Date of Award
Fall 2-1-2026
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Advisor(s)
Annika Hinze, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Caley Johnson, Ph.D.
Abstract
The long history of movement across the U.S.–Mexico border has made migration one of the main issues shaping their bilateral relationship. This thesis examines how U.S. and Mexican migration policies from 2009 to 2025 affect and limit each other. Using the idea of migration diplomacy, it argues that migration is not just a domestic issue but a way both countries negotiate power and cooperation. The study compares six administrations: Obama, Trump, and Biden in the United States, and Calderón, Peña Nieto, and López Obrador in Mexico, through policy documents, data, and reports. It finds that the United States depends on Mexico to control migration, while Mexico uses this role to gain investment and political support. This shows that even in an unequal relationship, both sides have influence. Migration diplomacy helps explain how enforcement, trade, and humanitarian goals are connected. The study concludes that migration policy is built on constant negotiation rather than one sided control. It shows that power at the U.S. and Mexico border relies on mutual dependence and ongoing cooperation. This study highlights migration diplomacy as a framework that helps clarify how cooperation and conflict develop in U.S.–Mexico relations.
Recommended Citation
Adame, Viviana, "A Comparative Analysis of U.S. and Mexico’s Migration Policy from 2009 to 2025: How Their Approaches Shape and Constrain Each Other’s Policy Choices" (2026). Senior Theses. 191.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/international_senior/191
