Analysis

Group of refugees standing in a barren landscape, wearing backpacks. Harsh lighting casts long shadows, symbolizing displacement and crisis. A diverse and resilient community, united in their journey

A Foreign Policy Problem: Ten Facts About Migration to the US

The following presentation by Manuel Orozco, director of the Migration, Remittances, and Development program, identifies ten key facts that are important to understand the current debate over immigration to the US.

Manuel Orozco

Presentations ˙ ˙ Download the Slides

Photo of fentanyl pills

How Is the Opioid Crisis Affecting U.S.-Mexico Ties?

A Latin America Advisor Q&A featuring experts’ views on the rising political tension between the United States and Mexico over the fentanyl crisis.

Arturo Sarukhán, Vanda Felbab-Brown, Stephanie Brewer, Earl Anthony Wayne, Gary J. Hale, Arantza Alonso

Latin America Advisor ˙

Miembros del gobierno Mexicano y Estadounidense se reúnen para discutir temas bilaterales.

Biden-AMLO: aciertos y desafíos

Michael Shifter, presidente del Diálogo Interamericano, y Vanda Felbab-Brown, miembro del Diálogo Interamericano, comentaron sobre los aciertos y desafíos de la relación entre Presidente Joe Biden de los Estados Unidos y Presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador de México en un artículo para La Prensa de Coahuila. En el artículo, Shifter y Felbab-Brown hablaron sobre diálogos de alto nivel entre los dos países sobre temas relacionados con seguridad, energía, cambio climático, democracia, migración y derechos humanos. 

Michael Shifter, Vanda Felbab-Brown

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ La Prensa de Coahuila

VP Harris speaking

Vice President Harris’ Trip to Mexico & Guatemala

The upcoming trip of Vice President Kamala Harris to Mexico and Guatemala will focus on a wide range of challenges, including corruption, violence, organized crime, lack of economic development, investment, job opportunities, and climate change. Our experts discuss the issues that are likely to be raised during this trip, possible points of contention, concerns around the rule of law and regional security, and the current and expected migration trends from Central America, among other topics.

Michael Shifter, Rebecca Bill Chavez, Manuel Orozco

Tania Ortiz Mena, Enrique Ochoa Reza, David Goldwyn, Lisa Viscidi

Private Roundtable on US-Mexico Energy Cooperation

The energy markets of the United States and Mexico are deeply integrated, to the benefit of both countries and their economies. The new US administration has a clear interest in preserving and expanding this fruitful relationship while advancing its ambitious clean energy and climate goals, both at home and abroad. On March 11, the Inter-American Dialogue held a private roundtable on US-Mexico energy cooperation.

Event Summaries ˙

Cover of UCSD US-Mexico Forum 2025 Energy & Sustainability Report showing a wind farm

US-Mexico Forum 2025: Energy and Sustainability Report

The world is in a transition to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 that will change the way we use and produce energy and shape the sustainability of our planet. This paper, published by UC San Diego, addresses how Mexico and the United States can use their energy resources to deliver jobs, economic prosperity, and social justice at this transformational juncture in history, examining three areas fundamental to the US-Mexico energy relationship: sustainability; hydrocarbons; and gas, power, and renewables.

Lisa Viscidi, Carlos Pascual, Angélica Ruiz, David Crisostomo, Samantha Gross, Verónica Irastorza, Alejandra León, Jeremy Martin, John McNeece, Isabel Studer

Reports ˙ ˙ UC San Diego

Roberta Jacobson

Member in the News: Roberta Jacobson

Roberta Jacobson, former assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, will join the National Security Council under US President Joe Biden to oversee issues related to the US southern border.

Roberta Jacobson

Member in the News ˙

Report Cover for Power Grab: What Mexico's State-Centered Electricity Policy Means for Trade, Climate, and the Economy cover

Power Grab: What Mexico’s State-Centered Electricity Policy Means for Trade, Climate, and the Economy

Over the past two years, the government of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has sought to strip away central aspects of the 2013 energy reform that increased private investment in the power sector and return control of the sector to state utility CFE. These moves will reduce needed investment in the sector and lead to higher electricity costs for Mexican industry and manufacturing, affecting employment, trade, and Mexico’s ability to meet its clean energy targets, according to this new report by the Inter-American Dialogue.

Lisa Viscidi, Nate Graham, Sarah Phillips

Reports ˙ ˙ Download Report

Mexico Power Sector Policies Brief

Mexican Power Sector Policies: Economic and Trade Impacts

This policy brief examines the regulatory changes in Mexico’s electric power sector made under the López Obrador administration. The brief analyzes the broader implications for Mexico’s economy and its trade and economic relations with its key trading partner, the United States. A full report will be forthcoming in October 2020.

Lisa Viscidi, Nate Graham, Sarah Phillips

Reports ˙ ˙ Download Policy Brief

The United States and Mexico: Partnership Tested

Few neighbors have such deep and wide-ranging ties as the United States and Mexico. Both countries are bound not only by geography, but also through economic, security and social connections. Despite these strong connections—or perhaps because of them—the bilateral relationship is subject to strong pressures coming from domestic politics in both countries.

Michael Shifter, Bruno Binetti

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ Great Decisions

Video

Uncertain Relations: AMLO & Donald Trump

Michael Shifter discusses what Andres Manuel López Obrador’s landslide win in the 2018 Mexican elections could mean for Mexico and the Western hemisphere. López Obrador faces the challenge of transforming his populist campaign into a practical and effective government while also addressing record homicides rates, rampant corruption, and the nation’s gaping inequality and entrenched poverty.

Michael Shifter

Interviews ˙ ˙ AlJazeera

US-Mexico Border wall

Nafta’s Renegotiation Risks National Security

Rebecca Bill Chavez writes for the New York Times on strained relations between the United States and Mexico following the Trump administration’s threats to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Rebecca Bill Chavez

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ New York Times

Trump y su desembarco

Para Trump, hay poca distancia entre la retórica de campaña y la acción de gobierno. No hay ya razón para pensar que suavizará o retrocederá en otras promesas de campaña, relacionadas con el comercio y la inmigración, sobre todo con respecto a México y, en particular, el infame muro en la frontera.

Michael Shifter

Articles & Op-Eds ˙ ˙ La Tercera