Secretary Napolitano Unveils New "If You See Something, Say Something™" Campaign Spanish-Language Public Service Announcements

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today joined Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood to meet with Canadian Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Denis Lebel to discuss the ongoing partnership between the United States and Canada to work on a shared approach to border and transportation security, while expediting lawful trade and travel.

Through the Beyond the Border initiative, the United States and Canada are committed to enhancing security while facilitating lawful travel and trade. Pre-inspection and pre-clearance are important tools for achieving these goals.

Key questions and answers about the Beyond the Border Action Plan.

At 5,525 miles (8,891 kilometers), the United States-Canada border is the longest shared border in the world. The border, which crosses various terrains and environments, is a diverse region consisting of major metropolitan centers, integrated bi-national communities, numerous transit hubs, tribal lands, and vast regions with little or no population. It is also a dynamic border with accessibility and security requirements that vary significantly with the seasons.

Beyond the Border recognizes that today’s threats to our mutual security are global, complex, rapidly evolving, and sophisticated. As many of these threats require cross-border cooperation, greater information sharing between Canada and the United States is vital to enhancing our countries’ shared security.

NCRC was transferred to FEMA along with other preparedness elements under the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA) in 2007. This shift recognized FEMA’s strong partnerships with state, local, and federal authorities, and was designed to promote the seamless coordination of all-hazards preparedness and response efforts between and across all National Capital Region jurisdictions.

The United States and Canada have long enjoyed a collaborative law enforcement relationship. Through joint threat assessment, investigations, operations, and support for prosecutions, consistent with our respective domestic laws, we have made both countries more secure while facilitating lawful travel and trade.

The United States and Canada enjoy the largest bilateral trade and investment relationship in the world, supported by the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement of 1988 and advanced since 1994 through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).