California Border Issues Project: Our Mission

Our mission is to conduct educational research activities focused on border issues concerning California, its neighboring states, and Mexico. We aim to share our findings with policymakers and the public to foster a more informed dialogue about these critical matters.  

The border issues we address include:  

- Trade and Commerce  

- Environmental Protection  

- Immigration & Migration  

- Public Safety & Homeland Security  

- Economic Leakage  

- Travel & Tourism  

- Climate Change  

- Infrastructure  

- Water Quality  

- Jobs & Economic Development  

- Invasive Species & Pathogens  

- Energy Generation, Transmission, and Transition  

- Ocean Protection  

- Medical Tourism  

- Biodiversity Conservation  

- Disaster Response & Mutual Aid  

- Border Transportation  

- Regional Planning & Smart Growth  

- Public Health & Safety  

- Access to Health Care  

Through these educational research activities, we also strive to develop productive relationships with our jurisdictional neighbors.  

California shares a 140‑mile border with Mexico to the south, which serves as the state's largest trading partner. Additionally, California is bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east and northeast, and Arizona to the southeast.