Homeland Security chief defines 'trigger point' for border response

The federal government will send additional material resources and personnel to the nation's southwest border if drug cartels in Mexico begin targeting U.S. law enforcement and public officials, or if there is a significant increase in violence and crime among competing cartels in U.S. border towns, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Thursday.

At a news conference at department headquarters, Napolitano offered the first public definition of what the Obama administration would consider a "trigger point" marking an unacceptable spillover of drug violence into the United States.

She said there has been an uptick of crime in American border towns, primarily kidnappings. But she said the violence has not reached levels in the United States that exist in northern Mexico.

"Make no mistake. There is a big safety interest for the United States in this battle, be it conducted in northern Mexico or within the United States," the former Arizona governor said. "The only issue is at what level do we [reach] the worst-case scenarios. And we're not to the worst case scenarios yet."

Napolitano praised efforts by Mexican President Felipe Calderon to battle the drug cartels and said she does not believe Mexico is turning into a failed state. But she cited challenges the Obama administration faces in responding to the situation in Mexico.

She said the government is developing a comprehensive plan that involves multiple U.S. agencies to help Mexico and prevent violence from spilling into the United States.

"The problems of today don't really match up with government organizations that we have in a way," she said. "The effort that's going on now is to make sure that [different agencies] know what each other are doing and are speaking with a consistent voice."

"If I had to sum up where we are, it's that this issue is getting top attention in multiple departments of the U.S., that planning is well under way and that we are having extensive discussions with our federal colleagues within Mexico," she added.

Napolitano said the comprehensive plan will be announced "as soon as possible."

The main focus of U.S. assistance to Mexico has been through the Merida Initiative, which is managed by the State Department and provides the Mexican government about $1 billion in resources and technology through next year.

Stewart Baker, the Homeland Security Department's former policy chief, said the State Department alone cannot address the problems in Mexico. He said that the Homeland Security and Justice departments should have lead roles in shaping policy toward Mexico.

Homeland Security's hand in developing policy could be beefed up by Rand Beers, who has been brought on as a counselor to Napolitano.

Beers served as assistant secretary of State for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. In that position, he supervised Plan Colombia, a multibillion-dollar plan to combat drug cartels in that nation.

When asked what role Beers is playing in shaping policy toward Mexico, a Homeland Security official said: "As a close adviser to the secretary, he's providing his expertise as events evolve in Mexico."