This paper discuss some concern and challenges regards with the U.S-Mexico transborder cooperation, especially with the role of Mexican local governments to manage the transnational border issues, such as drug trafficking, public security and terrorism. The paper examines two main concerns: first, an overview on transborder cooperation along the U.S. Mexican border, focusing in the Tijuana San Diego region on matters relating to narcotrafficking, public security and terrorism and second, some border impacts on the Mexican local governments under the U.S. border security policy.

This paper examines law enforcement and security context of the U.S.-Mexican border region and the new challenges that have developed since September 11 as a result of new terrorist concerns. The authors explore the conventional understanding of U.S.-Mexican relations and the question of whether there is a “security community” along the border. The authors map the law enforcement and security structures that are of significance in shaping the U.S.-Mexican relationship, particularly the new Department of Homeland Security. The authors highlight successful instances of U.S.-Mexican collaboration in the San Diego-Tijuana region as possible models for best practices in other parts of the U.S.-Mexican border region.