Research Library

Sen. Xochitl Gálvez, the Mexican opposition nominee for president, chose to visit a suburb north of Houston for her first campaign event abroad. Research scholar Rodrigo Montes de Oca explains why it was a smart choice — and what the visit shows about the dark horse candidate.

Federal marijuana legalization is on the horizon — and it’s time for the DEA to get behind the policy changes and move on to fighting more dangerous drugs, writes nonresident fellow Gary Hale.

The creation of a new industry of brain capital technologies could stimulate major economic activity, create jobs, and contribute to technological advances for the U.S. and its allies, write Harris Eyre, Rachel Meidl and co-authors.

A new widespread immigrant amnesty would grow the wages of currently undocumented immigrants by 4%-5% — adding roughly $14 billion per year in labor market earnings, writes contributor Hugh Cassidy.

This paper builds on social network analysis (SNA) and the use of node similarity-based algorithms to make link predictions about Mexico’s network of criminal organizations.

Where do the GOP presidential hopefuls stand on major foreign policy issues? Bonner Means Baker Fellow Joe Barnes explores the Republican candidates’ likely policy approaches to the Ukraine war, Chinese expansionism, fentanyl at the border and more.

As drought persists along the lower Colorado River, can the U.S. and Mexico cooperate to develop new water sources? Stephen Mumme and Aidan Lyde explore options ranging from wastewater reclamation to seawater desalination.

Social distancing and stay-at-home measures provided scientists with a natural experiment to study social phenomena that hinge precisely on human mobility and contact — including criminal activity. A study by Center for the U.S. and Mexico experts and co-authors explores the relationship between COVID-19 and criminal activity in Mexico.

Under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Mexico is squandering a once-in-a-generation opportunity to encourage significant new foreign investment. His successor will need to reverse course, writes David A. Gantz, the Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Earl Anthony Wayne and the Center for the U.S. and Mexico's Tony Payan explore the complex relationship between Mexico and the U.S. and what their future might hold.