As the pace of illegal immigration ebbs, Edward Alden writes that politicians should turn their focus to reforming policies for legal immigration.

Since 2006, the Mexican government has been in embroiled in a bloody drug war, which has failed to significantly curb trafficking. This Backgrounder looks at Mexico's eradication efforts, along with U.S. policy options for one of its most important regional allies.

Ricardo Salinas, chairman and founder of Grupo Salinas, discusses the state of poverty, democracy, free enterprise, and rule of law in Latin America, and the prospects for its relationship with the United States.

Ricardo Salinas, chairman and founder of Grupo Salinas, discusses the state of poverty, democracy, free enterprise, and rule of law in Latin America, and the prospects for its relationship with the United States.

Ricardo Salinas, chairman and founder of Grupo Salinas, discusses the state of poverty, democracy, free enterprise, and rule of law in Latin America, and the prospects for its relationship with the United States.

Neither intensifying the drug war nor legalizing all drugs offers much hope of reducing drug abuse in the United States or lessening violence in Mexico.

National Strategy

Southern Pulse applies organizational models to the discussion of organized crime in Mexico, describing its structural similarities to government and its inherent flaws.

Shannon K. O'Neil says domestic responsibility and action are needed to win Mexico's drug war.

The University of San Diego's David A. Shirk discusses the findings of his recent Council Special Report The Drug War in Mexico: Confronting a Shared Threat, as part of CFR's State and Local Officials Conference Call Series.

Learn more about CFR's State and Local Officials Initiative.

Speech

Former Ambassador James Jones discusses U.S.-Mexico relations and Mexico's most pressing problems as President Felipe Calderón continues his "War on Drugs" and combats the resulting violence.

David A. Shirk analyzes the drug war in Mexico and argues that the United States should help Mexico address its pressing crime and corruption problems.

The March 2-3 visit of Mexico's president to Washington offers a chance at easing tensions over the cross-border drug trade, and far more than security issues are at stake, says CFR's Shannon O'Neil.

In this Markets and Democracy Brief, Shannon O'Neil charts the progress of Mexico's economic and democratic reforms. She sees grounds for optimism on both fronts but concludes that Mexico risks falling behind unless it redoubles efforts to overcome its authoritarian past.

Dora Beszterczey and Shannon K. O'Neil say the best crime fighting strategy in Latin America may be improving economic opportunities for all.

Experts forecast the developments of U.S.-Mexico relations as a result of the new U.S. Congress,  the need for Mexico to increase foreign direct investment in the face of investor insecurity caused by violence and organized crime.

Experts detail the effects of the increasing violence in Mexico and the resulting spillover into the United States; the tools needed for Mexico to combat this violence; and the need for leadership from the private industry.

This session was part of a CFR symposium,200 Years of U.S.-Mexico Relations: Challenges for the 21st Century,which was made possible through generous support from the Consulate General of Mexico in New York, the Mexican Cultural Institute of New York, and CFR's Civil Society, Markets, and Democracy Initiative.

Experts forecast the developments of U.S.-Mexico relations as a result of the new U.S. Congress, the need for Mexico to increase foreign direct investment in the face of investor insecurity caused by violence and organized crime.

This session was part of a CFR symposium, 200 Years of U.S.-Mexico Relations: Challenges for the 21st Century, which was made possible through generous support from the Consulate General of Mexico in New York, the Mexican Cultural Institute of New York, and CFR's Civil Society, Markets, and Democracy Initiative.

Ambassadors Carlos Pascual and Arturo Sarukhan discuss U.S.-Mexico economic and political relations, immigration policies, and the need to overcome negative media portrayals of Mexico.

This session was part of a CFR symposium,200 Years of U.S.-Mexico Relations: Challenges for the 21st Century,which was made possible through generous support from the Consulate General of Mexico in New York, the Mexican Cultural Institute of New York, and CFR's Civil Society, Markets, and Democracy Initiative.