Although Ray Borane had faced a series of challenges during his 12-year mayoralty in Douglas, none would be as challenging or troublesome as illegal immigration.

Gov. Janet Napolitano, left, selected Ray Borane as her advisor on border and immigration issues. He will meet with officials on both sides of the Arizona-Sonora border.

Strict border enforcement in El Paso and San Diego had forced illegal immigrants into the Arizona desert. By the late 1990s, Douglas had become the hotspot along the southern border for migrants crossing the border illegally into the United States.

If Borane knew little about border affairs before taking office, his first term slapped him with an apprenticeship on all things border.

“He works hard, and he has a deep understanding and insight about the border, its people and its issues,” said Antonio Cuadras, the mayor of Agua Prieta, Douglas’ sister border town.

Cuadras has worked closely with Borane on border economy, immigration and the proposed port of entry expansion project in Douglas.

Because of his knowledge and insights of the border, Gov. Janet Napolitano chose Borane on Oct. 2 to be her advisor on border and immigration issues.

The position was held by Marcos Lopez, Jr., who was recently named as the director of state Department of Commerce.

In a press release issued by the Governor’s Office Thursday afternoon, Napolitano said she was excited to have him as an advisor.

“I’m glad I will be able to continue to work with him on building a safe and prosperous border region,” she said.

As mayor, Borane had worked with Napolitano when she was the U.S Attorney General in Arizona. When she became governor, Napolitano often sought Borane’s advice on border issues. On several occasions Borane accompanied her to Mexico on State related business, where he met high-ranking Mexican officials, including then-president Vicente Fox.

“Working with her as an advisor is really an extension of my past work with her,” Borane said. “I really respect her abilities and her work on the border. She has always been deeply sensitive about this area.”

Borane will not be a state employee; rather, he will be under contract at $40,000 a year. According to Capital Media Services, half of the funds will come from the Arizona-Mexico Commission and the other half from the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.

High Praise South of the Border

As Douglas became the flashpoint for illegal immigration, Borane and the city came under intense scrutiny by the national and international media. Borane was often cast as hero or villain, depending on which side of the ideological debate one was on.

Mexican Consul Miguel Escobar, though, found a strong advocate in Borane, who was one of the first to propose a guest-worker program long before it became a buzzword. Escobar was the Mexican Consul in Douglas from 1999 to 2006. He is now the Mexican Consul in Yuma.

In 2003 Escobar nominated Borane for the Ohtli Award, one of the highest distinctions given by Mexico to a person who has helped Mexicans in the U.S.

“He(Borane) has always had the best intentions for Mexicans living in the United States,” Escobar said. “He has made the lives of people better on both sides of the border.”

Cuadras, although not mayor then, said he remembered when Borane received the Ohtli Award. He had heard about all the good work Borane had done for both Agua Prieta and Douglas. During his 12 years as mayor, Borane has worked with eight Agua Prieta mayors.

“Ray has created and maintained good relations between both cities and with all the mayors in Agua Prieta,” Cuadras said. “With his new position with the Governor, he will continue to maintain those good relations, and perhaps, have an influence on border policy in a positive and meaningful way along the Arizona-Sonora border.”