U.S .and Mexico reach accord to protect border

WASHINGTON — The U.S. and Mexico formalized an agreement Monday to work together to secure travel and trade across the countries’ shared border.

The deal is outlined in a letter of intent signed by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Mexico’s Finance Minister Agustin Carstens.

It expands a 2007 agreement and formalizes plans announced earlier this year to search vehicles at border crossings for bulk weapons and cash being smuggled from the U.S. into Mexico where more than 10,800 people have been killed by drug violence since December 2006.

Napolitano said the cooperation will include sharing information such as data about stolen cars.

Officials have said many of the weapons used in cartel violence in Mexico have come from the U.S.

Both countries are responsible for what goes into Mexico from the U.S., Napolitano said Monday.

The deal is part of the effort to curb drug and weapons trafficking.



by the associated press