Southwest Border Partners: U.S. - Mexico Cooperation on Security, Law Enforcement, and Commerce

Event Summary


With more than $1 billion in cross-border commerce taking place every day, the U.S. and Mexican economies are increasingly linked, with both nations committing to expediting lawful trade and travel—and reducing barriers to expanded commerce—while still maintaining security. In the past 15 months, the United States and Mexico have formed an unprecedented partnership to confront common security challenges, and expanded and streamlined opportunities for lawful trade and commerce along our shared Southwest border. As Mexican President Felipe Calderón continues to target violent drug cartels along the border, the Obama administration recently marked the first anniversary of its Southwest Border Initiative, deploying additional personnel, technology, and infrastructure to the region to crack down on transnational crime that fuels the violence.