Mexico City, October 10, 2025 – Border mayors from Mexico and the United States gathered on October 6 for “Binational Voices: A Mayors’ Dialogue on the Future of the Border,” reactivating the U.S.–Mexico Border Mayors Association for the first time since its virtual summit in 2020. The convening was organized in collaboration with the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at the University of California, San Diego, Holland & Knight Mexico’s Government Affairs practice, and Localism, Inc from San Antonio, Texas.
The meeting took place during the 2025 North Capital Forum in Mexico City and marked a renewed commitment to cross-border collaboration among municipalities, counties, chambers of commerce, and universities, with the shared goal of strengthening competitiveness, sustainability, and regional prosperity along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Mayors addressed key priorities facing border communities, including the modernization of ports of entry, the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), cross-border environmental challenges, and the need for a unified strategy for local governments along the border.
“Border cities are laboratories of innovation and local diplomacy,” said Dr. Rafael Fernández de Castro, Director of the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at the University of California, San Diego. “Relaunching the Border Mayors Association is a historic opportunity to ensure local governments have a voice in binational decisions that directly affect millions of residents.”
Mayor Jacobo Rodríguez of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, emphasized ongoing cooperation: “The border doesn’t divide us, it unites us. What we achieved today marks the beginning of a new phase of practical collaboration among mayors who face the challenges of trade, migration, and economic development every day. Together, we can build real solutions from the local level up.”
Mayor Aaron Valdez of Eagle Pass, Texas, also highlighted the human impact of border relations: “The relationship between border cities is about more than commerce; it’s rooted in our shared communities and economies. This Association is a crucial step toward strengthening our collective voice and ensuring border communities are heard in both countries.”
Among the key outcomes was an agreement to develop a joint border community statement on the USMCA review to be presented to U.S. and Mexican authorities. Participants also committed to forming binational working groups focused on infrastructure, agricultural trade, and the environment.
Organizers announced that additional meetings and activities will be scheduled in the coming weeks to further solidify this network of border leadership and deepen cooperation among local governments on both sides of the border.
About the U.S.-Mexico Border Mayors Association:
The U.S.-Mexico Border Mayors Association is dedicated to making the united voice of our communities heard in state and national capitals and to improving the lives of the more than 14 million residents who make our region a globally competitive economic engine for North America.