Border Security Publications
Border Insecurity in Central America's Northern Triangle
Nov 01, 2012The recent surge in drug trafficking and violent crime in Central America has drawn a spotlight to the perennial problem of lawlessness along the borders of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Throughout their histories, governments in these countries have neglected their peripheries. more
New Approaches to Migration Management in Mexico and Central America
Oct 01, 2012Until recently, the outflow of Mexicans to the United States dominated the attention of Mexican politicians, policymakers, and migration researchers, but public attention has shifted in recent years to the phenomenon of transit migration. Over the past two decades, Mexico has increasingly become a destination for Central American migrants seeking to enter the United States; many remain in Mexico for extended periods and, in some cases, settle permanently. more
Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime in the Americas: Major Trends in the Twenty-First Century
Aug 01, 2012In this new publication, Bruce Bagley examines adaptations and trends in the illicit drug economy over the last several decades. more
The Legal Side of Mexican Immigration
Jun 27, 2012In this brief, Mexico Institute's Senior Adviser on immigration David R. Ayón, looks into legal Mexican immigration to the U.S., utilizing new data from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Immigration Statistics. more
The State of Trade, Competitiveness and Economic Well-being in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region
Jun 06, 2012More than a billion dollars of goods are traded across the US-Mexico border each day. With so much commerce, efficient and secure border management is essential to promote the competitiveness of the US and Mexico. This report identifies strategies to meet this challenge. more
Considering New Strategies for Confronting Organized Crime in Mexico
Mar 29, 2012The Mexico Institute presents a new publication on U.S.-Mexico security cooperation by Senior Associate Eric L. Olson that challenges the conventional wisdom about crime and violence in Mexico and suggests new strategies for effectively addressing the security threats posed by organized crime. more
The Rebellion of Criminal Networks: Organized Crime in Latin America and the Dynamics of Change
Mar 22, 2012This essay introduces the concept of the “rebellion” of criminal networks” to explain the current dynamic of and context within which organized crime operates. The author also outlines the changes that have fostered the emergence of local markets for illegal drugs. The essay concludes with ten recommendations. more
Our Shared Border: Success Stories in U.S.-Mexico Collaboration
Dec 01, 2011Our Shared Border highlights twelve success stories of cross-border collaboration and innovation between Mexico and the United Sates, offering a counter-narrative to frequent media portrayals of violence and poverty in the border region. more
Crime Data and Spillover Violence along the Southwest Border
Oct 14, 2011As organized crime‐related violence has increased in northern Mexico, so has the heated rhetoric regarding the U.S. side of the border. The title of National Geographic’s program, Border Wars, exemplifies the sentiment, echoed by several politicians, that the border region is lawless and dangerous. For residents of the U.S. border region, thankfully, the reality is anything but that. more
