Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Thought and policy leadership spanning two nations.

Textured flags of America and Mexico

Featured Research

US Capitol

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Report

Small Steps Congress Can Take to Reform America’s Immigration System

Migrant Caravan

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Quick Take

What You Need to Know as the Latest Migrant Caravan Traverses Mexico En Route to US

GettyImages-1185328454-Pesos+Dollar

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Research Paper

An Economic Lifeline? How Remittances From the US Impact Mexico’s Economy

Featured Experts

Tony Payan

Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies | Director, Center for the United States and Mexico

Rodrigo Montes de Oca

Research Scholar

Jose Ivan Rodriguez-Sanchez

Research Scholar

Head shot of international trade fellow David Gantz

David A. Gantz

Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics

Related Information

Research Projects

Center research primarily focuses on six areas of interest to Mexico and the U.S.

Visiting Scholars

Two programs offer scholars the opportunity to conduct research in Houston.

Interns

Rice students can gain public policy experience by interning in a nonprofit think tank environment.

The “Judy Ley Allen Mexico Centered” podcast features interviews with academics, former government officials and other experts on issues central to U.S.-Mexico relations.

Check back regularly for new episodes. The podcast is also available for streaming on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music and Radio Public.

Please send questions or comments to usmexicocenter@rice.edu.

Music for the podcast is provided courtesy of www.bensound.com.

Mexican flag from below

Mexico Country Outlook

The Mexico Country Outlook is an annual conference and report that examines key issues driving Mexico’s politics, economy, border policies, and more. It is designed to help businesses and investors make decisions related to their interests in Mexico and aid policymakers in understanding the country’s economic, regulatory, political, and business environment.

Refugees

Migration Initiative

With an interdisciplinary and interrelated approach, the Baker Institute Migration Initiative — a collaboration between the Center for Health and Biosciences, Center for the U.S. and Mexico and Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East — focuses on the economic, legal, health and social and environmental aspects of migration.

Join the U.S.-Mexico Forum

U.S.-Mexico Forum members are individuals and corporations that provide general support to the policy research activities and programs of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice University’s Baker Institute. Members have access to center experts and guests and to policy briefs on developments regarding the U.S.-Mexico relationship.

Immigration

Research

US Capitol

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Report

Small Steps Congress Can Take to Reform America’s Immigration System

Elizabeth M. Mendoza offers nine commonsense actions Congress can take to provide immigration relief…

GettyImages-1185328454-Pesos+Dollar

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Research Paper

An Economic Lifeline? How Remittances From the US Impact Mexico’s Economy

Do remittances — the money sent home by migrants working abroad — drive economic growth? Research…

Migrant Caravan

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Quick Take

What You Need to Know as the Latest Migrant Caravan Traverses Mexico En Route to US

A new migrant caravan with over 7,000 individuals has formed in Mexico and is headed to the United…

Panama canal

International Economics | Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Podcast

How a Drought in the Panama Canal Is Disrupting Global Supply Chains

Fellows Ed Emmett and David Gantz explore climate change, international shipping, and what happens…

Mexico City

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Issue Brief

Mexico’s Ongoing Search for Democracy: A Conversation with Macario Schettino on the 2024 Elections

With Mexico's 2024 elections quickly approaching, will democracy prevail, or will the nation…

Mexico Map

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Commentary

Unraveling Covert Networks: Analysis of Mexican Cartel Alliances

In the fight against Mexican criminal cartels, social network analysis can predict and map out their…

Upcoming Events

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Mexico Forum

Thu, Dec 7 2023, 8am –5pm

Mexico Country Outlook 2024 see details

Past Events

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Nov 17, 2023

The Role of the Supreme Court of Justice in Mexico’s Democracy — A Conversation with Alfredo Gutiérrez Ortiz Mena

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | International Economics | Nov 2, 2023

The Economic Implications of Recent United Kingdom Trade Agreements for the US, Texas and Mexico

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Oct 4, 2023

US Labor Shortage: A Perspective in East Texas

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Mexico Forum | Sep 13, 2023

Center for the US and Mexico 10th Anniversary Dinner

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Sep 12, 2023

El Grito: Mexico Now

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | May 31, 2023

The US-Mexico Relationship: A Conversation with the Honorable Earl Anthony Wayne, Former US Ambassador to Mexico

Fellows and Scholars

Head shot of international trade fellow David Gantz

David A. Gantz

Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics

Head shot of Latin American energy fellow Francisco Monaldi

Francisco J. Monaldi

Fellow in Latin American Energy Policy | Director, Latin America Energy Program

Rodrigo Montes de Oca

Research Scholar

Tony Payan

Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies | Director, Center for the United States and Mexico

Jose Ivan Rodriguez-Sanchez

Research Scholar

Affiliated Experts

Kimberly Collins

Kimberly Collins

Nonresident Scholar

Ivonne Cruz

Contributing Expert, Center for the United States and Mexico

Adrian Duhalt

Nonresident Scholar in Mexico Energy Studies

Portrait of Rolando Durán Rocha

Rolando Durán Rocha

Nonresident Program Advisor, Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Luz Maria Garcini

Baker Institute Rice Faculty Scholar

James Gerber

Nonresident Scholar

Miriam Grunstein

Nonresident Scholar

Head shot of U.S.-Mexico Center expert Gary Hale

Gary J. Hale

Nonresident Fellow in Drug Policy and Mexico Studies

Nathan P. Jones

Nonresident Scholar in Drug Policy and Mexico Studies

Gil Kerlikowske

Nonresident Fellow

Richard J. Kilroy, Jr.

Nonresident Scholar

Portrait for Jesús Antonio López Cabrera

Jesús Antonio López Cabrera

Nonresident Scholar

Isidro Morales

Nonresident Scholar

Stephen Mumme

Nonresident Scholar

Daniel Prudencio

Daniel Prudencio

Nonresident Scholar

Portrait of Jesús F. Reyes-Heroles

Jesús F. Reyes-Heroles

Nonresident Fellow

Portrait of Raul Rodriguez

Raul B. Rodriguez

Nonresident Fellow

Juan Rosellón

Nonresident Fellow

Elizabeth Salamanca

Nonresident Scholar

Clare Ribando Seelke

Nonresident Scholar

About the Center

The Center for the United States and Mexico seeks to have a meaningful impact on the U.S.-Mexico relationship through original research, relevant solutions to binational policy issues, and the advancement of mutual understanding by convening leaders who can bridge the world of ideas and the world of action.

The center’s research agenda focuses primarily on the following issues of concern to the United States and Mexico:

learn more about our areas of interest

For more information:
Lisa Guáqueta
Program Manager
Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Email: usmexicocenter@rice.edu
Office Phone: (713) 348-2649

Our Donors Make a Difference

We would like to thank the following for their generous support:

The Honorable James A. Baker, III
Estate of Deanna D. Emerson, M.D.
The Honorable Thomas F. McLarty III and Mrs. McLarty
Mexican Business Council
Peter Jay Sharp Foundation
Members of the U.S.-Mexico Forum

USMX Donors

Stay Connected

Register today to receive the center’s event invitations and quarterly newsletter via email.