Gabrielle Giffords to host binational border security summit in Douglas

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will be joined by more than 40 government and law enforcement officials from the United States and Mexico on Wednesday at the congresswoman's first Binational Border Security Summit in Douglas, Arizona.

Giffords is convening the summit in direct response to mounting border violence, such as the recent shooting in Cananea, Sonora that left 23 people dead and incidents along I-19.

The goals of the summit are to determine ways in which the U.S. and Mexico can work together to address the violence and to review the potential impact on border security of the immigration reform legislation now before Congress.

The two-hour summit begins at 1 p.m. at the Douglas Visitors Center, 345 16th Street.

In addition to Giffords, the list of participants includes:

ˆRobert Gilbert, Chief Patrol Agent of the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector

ˆEric Odden, Patrol Agent in Charge of the Border Patrol's Douglas Station

ˆCochise County Sheriff Larry Dever

ˆDouglas Mayor Ray Borane

ˆSierra Vista Mayor Bob Strain

ˆBisbee Mayor Ronald Oertle

ˆDouglas Police Chief Charles Austin

ˆSierra Vista Deputy Police Chief Tom Alinen

ˆBisbee Police Chief Jim Elkins

ˆAgua Prieta Municipal President Jose Antonio Cuadras Garcia

ˆAgua Prieta Director of Public Safety Alfonso Novoa Novoa

ˆNaco Municipal President Jose Lorenzo Villegas Vasquez

ˆCananea Director of Public Safety Reinaldo Palomino

ˆCommander of the Military Garrison of Agua Prieta Marco Armando Islas Garcia

ˆSonora Attorney General Abel Murrieta Gutierrez

ˆRanchers John Ladd and Josiah Austin