MEXICO CITY - The mayor of Douglas, Ray Borane, was among the Arizona civic and business leaders who met with Mexican President Felipe Calderon at his residence on Friday.

But perhaps the most fruitful portions of his trip to the Mexican capital, Borane said, came during meetings with Calderon's secretaries of public security and transportation.

Borane said Public Security Secretary Genaro Garcia told him and Gov. Janet Napolitano that Mexico's federal government is planning to establish two law enforcement bases in Agua Prieta, Sonora, that will deal with border-related matters.

The bases, which will reportedly feature a "large contingent" of federal officers, will tackle security issues such as drug violence and kidnappings. They also will deal with cross-border problems such as thieves who steal cars in the U.S. and drive them into Mexico, a crime now handled by the municipal police.

"Basically, they would be in control of the town," Borane said.

If the federal officers are able to reign in crime and violence in Agua Prieta, he said, it will help attract tourism and trade to the area.

"The governor made a strong point to (Garcia) - and I seconded the motion - that she wanted to be sure that the border was safe, and that we could tell that to Arizonans and anybody who wanted to use border towns to enhance our economy and our visitations," Borane said.

"He assured us that they want to convince everybody who visits Mexico, especially border communities, that it's going to be safe."

In addition, Garcia told Borane that the federal officers would not allow protesters to blockade the port of entry into Douglas as tactic in political protests. The blockades not only stop the flow of commercial goods into Arizona, Borane said, but they also keep Sonoran shoppers out of local stores.

"I told him, 'You've got to have some authority that can move in there and clear those streets out. It's ridiculous to block that border,' " Borane said.

The mayor also had an opportunity to speak with Mexico's transportation secretary, Luis Téllez, and he pushed for road improvements that would allow for more efficient movement of agricultural products through Sonora to Agua Prieta.

"If we get that produce up to Agua Prieta and we take a fair share from Nogales, then you're looking at major warehousing and you're looking at major trucking (in the Douglas area)," Borane said.

"Somebody asked me, 'Why are you pushing so hard for Agua Prieta?' " he said. "Well, that's because, as Agua Prieta goes, we go. If it benefits them, it benefits us as well."