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The US-Mexico border is about more than immigration (David Stout)

Umito October 30, 2024

David Stout
| Guest columnist

With the presidential campaign less than a week away, the American people can be sure of one thing: Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will continue to blame each other for border security failures , despite the fact that illegal border crossings in the United States September was at its lowest level in years.

Harris, rightly, accuses Trump of derailing a bipartisan border bill. Trump has repeatedly accused Harris of “allowing millions” of undocumented immigrants into the country. He even floated the idea of “completely closing the border,” a policy that would have disastrous consequences for the economy.

There is no doubt that a secure border is essential to any sovereign nation. But by obsessing over walls, checkpoints and asylum seekers, both campaigns miss the bigger picture: the border is not just a dividing line between nations; it is a region where 2.8 million Americans live. Yes, we need to control the vast spaces between ports of entry, and we need targeted, aggressive enforcement and cooperation with Mexico to combat criminal cartel violence. But our overall framework for our land borders must be one of effective and efficient management, so that these millions of Americans and their Mexican neighbors can build regional economies that benefit both countries and maintain the family, social and cultural ties that make the border so important. unique and dynamic.

These millions of people enjoy living in a region that contributes significantly to the U.S. economy. About 5 million American jobs depend on U.S. trade with Mexico, a significant portion of which passes through South Texas. The Port of Laredo, now the largest port in the United States, plays a key role in facilitating this trade. Additionally, the Borderplex region – which encompasses El Paso, Texas; Las Cruces, New Mexico; and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico – has become the fifth largest manufacturing center in North America.

The borderlands represent a vibrant, culturally rich and economically crucial part of the country that has long been overshadowed as politicians turned border security into a political football.

Since neither campaign appears focused on crafting a true border-focused policy platform, I’ll detail some key policy areas that deserve more.

First, South Texas is experiencing a severe drought that threatens not only the region’s residents, but also its role as a key agricultural hub. Despite the importance of the border areas to the national economy, this crisis has largely escaped national attention.

The drought, made worse by Mexico’s failure to meet its water delivery obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty, hit border counties particularly hard. Regions across Texas are running low on water and the state is losing a farm every week. Recently, Texas’ only sugar mill closed due to a water shortage, costing 500 jobs. Federal intervention – whether by renegotiating water deliveries or providing emergency funding – is urgently needed.

Economic distress is another pressing problem. Poverty rates along the Texas-Mexico border are significantly higher than the rest of Texas, with 23 percent of border residents living below the federal poverty line. Trade, supported by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), remains a crucial economic driver.

Trump deserves credit for making the deal, but his cavalier comments about “closing the border” are putting that very progress at risk. Instead, both candidates should focus on expanding border and trade infrastructure, particularly in the areas of transportation and warehousing, to keep trade flowing and support local economies.

Health care is also a priority. Border communities suffer from high rates of chronic disease, limited access to health care, and public health threats like opioid addiction. The Texas Border Coalition has called for increased funding for public health programs to address these issues. Trump and Harris could provide real, meaningful solutions, but that was barely mentioned on the campaign trail.

Of course, border security and immigration reform are also a priority. But the most effective border management solutions will come from those who live and work in the border region.

America needs smart investments in infrastructure, technology and personnel to secure land points of entry while fostering greater cooperation between local, state and federal law enforcement. And now is the time to pass comprehensive legislation that will truly address the immigration system and secure the borders, and remove the temporary executive actions that come and go with each new administration.

Consider the bipartisan Dignity Act, which provides lasting relief for Dreamers, expands work visas to meet job demands, and reforms the asylum system while preserving its integrity. The bill also strengthens border management to ensure they are secure, fair, and aligned with U.S. trade and economic interests.

Ultimately, the U.S.-Mexico border is about more than immigration. It is a dynamic region that plays a vital role in the national economy, culture and security. The voices of those living in the border region deserve to be heard, and their needs should be central – or at the very least, not absent – from discussions about the future of border policy and its potential regional implications.

As we approach Election Day, both candidates must move beyond partisan rhetoric and offer real, substantive solutions to the challenges facing the U.S. border region that go far beyond just security.

David Stout is a commissioner for El Paso County, Texas, and chair of the Texas Border Coalition.