This U.S.-Mexico Border Policy Report is the culmination of years of effort among border
leaders to provide local law enforcement, government and community expertise to the
national debate over immigration policy and border security. For too many years, we have
witnessed efforts to secure the border that are grounded not in the complex realities of
border life but in simplistic sound bites and assumptions that building a wall can somehow
keep our country safe. Our conclusions and policy recommendations start with the premise
that the “border” is a dynamic concept, that border communities have important ties to
both the United States and Mexico, and that these ties create a unique set of opportunities
and challenges that affect both the border areas and the broader national interest.
Recognizing that millions live and work in U.S. border communities, border and
immigration policies must be formulated and implemented in a way that respects the
rights of these community members and the needs of their hometowns and cities. When
properly carried out, these policies can substantially improve security and safety in the
border region and in the nation as a whole.