From Divide to Drive: How the U.S.-Mexico Border Can Fuel Economic Power

U.S.-Mexico Border Economy

Rethinking the Border as an Economic Engine

The U.S.-Mexico border is too often framed through the lens of conflict—immigration, crime, and cartels dominate the headlines. But this 2,000-mile stretch, home to dynamic binational cities like San Diego–Tijuana and El Paso–Juárez, holds untapped potential to become a globally competitive economic corridor.

As a former mayor of a border city in Arizona and Chief of Staff at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, I’ve seen firsthand how policies and perception shape opportunity. Today, as CEO of Intermestic Partners, an international advisory firm founded in 2011 specializing in cross-border trade and development, I work with global companies to turn this region’s complexity into opportunity.

The Current Border Reality

• Bureaucracy & bottlenecks slow trade across ports of entry

• Outdated infrastructure struggles under modern demand

• Security-centric policies stall investment and frustrate binational collaboration

Despite thriving sectors—manufacturing, logistics, agriculture—the region lacks a unified vision to activate its full potential.

What Makes the Border Unique?

• Strategic geography: A launchpad for trade across the Americas

• Workforce edge: Bilingual, binational, and deeply entrepreneurial

• Industrial base: Cross-border supply chains already exist—especially in sectors like autos, electronics, and agriculture

The El Paso–Juárez region is home to more than 350 manufacturing plants, employing over 300,000 workers—a model of binational cooperation already in motion.

How We Unlock Growth

1. Streamline Trade

• Digitize and simplify customs processes

• Reduce wait times with smart ports and logistics tech

2. Incentivize Investment

• Offer tax credits and regulatory clarity

• Promote EB-5 and nearshoring pathways

3. Build the Workforce

• Invest in vocational training and binational education programs

• Retain local talent through quality jobs and innovation hubs

4. Empower Public-Private Collaboration

As seen in past work—from U.S. Customs to Arizona's Commerce Department—policy needs business. Intermestic Partners bridges both.

The Ripple Effects

• Jobs created across both sides of the border

• Safer communities through economic inclusion

• Stronger bilateral ties between the U.S. and Mexico

Economic growth won’t solve every issue—but it can turn migration into mobility, and division into connection.

The Call to Act

It’s time to reimagine the border not as a barrier—but as a gateway. Let’s rally policymakers, business leaders, and community stakeholders to co-create a new North American growth model—rooted in cooperation, not confrontation.

Ready to shape the future of the U.S.-Mexico border economy?Let’s connect and explore what’s possible—together.