SANDAG held its annual Binational Summer Conference, Homeland Security, Challenges and Opportunities for the San Diego-Northern Baja California Region, Friday, July 11, 2003 at the San Ysidro Middle School Multicultural Complex in San Ysidro.

Keynote speakers included Peter Verga, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Ernesto Ruffo Appel, Commissioner of Northern Border Affairs for the Republic of Mexico. Other speakers included Adele Fasano, San Diego District Director of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, and David Shirk, USD Transborder Institute Director. Jeffrey McIllwain of San Diego State University and Jose Luis Castro of El Colegio de la Frontera Norte presented the results of a survey developed to receive input from stakeholders in the San Diego-Tijuana region on homeland security issues.

The conference brought together more than 150 participants from the private and public sectors, non-profit organizations, military and law enforcement, education, and special interest groups from both sides of the border to discuss the effects of homeland security programs in the binational region.

"This year's binational conference was a huge success," said Del Mar Councilmember Crystal Crawford, who chairs the SANDAG Borders Policy Committee. "Participants had the opportunity to learn from speakers who are experts on homeland security, and they worked in small breakout groups to discuss the issues and ways to address challenges," she added.

The Committee on Binational Regional Opportunities (COBRO) which helps to host this annual summer conference was formally established as a policy advisory committee to the SANDAG Board of Directors. The group advises the SANDAG Borders Committee concerning both short- and long-term border-related activities, issues, and actions; provides recommendations regarding binational border-related planning and development; and identifies ways to assist and coordinate with existing efforts in the binational area.

Membership includes representatives from both sides of the border in business, academia and nongovernmental organizations and the Consuls General of the United States and Mexico.

Project Manager: Hector Vanegas
(619) 595-5372