Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Baker Institute

Featured Research

Mexican flag in front of National Palace

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Report

Mexico Country Outlook 2025

Aerial view vehicle carrier vessel loading car for shipping to worldwide, Large RoRo (Roll on/off) vehicle car carrier, New car lined up in the port for import export around the world.

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Center for Energy Studies | Issue Brief

How Connected Vehicle Regulations May Impact US Automotive Imports

Head nurse fills medical history form

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Report

Reduce Health Care Labor Shortages by Recruiting Skilled Immigrants

Featured Experts

Tony Payan

Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies | Director, Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Rodrigo Montes de Oca

Research Scholar

José Iván Rodríguez-Sánchez

Research Scholar

Head shot of international trade fellow David Gantz

David A. Gantz

Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics

Related Information

Research Projects

Center research primarily focuses on six areas of interest to Mexico and the U.S.

Visiting Scholars

Two programs offer scholars the opportunity to conduct research in Houston.

Interns

Rice students can gain public policy experience by interning in a nonprofit think tank environment.

The “Judy Ley Allen Mexico Centered” podcast features interviews with academics, former government officials, and other experts on issues central to U.S.-Mexico relations, including trade, immigration, and public safety. Check back regularly for new episodes.

Send questions or comments to [email protected].

Mexican flag from below

Mexico Country Outlook

The Mexico Country Outlook is an annual conference and report that examines key issues driving Mexico’s politics, economy, border policies, and more. It is designed to help businesses and investors make decisions related to their interests in Mexico and aid policymakers in understanding the country’s economic, regulatory, political, and business environment.

Refugees

Migration Initiative

With an interdisciplinary and interrelated approach, the Baker Institute Migration Initiative — a collaboration between the Center for Health and Biosciences, Center for the U.S. and Mexico and Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East — focuses on the economic, legal, health and social and environmental aspects of migration.

Research

Aerial view vehicle carrier vessel loading car for shipping to worldwide, Large RoRo (Roll on/off) vehicle car carrier, New car lined up in the port for import export around the world.

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Center for Energy Studies | Issue Brief

How Connected Vehicle Regulations May Impact US Automotive Imports

New U.S. regulations, responding to U.S. national security concerns, are set to take effect in mid…

Mexican flag in front of National Palace

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Report

Mexico Country Outlook 2025

The Center for U.S. and Mexico’s Mexico Country Outlook 2025 offers expert insights on key issues…

Main Constitution Square Mexico City Historical Center

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Report

From Market Guardians to Monopoly Keepers: Regulatory Capture in Mexico’s Energy Sector

Constitutional reforms currently underway in Mexico will have significant consequences for both…

Digital map of Mexico overlayed with connecting lines.

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Issue Brief

How Sheinbaum’s Energy Policies Could Reshape Mexico’s Electricity Sector

The Sheinbaum administration recently unveiled its National Strategy for the Electric Sector, aiming…

Head nurse fills medical history form

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Report

Reduce Health Care Labor Shortages by Recruiting Skilled Immigrants

The U.S. health care system is grappling with a severe labor shortage, worsened by the long-term…

image with Mexico and Chinese flags

Election 2024: Policy Playbook | Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Policy Brief

Maintain US Global Influence Through Focused Trade Policies

Regardless of partisan differences, there are a number of policy steps that the new administration…

Past Events

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Mexico Forum | Dec 5, 2024

Mexico Country Outlook 2025

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Nov 18, 2024

The Election Is Over: Let’s Talk

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Oct 15, 2024

From López Obrador to Sheinbaum: Mexico’s Path Forward

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | Sep 19, 2024

Election Insights: The Future of US Trade Policy

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | May 30, 2024

Here to Work: Immigrants Growing Houston’s Economy

Center for the U.S. and Mexico | May 23, 2024

Labor Based Immigration Reform

Fellows and Scholars

Photo of Ivonne Cruz

Ivonne Cruz

Research Scholar, Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Head shot of international trade fellow David Gantz

David A. Gantz

Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics

Portrait of Francisco Monaldi

Francisco J. Monaldi

Fellow in Latin American Energy Policy | Director, Latin America Energy Program

Rodrigo Montes de Oca

Research Scholar

Tony Payan

Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies | Director, Center for the U.S. and Mexico

José Iván Rodríguez-Sánchez

Research Scholar

Affiliated Experts

Erika de la Garza

Senior Advisor, Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Portrait of Rolando Durán Rocha

Rolando Durán Rocha

Nonresident Program Advisor, Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Roberto Durán-Fernández

Nonresident Scholar at the Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Portrait of Rodrigo Ferreira

Rodrigo Ferreira

Baker Institute Rice Faculty Scholar, Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Rolando Fuentes

Rolando Fuentes

Nonresident Scholar at the Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Luz Maria Garcini

Baker Institute Rice Faculty Scholar | Interim Director of Community Health, Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University

James Gerber

Nonresident Scholar

Miriam Grunstein

Nonresident Scholar

Armando Guio Espanol photo

Armando Guio Español

Nonresident Scholar at the Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Head shot of U.S.-Mexico Center expert Gary Hale

Gary J. Hale

Nonresident Fellow in Drug Policy and Mexico Studies

Portrait of Nathan P. Jones

Nathan P. Jones

Nonresident Scholar in Drug Policy and Mexico Studies

Richard J. Kilroy, Jr.

Nonresident Scholar

Meredith Lilly

Nonresident Scholar at the Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Portrait for Jesús Antonio López Cabrera

Jesús Antonio López Cabrera

Nonresident Scholar

Javier Martin Reyes

Javier Martín-Reyes

Nonresident Scholar at the Center for the U.S. and Mexico

cristina Martinez

Cristina Martínez Pinto

Nonresident Scholar at the Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Isidro Morales

Nonresident Scholar

Stephen Mumme

Nonresident Scholar

Luz Helena Orozco y Villa

Nonresident Scholar Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Francisco Reyes-Vázquez

Nonresident Scholar at the Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Portrait of Raul Rodriguez

Raul B. Rodriguez

Nonresident Fellow

Juan Rosellón

Nonresident Fellow

Elizabeth Salamanca

Nonresident Scholar

Kevin Shih

Nonresident Scholar

Cherie O. Taylor

Nonresident Scholar, Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Cesar A. Uribe

Rice Faculty Scholar, Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Mariana Velasco Rivera

Mariana Velasco-Rivera

Nonresident Scholar at the Center for the U.S. and Mexico

About the Center

The Center for the United States and Mexico seeks to have a meaningful impact on the U.S.-Mexico relationship through original research, relevant solutions to binational policy issues, and the advancement of mutual understanding by convening leaders who can bridge the world of ideas and the world of action.

The center’s research agenda focuses primarily on the following issues of concern to the United States and Mexico:

learn more about our areas of interest

For more information:
Lisa Guáqueta
Program Manager
Center for the U.S. and Mexico

Email: [email protected]
Office Phone: (713) 348-2649