U.S.-Mexico Border:
Issues and Challenges Confronting the United States and Mexico
NSIAD-99-190: Published: Jul 1, 1999. Publicly Released: Jul 1, 1999.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
(202) 512-4128
contact@gao.gov
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the U.S.-Mexican border region's progress in addressing border issues, focusing on: (1) the nature of major border issues; and (2) U.S. and Mexican efforts underway to address them.
GAO noted that: (1) the United States has pursued a strategy of developing closer relations with Mexico, in recognition that a stable, democratic, and prosperous Mexico is fundamental to U.S. interests; (2) the border region, defined as the area 100 kilometers deep on either side of the almost 2,000-mile long U.S.-Mexican border, is the bridge that binds the two countries; (3) thus, the border is critical to U.S. objectives; (4) however, the U.S. border region has relatively high unemployment and poverty levels and faces a number of development challenges; (5) while growing integration has increased trade between Mexico and the United States, it has also exacerbated some long-standing border problems; (6) at the same time, many U.S. efforts to interdict illicit drugs and illegal immigration take place on the border; (7) as a result, there is a confluence of seemingly competing objectives at the border that have important implications for the United States; (8) the major issues on the border include: (a) drug enforcement; (b) illegal immigration; (c) cross-border transportation; (d) environmental infrastructure and public health; and (e) economic development; (9) these problems are being addressed by a number of Mexican and U.S. federal, state, and local agencies that are responsible for specific aspects of each problem; (10) in light of the transnational nature of the problems, various binational institutions, programs, and initiatives have also been created; (11) while such binational mechanisms have been able to make some improvements in certain areas, they have not been able to close the gap between what is needed and what exists; (12) the limits on progress may in part be due to the differing levels of development and dissimilar governmental structures of the two countries; and (13) in recognition of the special economic development needs of the U.S. border community, the President on May 25, 1999, announced the Southwest Border Economic Development Initiative, which is designed to coordinate federal and local economic development efforts to raise the living standards and overall economic profile of the border region on a sustained basis.
Jan 19, 2021
-
DHS Annual Assessment:
Most Acquisition Programs Are Meeting Goals but Data Provided to Congress Lacks Context Needed For Effective OversightGAO-21-175: Published: Jan 19, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 19, 2021.
Dec 16, 2020
-
Coast Guard:
Actions Needed to Improve National Vessel Documentation Center OperationsGAO-21-100: Published: Dec 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 16, 2020.
Nov 23, 2020
-
Southwest Border:
Information on Federal Agencies' Process for Acquiring Private Land for BarriersGAO-21-114: Published: Nov 17, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 23, 2020.
Nov 12, 2020
-
Coast Guard Acquisitions:
Opportunities Exist to Reduce Risk for the Offshore Patrol Cutter ProgramGAO-21-9: Published: Oct 28, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 12, 2020.
Oct 29, 2020
-
TSA Acquisitions:
TSA Needs to Establish Metrics and Evaluate Third Party Testing Outcomes for Screening TechnologiesGAO-21-50: Published: Oct 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 29, 2020.
Oct 20, 2020
-
Homeland Security Acquisitions:
DHS Has Opportunities to Improve Its Component Acquisition OversightGAO-21-77: Published: Oct 20, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 20, 2020.
Sep 30, 2020
-
Disaster Assistance:
Additional Actions Needed to Strengthen FEMA's Individuals and Households ProgramGAO-20-503: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020. -
Supplemental Material for GAO-20-503:
FEMA Individuals and Households Program Applicant Data 2016 – 2018GAO-20-675SP: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020. -
Supplemental Material for GAO-20-503:
Select Disaster Profiles for FEMA's Individuals and Households Program 2016-2018GAO-20-674SP: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020.
Sep 29, 2020
-
Chemical Security:
DHS Could Use Available Data to Better Plan Outreach to Facilities Excluded from Anti-Terrorism StandardsGAO-20-722: Published: Sep 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 29, 2020.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here