Elected leaders from all over the border area came together on Thursday at New Mexico State University to discuss violence against women across the border region.

The Agenda on Bi-National issues was a discussion to share ideas and to talk about policy issues between the United States and Mexico regarding the murders in Juarez. The panel included members of the New Mexico and Texas Legislatures, Las Cruces City and Dona Ana County officials, and representatives for Governor Bill Richardson and U.S. Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman.

Each leader discussed different ideas to end the wave of violence that has resulted in over 400 unsolved murders that have plagued Ciudad Juarez during the past 13 years.

Panelist New Mexico Senator Mary Jane Garcia discussed her work in the New Mexico Legislature to protect women and children against violence, and expressed her frustration with Mexican authorities for their lack of attention to the ongoing violence.

 “What can you call 400 murders of young women, if not terrorism?” an emotional Garcia said.

Senator Mary Kay Papen of Las Cruces discussed a new law she sponsored entitled “Katie’s Law,” which required the state to keep DNA samples on file of convicted felons, and how Mexican officials can use similar technology to find the faceless predators of many young women.

Las Cruces Mayor William Mattiace said one city alone can not do much to end the violence. He pledged full support for any effort to help Juarez and other cities in Mexico to capture those responsible for the murders and prevent further atrocities from happening.