"We're looking at a number of places along the border. First, we want to make sure the border is safe and secure," she said, flanked by Rep. Harry Teague. "Second, we want to make sure that our men and women working here have the best equipment and technology we can get for them."

Last month, Napolitano announced a series of initiatives to increase border security and limit the capabilities of Mexican drug cartels — responsible for the killing of approximately 6,300 last year, according to a Reuters report — by limiting the flow of cash and weapons into Mexico.

"Just in El Paso, which is right across from Ciudad Juárez, the ground central of the increase in the drug trafficking organization violence, we want to make sure we do everything we can to make sure none of that violence spills over," she said.

On the question of if Mexican officials are alone in their fight against drug cartels, she said, "I disagree with that totally."

"I think you can tell from the fact that the Secretary of State, Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, that's me, and the President of the United States have all been in Mexico and in Mexico City to deal with these issues should give you some inkling of how seriously this is being taken on the U.S. side," she said as Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents in the background searched vehicles heading to Mexico for weapons, cash and other contraband.

Border Enforcement Security Task Force, or BEST, staffing is planned to double. U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement agents will join personnel from federal, state, local and Mexican agencies to form BEST teams to increase cross-border crime investigations, arrests and prosecutions along the southwest border, according to a DHS release. The cost of the program, estimated at $5.7 million, will be allocated from "less urgent activities," according to the release. The new initiatives are designed to be "budget-neutral."

New Mexico was the last state to have BEST staffing deployed. Napolitano chalked that up to New Mexico having "the safest part of the border."

She said the Columbus POE is slated for "some major improvements" and added: "We're going to make sure everything that's along the border is also here in New Mexico."

The appointment of Bersin as DHS Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative for Border Affairs is an effort to improve relations with the international community. He will also lead efforts to crack down on violence along the Southwest border, according to a DHS release.

Napolitano left for Nogales, Ariz. — the last leg of her Southwest border tour which began in El Paso — after the Columbus POE tour. She will join President Barack Obama and other officials today for a series of meetings with Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Mexico City.

Matt Robinson can be reached at mrobinson@demingheadlight.com