of the U.S.-Mexico border region,” UTEP President Diana Natalicio said. “The University’s border location, its academic program and research strengths, and its partnerships with universities in Mexico provide a highly compatible backdrop for these important conversations.”
The conference agenda includes a number of high-ranking officials:
- Robert S. Mueller, III, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, will offer opening remarks at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11, at the Undergraduate Learning Center, Room 106.
- Air Force Gen. Victor E. “Gene” Renuart Jr., Commander, U.S. Northern Command, will give opening remarks at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Undergraduate Learning Center, Room 106.
- The Honorable W. Ralph Basham, Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection, will be the keynote speaker at noon, Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Tomás Rivera Conference Center, UTEP Union Building East, Third Floor.
“As the largest border community in the world, El Paso is the ideal venue for this important conference on border security,” Reyes said. “For the fifth straight year, UTEP will host top-level officials from the U.S. and Mexico, who will make presentations on key border security issues and explore opportunities for greater cross-border collaboration to meet emerging challenges.”
Panelists will give presentations on several issues, and technology development companies will display their projects and products. UTEP panelists include Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Jose D. Riojas, vice president for strategic initiatives; Christian Meissner, associate professor of psychology; Donald Michie, professor of marketing and management; and Dennis Soden, dean of University College.
Conference officials will also announce the opening of the National Center for Border Security and Immigration at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, in the Undergraduate Learning Center, Room 106.
The center, designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will receive $6 million over six years to conduct research and develop technologies, tools and advanced methods to balance immigration and commerce with effective border security. UTEP’s center will partner with the University of Arizona at Tucson.
Natalicio, Reyes and Riojas will be available for interviews about the new center at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, in the Undergraduate Learning Center lobby.
For more information or to register, call 915-747-8274 or visit http://ia.utep.edu/conferences.
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MEDIA NOTE: Media members who want to cover the conference can call Kimberly Miller at 915-747-5747 to be added to the media attendee list.