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David Stout: US-Mexico border is more than immigration

Harry October 30, 2024

David Stout
| guest columnist

With less than a week left in the presidential campaign, 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 lapses in border security despite illegal border crossings. September saw its lowest level in recent years.

Harris rightly blames Trump for 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 harm the economy.

There is no doubt that a secure border is vital to a sovereign nation. But both campaigns obsess over walls, checkpoints and refugees, missing the bigger picture: the border is not just a line between countries; this is a region that 2.8 million Americans call home. Yes, we need to police large areas between ports of entry, and we need targeted and aggressive enforcement and cooperation with Mexico to counter the violence of criminal cartels. But our overarching framework for our land borders must be 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 ties, social and cultural ties that make the border so important. unique and vibrant.

These millions of people enjoy living in a region that contributes significantly to the U.S. economy. The jobs of approximately 5 million Americans 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, is key to facilitating this trade. Additionally, the Borderplex region, which includes El Paso, Texas; Las Cruces, New Mexico; and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico – became the fifth largest manufacturing center in North America.

The border regions represent a vibrant, culturally rich and economically important part of the country; It has long been overshadowed as politicians turn border security into a political football.

Since neither campaign seems focused on elaborating a truly border-focused policy platform, I will detail some key policy areas that deserve more.

First, South Texas is facing a severe drought that threatens not only residents but also its role as a major agricultural center. Despite the importance of the border regions to the national economy, this crisis has largely escaped national attention.

The drought, exacerbated by Mexico’s failure to meet its water distribution obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty, hit the border regions particularly hard. Areas across Texas are running out of water, and the state is losing a farm every week. Recently, Texas’ only sugar mill closed due to water shortages, costing 500 jobs. Federal intervention is urgently needed, either through renegotiating water distribution or providing emergency funding.

Economic distress is another urgent issue. Poverty rates along the Texas-Mexico border are significantly higher than in the rest of Texas; 23 percent of border residents live below the federal poverty line. Trade, supported by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), remains an important economic driver.

Trump deserves credit for securing the deal, but his reckless talk of “closing the border” jeopardizes that progress. Instead, both candidates need to focus on expanding border and trade infrastructure, especially in transportation and warehousing, to keep trade flowing and support local economies.

Healthcare is also a priority. Border communities suffer from high rates of chronic diseases, limited access to health care, and public health threats such as opioid addiction. The Texas Border Coalition has called for more funding for public health programs to address these issues. Both Trump and Harris can offer real, meaningful solutions, but there is little mention of this on the campaign trail.

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

America needs smart investments in infrastructure, technology, and personnel to secure land ports of entry while encouraging greater cooperation among local, state, and federal law enforcement. It’s time for comprehensive legislation that will truly address the immigration system, secure the border, and eliminate the temporary administrative processes that come and go with each new administration.

Consider the bipartisan Dignity Act, which would provide permanent relief to Dreamers, expand work visas to meet workforce demands, and reform the asylum system while maintaining its integrity. The bill also strengthens border management to ensure it is safe, fair, and consistent with U.S. trade and economic interests.

After all, the US-Mexico border is not just about immigration. It is a dynamic region that plays an important role in the national economy, culture and security. The voices of border residents deserve to be heard, and their needs should be at the center of, or at least not absent from, discussions about the future of border policy and its potential regional impacts.

As Election Day approaches, both candidates need to move beyond partisan talk and offer real, solid solutions to the challenges facing America’s border region that go far beyond just security.

David Stout is a county commissioner in El Paso County, Texas, and President of the Texas Border Coalition.