Research Library

In the fight against Mexican criminal cartels, social network analysis can predict and map out their alliances and subgroups — using algorithms to predict new connections. In this commentary, Nonresident Scholar in Drug Policy and Mexico Studies Nathan P. Jones and his co-authors outline their recent work in the field.

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.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's deference to drug cartels in Mexico reveals that he is not interested in meaningful cooperation on bilateral drug law enforcement, and his administration should be regarded as hostile to U.S. interests, writes nonresident fellow Gary Hale.

With little pushback from the Biden administration, Mexican officials seized an American company’s port facility earlier this month. But history shows Mexico should be wary of engaging in such provocations, writes nonresident fellow Gary Hale.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is about to achieve the quiet but full militarization of Mexican society by placing all armed government forces under Defense Secretariat command, writes nonresident fellow Gary Hale. If he is successful, this could lay the groundwork for his possible extended tenure, even if it creates a military junta by subterfuge.

Mexico's criminal organizations are undoubtedly responsible for the massive caravan of Haitian, Cuban, Central American and South American migrants that arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border last week, writes Gary Hale. Smugglers will take advantage of the chaos, surging multiple shipments of drugs and more migrants into the U.S.

In 1980, the Mariel Boatlift brought not only tens of thousands of political refugees from Cuba to Florida, but a significant number of criminals, leading to soaring murder and crime rates in the U.S. With Mexico now planning the release of potentially thousands of federal prisoners, is history set to repeat itself?

President Trump's plan to designate Mexican drugs cartels as foreign terrorist organizations is a mistake, says nonresident fellow Gary Hale. Read why in the Baker Institute Blog.

Nonresident fellow Gary J. Hale explains why the U.S. should celebrate Mexico’s constitutional centennial as a marker of the country’s commitment to the principles of democracy and freedom.

The U.S. prosecution of drug kingpin El Chapo Guzman could open a Pandora’s box that exposes corrupt officials in both countries, writes fellow Gary Hale in the Baker Institute Blog.