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On June 11, 2025, the Mexico Program at the Inter-American Dialogue, together with the Border Trade Alliance, hosted the Eleventh Annual Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border Conference in Washington, DC. The high-level event convened members of Congress, private sector leaders, and policy experts to discuss the evolving dynamics of the U.S.-Mexico border. Through five panels, participants explored how trade, migration, infrastructure, energy, and emerging technologies are reshaping cross-border cooperation. The discussions emphasized the need for institutionalized coordination, digital modernization, and inclusive policy frameworks to strengthen regional competitiveness and address shared challenges.
Panel 1: The Border from the Congressional Perspective
The first session of the conference featured prominent members of the U.S. House of Representatives who addressed key legislative concerns and priorities related to the U.S.-Mexico border. The conversation focused on border infrastructure, security, migration policy, and trade, reflecting bipartisan attention to the region’s growing significance. The panel was moderated by Hector Cerna, President and CEO of IBC Bank in the Eagle Pass region, who brought a binational economic lens to the discussion.
The panel featured two congressional leaders: Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ). Together, they outlined how border dynamics are evolving and how Congress can address both longstanding and emerging challenges through policy and funding mechanisms.
Congressman Cuellar emphasized the need for continued investment in border infrastructure and staffing. Drawing from his experience representing a border district, he called for a pragmatic, security-conscious approach to migration; one that combines enforcement with humanitarian safeguards and expanded legal pathways. He also stressed the importance of maintaining efficient cross-border commerce, warning that delays at ports of entry negatively impact both local communities and national supply chains.
Congressman Stanton added that Arizona’s experience illustrates how intertwined the U.S. and Mexican economies have become. He urged Congress to adopt a forward-looking infrastructure agenda that includes smart technology, climate resilience, and improved inspection systems at border crossings. He also called for greater coordination with Mexican counterparts, especially on water-sharing agreements and binational economic development.
The panelists agreed that the border cannot be addressed solely through a security lens. Instead, they advocated for a holistic policy approach that integrates commerce, migration, security, and community development. Their remarks reinforced the critical role that Congress must play in ensuring that the U.S.-Mexico border remains a source of prosperity, not tension.
Panel 2: The Border from the Private Sector Perspective
The second panel brought together leading voices from industry to discuss how cross-border business is evolving amid rising regulatory complexity, shifting supply chains, and technological disruption. The panel highlighted both the challenges and the strategic opportunities presented by deepening U.S.-Mexico commercial ties. Edgar Guillaumin, Vice President of Public Affairs for Constellation Brands, moderated the conversation, which focused on agriculture, manufacturing, banking, and financial services.
Panelists included Skip Hulett, Chief Legal Officer at NatureSweet; Alma Caballero, Managing Director for Mexico at McLarty Associates; Tanya Skilton, Executive Director for Strategy, Innovation & Customer Care at General Motors; Margaret Meyers, Senior Advisor at the Dialogue’s Asia and Latin America Program; and Gonzalo Escribano, Head of Public Policy and Smartshoring at BBVA Mexico.
Hulett discussed the importance of agriculture in U.S.-Mexico trade and emphasized the need for certainty in labor policy and food safety regulations. He argued that delays in clarifying labor rules under the USMCA are creating operational and financial risks for agribusiness.
Caballero shared insights on how geopolitical tensions, particularly U.S.-China trade dynamics, are increasing the attractiveness of Mexico as a nearshoring destination. She underscored that predictable policy and strong U.S.-Mexico diplomatic ties are critical to sustaining investor confidence.
Skilton spoke about General Motors’ approach to integrated supply chains across North America. She stressed the importance of regulatory coherence in auto manufacturing and called for investment in workforce development, particularly in border regions.
Meyers brought a global perspective, drawing attention to how Asian capital flows and industrial strategies are influencing supply chain configurations in Mexico. She emphasized the need for data infrastructure to track goods and labor compliance in a transparent, verifiable way.
Escribano emphasized that financial services and banking systems are key to facilitating cross-border commerce. He advocated for the modernization of financial regulations to better accommodate digital transactions and improve access to credit in the border region.
Together, the panelists argued that while the private sector can innovate and adapt quickly, meaningful progress requires strong and consistent public-sector engagement across both countries.
Panel 3: Tit for Tat – New Realities of Border Enforcement and Trade Policy
The third panel examined the growing convergence between migration enforcement, security strategies, and trade policy. This session brought together experts from logistics, immigration, business, and defense to assess how shifting policy landscapes are impacting U.S.-Mexico cooperation. The conversation was moderated by Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and Co-Chair of the Mexico Program Advisory Council.
Panelists included Sergio Gomez Lora, Director of Mexico’s Coordinating Business Council (CCE) and CEO of QOM Strategic Advisors; Carlos Martinez, President of the Association of Logistics and Forwarding Agents (ALFA); Doris Meissner, Senior Fellow and Director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute; Iñigo Guevara, Director at Janes Strategic Services; and Gilberto Garcia-Vazquez, Chief Economist at Datawheel and Non-Resident Fellow at the Mexico Program.
Gomez Lora set the stage by noting how new trade enforcement mechanisms, have blurred the lines between labor rights, regulatory compliance, and traditional customs procedures. He warned that retaliation measures between countries could undermine supply chain stability.
Martinez described how unpredictable enforcement changes at the border create significant uncertainty for logistics and freight companies. He advocated for more transparent communication from government agencies and better integration between public and private systems.
Meissner emphasized the humanitarian dimension of border enforcement and argued for policies that balance rule-of-law concerns with protections for vulnerable populations. She highlighted how trade and migration policy are increasingly intertwined in both rhetoric and practice.
Guevara focused on the militarization of the border and its implications for bilateral security cooperation. He expressed concern that enforcement-driven responses to migration may escalate tensions if not balanced by diplomatic engagement and social investment.
Garcia-Vazquez provided economic analysis on how enforcement dynamics affect cross-border investment and labor mobility. He noted that punitive trade tools, such as tariffs or sanctions, are increasingly used to enforce non-trade objectives, raising questions about long-term strategic coherence.
Overall, the panelists highlighted the need to disentangle policy tools across migration, trade, and security while improving institutional channels for dispute resolution and joint planning.
Panel 4: The Impact of AI and Emerging Technologies on Cross-Border Trade
The fourth panel brought together experts from government, industry, and civil society to explore how digital transformation is reshaping trade, migration, and security in the region. The panel was moderated by Aldrin Ballesteros, who grounded the discussion in his personal experience living on the border and highlighted the urgency of bridging theoretical tech debates with on-the-ground realities.
The panel featured three distinguished speakers: Kelly Wicker, former Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Program at the Wilson Center; Scott Friedman, Vice President of Government Affairs at Altana Technologies; and Juan Mauricio Mora, Managing Partner at InStrag and former Director of Public Policy for Uber in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Together, they offered complementary perspectives on the policy, industry, and implementation challenges at the heart of U.S.-Mexico digital cooperation.
Wicker opened the conversation by framing border security as fundamentally a big data challenge. She traced recent U.S. trends in border tech policy, from the facilitation-oriented strategies of the previous administration to the more surveillance-heavy approach of the current administration. She underscored the need for transparency and oversight over tools like facial recognition, vehicle biometrics, and satellite surveillance, noting that while these tools can improve efficiency, they also raise ethical questions about persistent monitoring and individual privacy. She emphasized the need for trustworthy governance frameworks if technology is to enhance rather than hinder the cross-border relationship.
Friedman offered the private sector perspective, explaining that the border has evolved into a crucial point of leverage, not only for security and migration but also for economic and commercial systems. He introduced two innovative AI-powered tools developed by Altana Technologies: a Product Passport for supply chain traceability and a Tariff Scenario Planner that models economic exposure under shifting trade policies. He stressed the need for alignment between government and private-sector systems and warned that without harmonized regulations between the United States and Mexico, the region risks creating inefficiencies and geopolitical disadvantages, particularly in the context of rising tensions with China.
Mora provided an in-depth look at Mexico’s current positioning. He acknowledged that the López Obrador administration underinvested in digital infrastructure and policy, but expressed optimism about the new administration under President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has already prioritized technology and launched a Digital Agency with secretariat-level authority. Mora outlined an ambitious digitalization strategy focused on traceability, digital identity, and investment in AI infrastructure, elements he sees as essential for Mexico’s future competitiveness. He also emphasized the importance of investing in human capital and training to effectively implement AI across trade, customs, and national security systems.
The panel also explored the role of people—especially students and knowledge workers—in driving technological advancement. Wicker emphasized that the United States’ leadership in AI has long depended on international talent, particularly from Mexico, and that restrictive visa policies risk undermining this advantage. Ballesteros added a personal example, noting the cross-border educational ecosystem between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso. Mora responded by highlighting the rise of Mexico City as a hub for startups and venture capital, arguing that Mexico is increasingly ready to absorb and support talent that may choose to remain in the country rather than study or work in the U.S.
The conversation concluded with a forward-looking discussion on how emerging technologies can improve border efficiency and trust. Panelists pointed to real-world examples such as AI-assisted vehicle weight screening and predictive staffing as tools that could reduce wait times and improve accuracy without compromising human rights. However, they also emphasized the importance of privacy-enhancing technologies that allow for proof of identity without compromising personal data. Panelists agreed that AI presents both tremendous opportunities and serious challenges—but with the right cooperation, oversight, and investment, it can be a catalyst for a more secure, efficient, and prosperous U.S.-Mexico border.
Panel 5: Transboundary Resource Sharing
The final panel of the conference addressed a critical but often overlooked dimension of the U.S.-Mexico relationship: how the two countries manage shared energy, water, and environmental resources. This session examined how natural resource policy intersects with border governance, community development, and regional security. The panel was moderated by Kenia Zamarripa, Vice President of International and Public Affairs at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The panel featured Rosario Sánchez, Senior Research Scientist at the Texas Water Resources Institute at Texas A&M University; Marcos Moreno Báez, Consul General of Mexico in Nogales, Arizona; Richard M. Sanders, Senior Fellow for the Western Hemisphere at the Center for the National Interest; and David Goldwyn, President of Goldwyn Global Strategies and former U.S. Special Envoy for International Energy Affairs.
Sánchez offered a grounding overview of water scarcity across the border region, particularly in the Rio Grande and Colorado River basins. She argued that while legal frameworks exist, enforcement and coordination mechanisms are often insufficient, leading to political friction and ecological degradation.
Moreno Báez provided a diplomatic perspective, emphasizing the need for binational cooperation on infrastructure projects that address both energy access and water resilience. He called for deeper collaboration between local governments on both sides of the border.
Sanders addressed broader regional security implications, arguing that climate change and resource stress are likely to exacerbate migration and conflict if not proactively managed. He proposed elevating water diplomacy to a national security issue.
Goldwyn focused on the energy dimension, discussing North America’s potential to build an integrated clean energy market. He advocated for aligned investment in transmission infrastructure, grid modernization, and renewable energy sourcing that respects both national priorities and regional synergies.
The panelists agreed that resource-sharing frameworks must move beyond ad-hoc responses. They called for institutionalized mechanisms that prioritize sustainability, regional equity, and long-term planning.
