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This summer Janet Napolitano named 21 people to advise her on border issues.

Douglas resident Ray Borane is among those she tapped for her Southwest Border Task Force. Few people know the U.S. Mexico border like Borane.

For 12 years he was mayor of Douglas. He advised then Arizona Governor Napolitano on border issues. And now that she's U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, he's on her national advisory council.

Borane says Napolitano wants concrete recommendations on, "How do you get an even balance with the trade, goods and people coming across the border and maintain security not only at the port of entry but maintain security along the border?"

Borane says specifically the committee is scrutinizing ports of entry.

He says, "The ports of entry need to be shored up as well and they need to be brought up to speed as far as technology and those kinds of things. The ports of entry for the most part in this country haven't been looked at in 45 years. So they're antiquated."

Borane says Napolitano also asked the committee to look at current violence in Mexico caused by drug cartels.

Specifically, he says she wants to know, "How the violence in Mexico affects border communities."

The chairman of the Tohono O'odham Nation Ned Norris, Jr. also serves on Napolitano's advisory committee. The group will hold its third meeting next week in El Paso.