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A coalition of Texas border mayors and county commissioners from El Paso to Brownsville joined a class-action lawsuit against Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff recently which challenges the impact the proposed border fence will have on private property rights.  To explore technology alternatives to the border fence, E.J. Krause & Associates, a world leader in exhibition and conference management, today announced that industry and government leaders will come together at the Global Border Security Conference and Technology Expo in Austin, Texas on May 21-22, 2008. Members of the Texas Border Coalition, including Eagle Pass Mayor Chad Foster, will speak at the conference.

Eagle Pass was the first municipality to be sued for access to city property.  A federal judge ordered the city to open its property to surveyors before the city could respond.  The federal government has sued more than 50 South Texas landowners for access to their land.

Other featured speakers include Al Pena, Attache-Mexico, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Robert J. Bodisch, Deputy Director, Office of Homeland Security, Office of the Governor, State of Texas, Jerry Madden, Chairman, Committee on Corrections, Texas House of Representatives, Justin Russell, Director, Maritime & Border Security and General Dynamics, Rick Morgan, President and CEO, Aerospace Missions Corporation.

Said Michael Rosenberg, Vice President of Homeland Security, for E.J. Krause: "Our goal is to bring together government and industry leaders to consider technology and policy strategies that move beyond the fence.  The governments demand for advanced border technology is increasing and we are committed to providing a unique opportunity for government officials in homeland security and law enforcement to see first-hand what solutions are available to them.  We are proud to be hosting the second annual Global Border Security Conference in Austin, Texas and anticipate that the conference will help define the next phase of investment in border surveillance and security."

In response to growing demand for border defense and security technology from federal and state governments, the 2008 Global Border Security Conference has expanded its exposition to include two dedicated technology pavilions.  The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Pavilion will focus on air-to-ground surveillance capabilities and unmanned aircraft.  The Pavilion will showcase technologies from around the globe enabling more efficient, wide-area and all-terrain reconnaissance.  The Advanced Biometrics Pavilion will present next-generation technologies for port and border security access control applications and integrated identification systems.

Other technologies and tools on display at Global Border Security Conference include surveillance cameras, identification management software, bio-hazard detection, intelligence sharing applications, law enforcement technology and advanced barricade and fencing solutions.

The conference is also offering free training for law enforcement officials from Calibre Press, which will focus on street survival, crisis response, anti-terrorism and border security strategies.  This special six-hour training, led by internationally renowned instructor David Smith, is certified by more than 20 states.  Said Rosenberg, "The most important thing we can do to secure our border and protect the interests of all parties is to ensure that our border patrol, national guard, local sheriffs and police have the tools and training they need to respond to a dangerous and ever-changing environment.  Even if you are not physically on the border, border policy and strategy will impact all those who serve and protect our communities."

On any given day, more than 1 million people, including at least 600,000 aliens, 300,000 private vehicles, and 80,000 shipments of goods, are processed at the nations borders.

In May 2007, hundreds of technology leaders and border security decision makers from the United States, Canada, Europe and Mexico gathered in San Antonio for the inaugural Global Border Security Conference and Expo.