{{Firstname|Good morning}}, this week we look at how Washington’s declaration of war on drug cartels blurs the line between law enforcement and military conflict, how a government shutdown has become a political weapon, and why America’s courts are reminding us that citizenship is a promise, not a privilege.

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The Trump administration’s declaration of a non-international armed conflict against drug cartels — effectively labeling them terrorists — marks a turning point in U.S. security policy. The move follows a series of strikes on suspected narco-vessels and signals a shift from law enforcement to military engagement in the drug war.

I’ve long believed the U.S. must confront the violence and impunity driven by cartels — but the fight cannot stop there. To dismantle these criminal networks, we must also take aim at the corruption that sustains them. Cartels thrive where government institutions are weak, where law enforcement is compromised, and where impunity is the norm. That’s not just a Mexican problem — it’s a regional challenge that affects trade, investment, and trust across the hemisphere.

That’s why this issue should be on the table during the upcoming USMCA review. The agreement can’t just be about tariffs, factories, or supply chains. It must also reinforce the rule of law that underpins commerce. Strengthening transparency, financial oversight, and anti-corruption cooperation between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada should be as much a part of North America’s competitiveness as semiconductors or energy.

Security and trade are often treated as separate conversations, but they’re two sides of the same coin. When governments coordinate against corruption and organized crime, they create the certainty investors need and the safety communities deserve. Acting unilaterally, however, risks undermining the very cooperation that makes success possible.

My view: The U.S. is right to confront the cartels — but the real victory will come only when we confront corruption with equal force and make cooperation a permanent pillar of North American policy.

CTA: Cooperation is our strongest weapon. Make your voices heard — share, comment, and call for joint U.S.–Mexico action that targets both crime and corruption.

The federal government’s latest shutdown isn’t just a budgeting failure — it’s a deliberate tactic. By freezing nearly $26 billion in funding, the administration has turned fiscal policy into a weapon aimed at states and agencies that don’t fall in line politically. It’s a playbook that trades governance for gamesmanship, and the consequences reach far beyond Washington.

For border states like Arizona, this “strategy” has real-world impact. Infrastructure projects at ports of entry stall. Small business lending freezes. Energy and water modernization, already strained, slow to a crawl. The ripple effects cross the border, affecting trade flows, manufacturing timelines, and investor confidence from Nogales to Monterrey.

Having worked both inside government and now leading cross-border investment efforts, I’ve seen how stability attracts capital, and how political chaos repels it. Businesses don’t plan expansion around shutdowns. They plan around clarity, reliability, and consistent leadership. Every time government grinds to a halt, we reinforce the perception that politics outweighs performance.

This is a moment to remember that leadership means building — not breaking. The U.S. and Mexico are standing on the threshold of a nearshoring boom that could redefine North American competitiveness for decades. But opportunity can’t survive in uncertainty. We must reject the notion that dysfunction is a strategy.

My view: Power should be measured not by how effectively you can stall progress, but by how decisively you can move it forward — together.

CTA: Let’s demand better. Share your thoughts, push for solutions that keep government open, and support those working to keep trade, investment, and growth moving forward.

The recent appeals court decision striking down the administration’s attempt to limit birthright citizenship wasn’t just a legal correction — it was a reaffirmation of America’s core identity. The Fourteenth Amendment isn’t ambiguous: anyone born on U.S. soil is a U.S. citizen. That’s not a loophole; it’s a legacy — one that defines who we are as a nation.

For millions of families living along the border, including those with roots stretching across generations, this ruling was personal. It was a rejection of fear-based politics and a reminder that inclusion is not weakness; it’s America’s strength. Citizenship by birth reflects our national confidence — our willingness to invest in every child’s potential, no matter their parents’ passports.

I know this story well because I’ve lived it. I’ve crossed borders, not as lines of division, but as bridges between opportunity and belonging. The idea that a child’s future could be decided by politics, not by principle, contradicts everything that has made this nation thrive.

But this victory isn’t permanent. Policies and rhetoric can change as fast as administrations. That’s why civic participation, awareness, and leadership from our communities are so essential — especially among Mexican Americans who embody both nations’ shared destiny.

My view: America doesn’t lose by embracing those who call it home — it grows stronger. This ruling isn’t the end of the conversation; it’s a call to keep showing why inclusion fuels progress.

CTA: If you believe in an America that honors its promises, make your voice count — share, comment, and stay engaged in shaping the future of citizenship and belonging.

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