Border Governors Conference
Encyclopedia
The Border Governors Conference is an annual, bi-national meeting between the governors of the four American states and six Mexican states that form the Mexico – United States border. It has been held since 1980.
The conferences typically last from two to three days.
The conference's location changes among the member states each year, and often alternates between the U.S. and Mexico.
The conference provides a forum for state- and regional-level concerns, issues, and opportunities to be discussed by those in executive charge of the border regions. Results of the policy coordination efforts of the body are often announced via joint declarations at the close of conferences. No permanent office or staff belongs to the conference itself. The conference was attended by as many as 1,200 people until 1994, but was scaled back in size in subsequent years to somewhat over 100 people, in order to permit the governors better opportunities for personal interaction and substantive discussions. Its importance is still uncertain, however, as it is sometimes seen as more about publicity and conversation than accomplishing tangible results.
The conference in 2009 was the 27th such meeting; the conference planned for 1985 failed to instantiate, no conferences were held in 1986 and 1988, and in 1995 the Mexican governors held their own conference due to a lack of U.S. representation.
From the beginning, the Border Governors Conference has discussed the hottest issues affecting the border, such as immigration and trade. The 1981 conference in El Paso, Texas
, reached an impasse over whether to support U.S. President Ronald Reagan
's proposed immigration reforms, which would grant amnesty to illegal aliens but require a 90 percent reduction in the number of undocumented Mexican workers entering the U.S. each year.
The conference unanimously endorsed the North American Free Trade Agreement
in 1993, but not before some 200 demonstrators protested outside the Monterrey, Nuevo León, for better living conditions. In favor of comprehensive immigration reform
the conference was in their joint communique after the 2007 meeting.
A flurry of activity related to the conference took place in 2010, due to the passage of the Arizona SB 1070 anti-illegal immigration law. It was scheduled to be held in Phoenix, Arizona
, in September 2010 and be hosted by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer
. The governors of the six Mexican states belonging to the conference vowed to boycott it in protest of the law, saying SB 1070 is "based on ethnic and cultural prejudice contrary to fundamental rights," and Brewer said in response that she was canceling the gathering. Governors Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Arnold Schwarzenegger
of California, both U.S. border governors who oppose the law, will co-host an "interim meeting" of the conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico
, instead. In the following year of 2011, three of the four U.S. governors failed to appear in Ensenada, Baja California
, for the conference, claiming scheduling conflicts, risking of a deminishment of the conference's importance.
Structure
The conference is attended by:- the Governor of CaliforniaGovernor of CaliforniaThe Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
, Governor of Arizona, Governor of New Mexico, and Governor of TexasGovernor of TexasThe governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
, and - the Governor of Baja CaliforniaGovernor of Baja CaliforniaThe Governor of Baja California represents the executive branch of the government of the state of Baja California, Mexico, per the state's constitution. The official title is "Free and Sovereign State of Baja California" , and the position is democratically elected for a period of 6 years, and is...
, Governor of SonoraGovernor of SonoraList of governors of Sonora since 1917:*2009–2015 Guillermo Padrés Elías*2003–2009 Eduardo Bours Castelo*1997–2003 Armando López Nogales*1991–1997 Manlio Fabio Beltrones Rivera*1991–1991 Mario Morúa Johnson...
, Governor of ChihuahuaGovernor of ChihuahuaAccording to the Political Constitution of the Free and Sovereign State of Chihuahua, Executive Power in that Mexican state resides with a single individual, the Constitutional Governor of the Free and Sovereign State of Chihuahua, who is chosen for a period of six years and cannot for any reason...
, Governor of CoahuilaGovernor of CoahuilaList of governors of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila de Zaragoza, since its establishment as the province of Nueva Extremadura in Northern New Spain, later province of Coahuila and Texas, and Coahuila as a Mexican state....
, Governor of Nuevo LeónGovernor of Nuevo LeónThe Mexican state of Nuevo León has been governed by more than a hundred individuals in its history, who have had various titles and degrees of responsibility depending on the prevailing political regime of the time....
, and Governor of TamaulipasGovernor of TamaulipasThis is a list of governors of Tamaulipas since it became a state of Mexico in 1917.The Governor is elected to a six year term and may only hold the title once...
.
The conferences typically last from two to three days.
The conference's location changes among the member states each year, and often alternates between the U.S. and Mexico.
The conference provides a forum for state- and regional-level concerns, issues, and opportunities to be discussed by those in executive charge of the border regions. Results of the policy coordination efforts of the body are often announced via joint declarations at the close of conferences. No permanent office or staff belongs to the conference itself. The conference was attended by as many as 1,200 people until 1994, but was scaled back in size in subsequent years to somewhat over 100 people, in order to permit the governors better opportunities for personal interaction and substantive discussions. Its importance is still uncertain, however, as it is sometimes seen as more about publicity and conversation than accomplishing tangible results.
History
The first conference was held in Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, in 1980.The conference in 2009 was the 27th such meeting; the conference planned for 1985 failed to instantiate, no conferences were held in 1986 and 1988, and in 1995 the Mexican governors held their own conference due to a lack of U.S. representation.
From the beginning, the Border Governors Conference has discussed the hottest issues affecting the border, such as immigration and trade. The 1981 conference in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
, reached an impasse over whether to support U.S. President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's proposed immigration reforms, which would grant amnesty to illegal aliens but require a 90 percent reduction in the number of undocumented Mexican workers entering the U.S. each year.
The conference unanimously endorsed the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
in 1993, but not before some 200 demonstrators protested outside the Monterrey, Nuevo León, for better living conditions. In favor of comprehensive immigration reform
Immigration reform
Immigration reform is a term used in political discussion regarding changes to current immigration policy of a country. In its strict definition, "reform " means to change into an improved form or condition, by amending or removing faults or abuses....
the conference was in their joint communique after the 2007 meeting.
A flurry of activity related to the conference took place in 2010, due to the passage of the Arizona SB 1070 anti-illegal immigration law. It was scheduled to be held in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, in September 2010 and be hosted by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer
Jan Brewer
Janice Kay "Jan" Brewer is the 22nd and current Governor of the U.S. state of Arizona and a member of the Republican Party. She is the fourth woman, and third consecutive woman, to hold the office...
. The governors of the six Mexican states belonging to the conference vowed to boycott it in protest of the law, saying SB 1070 is "based on ethnic and cultural prejudice contrary to fundamental rights," and Brewer said in response that she was canceling the gathering. Governors Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
of California, both U.S. border governors who oppose the law, will co-host an "interim meeting" of the conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, instead. In the following year of 2011, three of the four U.S. governors failed to appear in Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada is a coastal city in Mexico and the third-largest city in Baja California. It is located south of San Diego on the Baja California Peninsula. The city is locally referred to as La Cenicienta del Pacífico, or, The Cinderella of the Pacific...
, for the conference, claiming scheduling conflicts, risking of a deminishment of the conference's importance.
External links
- Official website
- Official website for Border Governors Conference 2010 – Interim Meeting (Sante Fe, New Mexico)
- Official website for Border Governors Conference 2010 – Cancelled (Phoenix, Arizona)
- Official website for Border Governors Conference 2009 (Monterrey, Nuevo Leon)
- Official website for Border Governors Conference 2008 (Hollywood, California)