America’s Foreign Policy Starts at the Border

Border Foreign Policy

Foreign policy doesn’t begin in distant capitals—it begins at home. Specifically, at the border. While the U.S. continues to debate global alliances, climate diplomacy, and digital threats, the most urgent test of credibility lies in how it manages migration, trafficking, and cross-border crime right at its own threshold.

As a former mayor of a border city in Arizona and a former Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce, I’ve seen firsthand how deeply intertwined border realities are with international relations. Later, as Chief of Staff at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, I helped lead efforts to secure our ports of entry and streamline trade—an experience that solidified my belief: America’s foreign policy must start where the U.S. ends.

The Real Frontline

From mass migration to drug and human trafficking, the U.S. border is more than a line on a map—it’s a mirror of regional instability and domestic response. According to Pew Research, America is home to more immigrants than any other nation. These movements aren't just humanitarian in nature—they're deeply geopolitical.

One in four U.S. residents under the age of 18 has at least one immigrant parent—underscoring how border issues shape our future electorate and workforce.

Border Challenges Shape Global Perception

When U.S. immigration systems strain or border security falters, it sends ripple effects to foreign governments. Tensions with sending countries escalate. Bilateral trade deals face new pressures. Multilateral partnerships—especially in Latin America—become harder to negotiate.

That’s why a border-first foreign policy makes sense.

The Case for Starting at the Border

Economic payoff:

• Efficient immigration policies reduce black-market labor

• Cross-border trade thrives when infrastructure is modern and secure

Social benefit:

• Drug and human trafficking prevention improves public health and safety

• Clear legal migration pathways uphold dignity and fairness

Security boost:

• Stemming cartel violence enhances domestic and regional stability

• Coordinated enforcement builds trust with allies like Mexico

Smart Policy Requires Smart Partnerships

Solving border issues isn’t just a job for Washington. It requires collaboration across government, business, and communities. At Intermestic Partners—the international business advisory firm I founded in 2011—we specialize in cross-border trade and development. We've seen how public-private cooperation fuels real progress.

Whether advising national governments or working alongside top corporations, Intermestic Partners helps connect security priorities with sustainable economic solutions.

Balancing Global and Local Agendas

Critics argue that focusing on borders distracts from global crises. But this isn’t about retreating—it’s about strengthening the foundation. America can lead on climate, cybersecurity, and democracy abroad. But that leadership is hollow if chaos reigns at home.

We need a foreign policy that’s grounded in border credibility—and we have the tools to build it.

Let’s Work Together

If you're a policymaker, investor, or civic leader interested in how border realities impact trade, security, or diplomacy, I invite you to collaborate with Intermestic Partners. Let’s build strategies that align local action with global ambition.

America’s global influence doesn’t begin on a plane to Geneva. It begins with who—and what—we let through the gate.