Oregon Public Broadcasting

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano expressed satisfaction with the preparations along the northern border for 2010 Winter Olympics.  Napolitano toured border crossings in Blaine, Washington and cut a ribbon on a $4 million coordination center Monday.

Then she headed south to Seattle to talk cyber-security and immigration.  Correspondent Tom Banse reports.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano (blue suit in center) along with Congressman Rick Larsen (tan suit) tour Peace Arch border crossing construction.

Border communities have mixed feelings toward the huge federal agency that Janet Napolitano heads.  During brief remarks at the Peace Arch border crossing, the Homeland Security Secretary herself acknowledged the tightrope she walks.

Janet Napolitano: "There's this tendency always to fight security and trade.  My goal is to say, 'You know what, they can go together.' If you use technology and manpower in the right way, they can and they will. That's what we're looking for here."

Napolitano spoke in the midst of a construction zone.  Federal taxpayers are paying $105 million to expand the crossing on Interstate 5. 

It won't be done in time for the Winter Olympics next February.  But the agency chief says contingency plans will likely ensure smooth and safe travels.

Janet Napolitano: "We plan for the worst; we hope for the best.  I am looking forward to a great and successful Games."

Canada is also spending millions to expand its side of the border crossing.  British Columbia's minister of intergovernmental affairs Naomi Yamamoto joined Napolitano to press gently a request.

Naomi Yamamoto: "My job is to make sure this border stays thin.  We don't want to see thickening up of the border.  We want to make sure it's thin.  Most of the travel between the two counties is legitimate."

Before greeting Yamamoto at the border, Janet Napolitano officially opened a new emergency communications center in Bellingham that will operate during the Olympics.

Then late in the day, the Homeland Security chief hosted a roundtable on immigration. 

Pramila Jayapal of Seattle-based OneAmerica left with the clear impression that the Obama Administration will tackle comprehensive immigration reform this fall.

Pramila Jayapal: "She understands that in order for a bill to pass, we really need to have a groundswell of support from across the country.   I suspect that part of the reason she is having these meetings is to make sure she is engaging people from different sectors across the country."

Napolitano also met privately with Microsoft officials to discuss cyber security.  It's a subject of rising concern to her agency after a recent attack on government websites and computer servers. That was blamed on North Korea.