Migration Policy Institute, News Report, Posted: Apr 12, 2011

"Despite the intractability of migration policy, the overall U.S.-Mexican relationship has never been closer." That's one of the conclusions of a new report released this month by the Migration Policy Institute. In the report, "Obstacles and Opportunities for Regional Cooperation: The U.S.-Mexico Case," MPI Senior Policy Analyst Marc Rosenblum analyzes the history of U.S.-Mexico relations from the 1890s to 2011. The report traces the evolution of U.S.-Mexico relations on migration: from an era of laissez faire policies to the Bracero Program, a more unilateral U.S. policy approach, Mexico’s “policy of no policy” stance, and the current post-9/11 security focus. The history suggests that cooperation, while difficult, is not impossible and can offer benefits for both countries.

A companion report released Tuesday by the European University Institute, "EU Cooperation Challenges in External Migration Policy," written by EUI Visiting Fellow Agnieszka Weinar, focuses on the European Union’s cooperation challenges. The Migration Policy Institute is partnering with the European University Institute to identify how European and U.S. immigration systems can be improved.