U.S. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge is in Mexico this week to discuss border security.

Ridge told reporters that the United States hopes to complete plans to implement legislation opening U.S. highways to Mexican trucks before Bush visits Mexico March 21-22.
He also said that technology could help prevent economically damaging bottlenecks at the border with Mexico. He cited examples such as "smart cards" for trusted cross-border commuters and advance cargo inspections. Similar measures are being discussed with Canada.
About 700 National Guard troops will help the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service guard the Canadian and Mexican borders for the next six months. The troops are needed to help fill in while the INS hires and trains its own expanded border force.