Arizona and New Mexico Combine Homeland Security Intelligence

In Washington, D.C., at a recent annual meeting of the National Governors Association, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano signed a memorandum of understanding with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson that will enable both states to share unclassified intelligence information to better provide homeland security.

"The safety of our citizens is of primary importance," said Napolitano. "I'm pleased we can work together in this unprecedented way to coordinate our states' security resources."

The two states will establish a cooperative relationship between the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC) and the Border Center of Excellence for Research and Intelligence (CERI) in New Mexico, to incorporate joint intelligence exercises, and to share law enforcement and other intelligence information.

The cooperative effort will be led by New Mexico's Homeland Security Advisor Annette Sobel and Arizona Homeland Security Director Frank Navarrete.