Obama administration names its border czar to be Customs and Border Protection commissioner

September 22nd, 2009 Obama to pick border czar for Customs commissionerWASHINGTON — The Obama administration plans to nominate its Southwest border czar to be commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. The administration has told some members of Congress that Alan Bersin is its pick to lead this agency within the Homeland Security Department, according to two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not yet been made.

September 22nd, 2009 1 injured in shootout at San Diego border crossingSAN DIEGO — One person was injured in a gun battle Tuesday involving an attempt to smuggle illegal immigrants from Mexico at the busiest border crossing in the U.S., authorities said. Details remained sketchy, but dozens of suspected illegal immigrants were detained when drivers tried to storm past inspectors at the San Ysidro port of entry and make their way into the U.S.

September 22nd, 2009 4 injured in shootout at San Diego border crossingSAN DIEGO — Four people were injured in a gun battle Tuesday involving an attempt to smuggle illegal immigrants from Mexico at the busiest border crossing in the U.S., authorities said. More than 70 people traveling in three vans involved in the incident were in federal custody, said U.S.

September 17th, 2009 Gov't: Border fence to cost $6.5B over 20 yearsWASHINGTON — It will cost taxpayers $6.5 billion over the next 20 years to maintain the fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a government audit. But as the Obama administration realizes the long-term costs of the border fence, it does not have a way to evaluate whether this investment has helped control illegal entries into the country, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Thursday.

September 3rd, 2009 Obama administration rehires 9/11 health czarNEW YORK — The Obama administration has rehired the Sept. 11 health czar let go by the Bush administration.

August 19th, 2009 US agent charged with assault in Virgin IslandsCHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands — A federal border patrol officer has been arrested in the U.S.

August 15th, 2009 Consumer agency is blocked from some import dataWASHINGTON — Despite the growing number of imports, the government's product safety agency has no access to certain customs information that could help prevent the sale of unsafe products, congressional investigators say. A report released Friday by the Government Accountability Office, Congress' investigative arm, looks at the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is responsible for ensuring consumer products don't pose health or safety risks.

August 3rd, 2009 Travelers challenging Cuba ban return to USBUFFALO, N.Y. — Groups of travelers who defied the federal government's ban on most travel to Cuba returned to the United States with some fanfare but no holdups Monday, passing without incident through checkpoints at the northern and southern borders.

July 16th, 2009 Bersin: Mexican drug violence threat major concernNOGALES, Ariz. — Ongoing concerns that drug-related violence in Mexico poses a threat to American communities remain the Obama administration's border focus, the federal government's border czar said Wednesday.

July 10th, 2009 Colombian coffee comes with smuggled cocaineNEW ORLEANS — Customs agents discovered an extra ingredient in a shipment of Colombian coffee: nearly a half-ton of cocaine. U.S. Customs officer Troy Simon said Thursday it was his agency's biggest cocaine find at the Port of New Orleans since more than two tons turned up in a transformer shipment about 10 years ago.

June 30th, 2009 AP Sources: Volunteers sought for border drug warWASHINGTON — Senior officials say the Obama administration is developing plans to seek up to 1,500 National Guard volunteers to step up the military's counterdrug efforts along the Mexican border. The plan is a stopgap measure being worked out between the Defense Department and the Homeland Security Department.

June 10th, 2009 Border officers end 2 prisoners' 8 months on lamEAGLE PASS, Texas — Authorities say two convicts who escaped a Louisiana prison last October were recaptured while trying to re-enter the U.S. from Mexico.

May 8th, 2009 Senate approves Seattle police chief as drug czarWASHINGTON — The Senate has approved the nomination of Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske as the national drug czar. Kerlikowske, a 36-year law enforcement veteran, has said he will take a balanced, science-based approach to the job of director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

May 6th, 2009 Driver in fatal bus wreck arrested at borderCORONA, N.M. — Authorities in New Mexico say a bus driver wanted in connection with a bus crash that killed two people has been caught by U.S.

April 29th, 2009 49 people tested for flu at border, most clearedWASHINGTON — Customs agents have stopped and cleared 41 people with flulike symptoms at U.S. borders and are awaiting test results on eight more.