Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera

(updated March 31, 2025)

Professor    
Co-director of the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC)

Schar School of Policy and Government    
George Mason University (GMU)    
Mason Square, Van Metre Hall, Room 676    
3351 Fairfax Drive    
Arlington, VA 22201

Office: (703) 993-6273    
Cell: (956) 346-0618    
gcorreac@gmu.edu

ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT

George Mason University (GMU), Arlington, VA    
Schar School of Policy and Government    
Program Faculty in Government and International Affairs

• Professor (August 2022 to date)
• Associate Professor (August 2017-August 2022)

Co-director of the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) (February 2025 to date)

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), Brownsville, TX    
Department of Public Affairs and Security Studies

• Associate Professor (September 2015-July 2017)

The University of Texas at Brownsville (UT Brownsville/UTB), Brownsville, TX    
Department of Government

• Department Chair (September 2012 - August 2015)
• Associate Professor (August, 2013-August 2015)
• Assistant Professor (August 2009-August 2013)

ACADEMIC AFFILIATIONS

Visiting Researcher, El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (El COLEF), Tijuana, Baja California; Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program (September 1, 2024-May 31, 2025)

Fellow, Small Wars Journal - El Centro (2021-to date)

Affiliated Faculty, Observatory of the Mexico-U.S. Binational Relationship (Observatorio de la Relación Binacional México-Estados Unidos), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) (2021 to date)

Global Fellow, Woodrow Wilson Center (2017-2021)

Non-resident Scholar, Center for the United States and Mexico, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy (Baker Institute), Rice University (2017-2021)

EDUCATION

1.   New School for Social Research/The New School; New York, NY    
Political Science Department

Ph.D. in Political Science; January 2010    
Major Field: Comparative Politics    
Minor Field: American Politics

Ph.D. Dissertation Title:    
Democracy in "TWO MEXICOS": Political Exclusion, Economic Exclusion, and (Un)civil Modes of Political Action in Oaxaca and Nuevo León

2.   New School for Social Research/The New School; New York, NY    
Political Science Department

M.Phil. in Political Science; January 2005    
M.A. in Political Science; May 2002    
Area of Specialization: Comparative Politics

3.   Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA); Mexico City    
Department of Economics

B.A. in Economics (Licenciatura en Economía); December 1997.    
Area of Specialization: Macroeconomics (Field of interest: International Economics)

B.A. Thesis: “Desarrollo Financiero y Crecimiento Económico: Teoría y Evidencia Empírica para Países en Desarrollo” (Financial Development and Economic Growth: Theory and Empirical Evidence for Developing Countries)

Degree with honors: (Mención Honorífica)

TEACHING

Courses (since Fall 2017 to date):

George Mason University

GOVT 133    
Introduction to Comparative Politics

GOVT 133    
Introduction to Comparative Politics (in Spanish)

GOVT 444    
Border Politics and Policy in a Global Era: Comparative Perspectives

GOVT 490    
U.S.-Mexico Border Policy

GOVT 490    
Social Movements

GOVT 491    
Honors Seminar

POGO 750    
The U.S.-Mexico Border: Society, Policy Dynamics and Security

POGO 750    
From Venezuela to Mexico: Security Challenges

POGO 750    
Social Movements

PUBP 880    
Global and International Public Policy

Study-Abroad Program: Mexico and Brownsville, TX (March 3-10, 2024)

Courses: GOVT 398/POGO 550    
“Distant Neighbors”: Trade, Energy and Security Cooperation in Election Times

Study-Abroad Program: Mexico and Brownsville, TX (May 21-27, 2023)    
Courses: GOVT 398/POGO 550    
“Distant Neighbors”: Trade, Energy and Security Cooperation in the Post-COVID Era

Study-Abroad Program: Mexico (March 11-16, 2019)    
Courses: GOVT 398/ ITRN 702    
The Future of U.S.-Mexico Relations

Other courses:

UT Brownsville (UTB)/UTRGV

Introduction to Comparative Politics (Undergraduate)    
Introduction to Comparative Politics (in Spanish)    
Latin American Politics (Undergraduate)    
Latin American Politics (in Spanish)    
American Hispanic Politics / Latino Politics (Undergraduate)    
American Hispanic Politics / Latino Politics (in Spanish)    
American Government and Policy (Undergraduate)    
American Government and Policy (in Spanish)    
Seminar in International Development Policy and Management (Graduate)    
International and Comparative Public Policy and Management (Graduate)    
United States-Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Relations (Graduate)    
Public Policies in the Mexico-U.S. Border Region (Graduate)

Hokkaido University; Sapporo, Japan

Border Studies Summer School 2017    
Instructor; July 12-14, 2017    
Course: “Globalization, Securitization and Human Trafficking in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands”

School of Intelligence and National Security (Escuela de Inteligencia y Seguridad Nacional, ESISEN); Mexico City

Instructor; November 24-27, 2014    
Course: Strategic Forecasting (advanced course)    
Instructor; November 10 and 11, 2011    
Course: “Security in Mexico’s Northern Borderlands. Three Mexican Northern Borders: Tijuana-San Diego, Ciudad Juárez-El Paso, and Tamaulipas-Texas”

Colegio de la Frontera Norte (El COLEF); Matamoros, Tamaulipas

Certificate on Border Studies (Diplomado en Estudios Fronterizos)    
Instructor; October 19, 20, 26, and 27, 2012    
Course: “Mexico-U.S. Border Relation: Basic Problems, Institutional Framework, and Critical Topics”

Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA); Mexico City

Departments of Economics and Political Science    
Visiting Scholar/Part-time Faculty; Fall 2005 - Spring 2007    
Course: “Comparative Politics/Seminar of Political Research II” (Fall 2006 and Spring 2007)

Eugene Lang College/The New School; New York, NY

Department of Social and Historical Studies    
Instructor; Fall 2003    
Course: “Introduction to Comparative Politics”

Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA); Mexico City

Department of Economics    
Instructor; Spring 2000    
Course: “Introduction to Macroeconomics” (Macroeconomics I)

RESEARCH

Research Interests:

• Border studies
• Border security
• Drug trafficking and organized crime
• Migration
• Human trafficking
• Energy and security
• U.S.-Mexico relations
• Contemporary Mexican politics
• Latin American politics
• Social Movements

Research Projects:

“Cartels Inc.–A New Generation: Transnational Criminal Networks, Energy and Civil War in Mexico;” Schar School of Policy and Government, GMU; June 2025 to date.

“Investigating Human Smuggling and its Impact on U.S.-Bound Migration Through Data Mining of Dynamic Networks” (research project with Carlotta Domeniconi); George Mason University (GMU); October 2023 to date.

“Explaining U.S. Bound Migration and Human Smuggling Networks;” Schar School of Policy and Government, GMU; Fall 2019 to date.

“The Paradoxes of the Fentanyl Crisis in America: U.S. Drug Policy, Open Air Drug Markets and Mexican DTOs;” Schar School of Policy and Government, GMU; August 2023 to date.

“Drug Smuggling along the U.S.-Mexico Border: Identification and Network Analysis of DTOs and Facilitators of the Drug Trade” (research project with Naoru Koizumi); George Mason University (GMU); February 2023 to date.

“Corruption, Gentrification and Environmental Damage at the Border in the Era of Elon Musk: The Case of Cameron County, Texas” (research project with Michelle Keck); Schar School of Policy and Government, GMU and UTRGV; October 2022-December 2025.

“Mexican Money Laundering in the United States” (research project with William Yaworsky and Charles Lewis); Schar School of Policy and Government, GMU; January 2023-May 2024.

Collaborator in the 21^st Century Borders SSHRC Partnership Grant; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada; April 1, 2021-March 30, 2028.

Participant in the project titled “Political Parties and the Future of Democracy in Mexico” (organized by the Baker Institute’s Center for the United States and Mexico, Rice University); May 2020-December 2021.    
Research project (with Ricardo Raphael): “What is the National Regeneration Movement: MORENA?”

“Network Analysis and Opportunities for Disruption of Organ Trafficking;” NSF EAGER grant  - Disrupting Operations of Illicit Supply Networks; with Naoru Koizumi (PI), Monica Gentili, Amit Patel and Monir Moniruzzaman; GMU, University of Louisville, University of Massachusetts and Michigan State University; November 2018-February 2023.

“Central American Migration. An Assessment of Social and Psychological Drivers.” In collaboration with José Miguel Cruz and José F. Colón Burgos, Florida International University; Summer 2019.

“Resilient Communities Against Transnational Gangs (RESCAT).” Workshop for Law-Enforcement, Public Officials and Defense Professionals / K-12 Teacher Training Workshop. In collaboration with Mariely López Santana and José Miguel Cruz (principal organizer), Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center, Florida International University; Spring 2019. Made possible with support from LACC’s U.S. Department of Education Title VI Grant.

“The Structure, Aims, and Functions of Central American Gangs in Northern Virginia” (research project with Mariely López-Santana); Schar School of Policy and Government, GMU; Fall 2018-Spring 2019.

Participant in the project “The Future of U.S.-Mexico Relations” (organized by Baker Institute’s Center for the United States and Mexico, Rice University); Spring 2018-Spring 2019.    
Individual project: “The future of the U.S.-Mexico Border” (with Jason Ackleson)

Participant in the project “Binational Institutional Development on the U.S.-Mexico Border” (organized by the Baker Institute’s Center for the United States and Mexico, Rice University); Spring 2017-Spring 2018.    
Individual project: “Law Enforcement Security Cooperation on the U.S.-Mexico Border” (with Evan McCormick)

Visiting researcher (Spring 2016). Research Center on North America (Centro de Investigaciones sobre América del Norte, CISAN), UNAM.    
Project: “Trafficking of Migrants and Organized Crime in Central America, Mexico and the United States”

Participant in the 2015-2016 project: “The Rule of Law and Mexico’s Energy Reform” (organized by the Baker Institute’s Center for the United States and Mexico, Rice University, and the University of Houston’s Center for U.S. and Mexican Law, in collaboration with the Baker Institute’s Center for Energy Studies, the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, the Centro de Investigación para el Desarrollo, A.C. (CIDAC), and the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León).    
Individual project: “Security, the Rule of Law, and Energy Reform in Mexico” (with Dr. Tony Payan)

Participant in the project: “Circulations, Insecurity and Violence in Northeastern Mexico and South Texas” (organized by CONACYT-Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social, CIESAS-Noreste); Spring 2015-Fall 2016.    
Individual project 1: “Migration, Organized Crime and Human Trafficking in the Texas-Tamaulipas Border”    
Individual project 2: “Militarization and Social Media: The ‘Virtual’ War Against Organized Crime in Northeastern Mexico”

Research fellow (2013). The Freie Universität Berlin (Free University of Berlin)-Desigualdades.net    
Project: “Inequalities and Global Flows in Mexico’s Northeastern Border: The Effects of Migration, Trade, the Energy Industry, and Transnational Organized Crime”

Visiting researcher (Summer 2012). CISAN, UNAM    
Project: “Militarization, Paramilitarization and Organized Crime on the Texas-Tamaulipas Border”

Drugs, Security and Democracy (DSD) Postdoctoral Fellow (2011)[1]    
Project: “Violence on the ‘Forgotten’ (Texas-Tamaulipas) Border: Unemployment, Corruption, and the Paramilitarization of Organized Crime in Mexico’s New Democratic Era”

GRANTS

Principal Investigator / Co-Principal Investigator

Co-Principal Investigator (PI: Carlotta Domeniconi)    
Criminal Investigations and Network Analysis (CINA) Center    
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center of Excellence    
Project: “Using Deep Learning to Extract and Analyze Dynamic Knowledge Graphs of Criminal Networks from Publicly Available Text”    
$566,896 (24 months, starting July 1, 2024-June 30, 2026)

Co-Principal Investigator (PI: Naoru Koizumi)   
EAGER - Disrupting Operations of Illicit Supply Networks    
National Science Foundation (NSF)    
Project: “Network Analysis and Opportunities for Disruption of Organ Trafficking”    
$350,00 (24 months, starting September 1, 2018; extended until August 31, 2024)

Principal Investigator: FY 2014 International Programs to Combat Trafficking in Persons Grant    
Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Department of State    
Project: “Trafficking in Persons along Mexico’s Eastern Migration Routes: The Role of Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations”    
$200,000 (18 months, starting April 2015)

Collaborator / researcher

Course Support Grant    
Institute for Humane Studies (IHS)    
Project: “Fixing a Broken (Im)migration System and the Challenges of Human Smuggling”    
$44,100 (Fall 2025)

Collaborator: 21^st Century Borders SSHRC Partnership Grant    
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada    
Project: “Twenty-First Century Borders: Emergent Challenges Within and Among States” (April 1, 2021-March 30, 2028)

FELLOWSHIPS, AFFILIATIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Distinguished Visiting Scholars Program (Fall 2025)   
The John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding   
Dartmouth College   
Project: “The Industry of Human Smuggling and its Transnational Crime Networks”

Fulbright U.S. Scholar (September 1, 2024-May 31, 2025)   
Project: “Explaining Human Smuggling Networks in the Context of U.S. Bound Migration”   
Host institution: El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (El COLEF), Tijuana, Baja California

Fellow, Small Wars Journal - El Centro (2021-to date)

Affiliated faculty, Observatory of the Mexico-U.S. Binational Relationship, UNAM (2021 to date)

Non-resident Scholar, Center for the United States and Mexico, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University (October 1, 2017-December 31, 2021)   
Expert in the areas of Mexico-U.S. relations, organized crime, immigration, border security and human trafficking

Woodrow Wilson Center Global Fellow (August 1, 2017-December 31, 2021)   
Latin American Program

Short-term visiting fellow, Baker Institute’s Center for the United States and Mexico, Rice University (May 21 - June 8, 2018)   
Project: “The Improvised War: Calderón’s Years and Consequences” (with Dr. Tony Payan)

Woodrow Wilson Center Residential Fellowship (September 2016-July 2017)   
Project: “Trafficking in Persons, Irregular Immigration and Transnational Organized Crime in Central America and Mexico”

Research fellow at the Freie Universität Berlin - Desigualdades.net project (June–August 2013)

Drugs, Security and Democracy (DSD) Post-doctoral Fellowship (August 2011-July 2012)

Fulbright-García Robles Fellowship for Graduate Studies (Sep 2000-May 2002)

Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) Scholarship (Fall 2000–August 2006)

New School for Social Research Dissertation Fellowship (2003-2004)

New School for Social Research Graduate Teaching Fellowship (2003-2004)

New School for Social Research Tuition Scholarship (Fall 2000 - Fall 2003)

Janey Program for Latin American Studies Summer Grant (Summer 2004)

2002 Transregional Center for Democratic Studies (TCDS) New Social Science Training Fellowship (September-December 2002)

AWARDS

2018 President-Elect’s Outstanding Emerging Scholar Award, Western Social Science Association

2017-2018 Herman Brown Distinguished Scholar, Texas Christian University (TCU)

2015 Emerging Scholar of the Year Award; by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

PUBLICATIONS

Books

Frontera: A Journey across the U.S.-Mexico Border (co-authored with Sergio Chapa). Fort Worth, Texas: Texas Christian University Press (March 2024).

Las Cinco Vidas de Genaro Garcia Luna (co-authored with Tony Payan). Mexico City: El Colegio de México (January 2021).

La Guerra Improvisada: Los Años de Calderón y sus Consecuencias (co-authored with Tony Payan). Mexico City: Editorial Océano (April 2021).

Los Zetas Inc.: Criminal Corporation, Energy and Civil War in Mexico. Austin: University of Texas Press (August 2017).

Los Zetas Inc.: La Corporación Delictiva que Funciona como Empresa Transnacional. Mexico City: Editorial Planeta (September 2018).

Democracy in “Two Mexicos”: Political Institutions in Oaxaca and Nuevo León. New York: Palgrave Macmillan (2013).

Edited Collections

Special issue of Norteamérica CISAN, UNAM (guest editor): Trumpism and Mexico-U.S. Relations / Trumpismo y Relaciones México-Estados Unidos. Volume 19, Issue 1, 2024 (January-June 2024).

North American Borders in Comparative Perspective (co-edited with Victor Konrad). Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Press (April 2020).

Special issue of the Journal of Borderlands Studies (co-edited with Kathleen Staudt): The Multiple U.S.-Mexico Borders. Volume 29, Issue 4, 2014.

Book Chapters

“A Story of a Perilous Journey from Cuba to the United States” (coauthored with Jaime Scott; with notes from David Riede). In Benjamin C Gatling, ed., Telling Migrants’ Stories. Champaign, Illinois: University of Illinois Press [forthcoming].

“¿Qué es el Movimiento Regeneración Nacional (MORENA)?” (co-authored with Ricardo Raphael). In Loaeza, Soledad and Tony Payan, eds., El Estado de los Partidos Políticos y el Futuro de la Democracia en México. Mexico City: El Colegio de México [forthcoming].

“Militarización, Geopolítica y Soberanía Energética en Tiempos de la 4T” (co-authored with Carlos Daniel Gutiérrez-Mannix). In Irmgard Emmelhainz, eds., Contrahistoria del “Pueblo” Mexicano. Mexico City: Debate (2025).

“Mexico’s “Drug War,” the Energy Sector, and an Emerging Strategic Action Field.” In Bruno Dupeyron, Andrea Noferini and Tony Payan Agents, eds., Agents and Structures in Cross-Border Governance: North American and European Perspectives. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press (2023): pp. 113-140.

“Migración irregular, Trata de Personas y Crimen Organizado en Tres Ciudades Mexicanas: Matamoros, Reynosa y Nuevo Laredo” (co-authored with María Fernanda Machuca). In Érica Sarmiento and André Nunes de Azevedo, eds., Migrações e Cidades nas Américas: Processos Históricos e Análises do Tempo Presente / Migraciones y Ciudades en las Américas: Procesos Históricos y Análisis de la Actualidad. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Editora Ayran Eirele (2022): pp. 229-251.

“United States-Mexico Law Enforcement and Border Security Cooperation: An Institutional-Historical Perspective” (co-authored with Evan McCormick). In Tony Payan and Pamela Cruz, eds., Binational Commons: Institutional Development and Governance on the U.S.-Mexico Border. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Press (2020): pp. 258-290.

“The U.S.-Mexico Borderlands: Exploring Alternative Futures” (co-authored with Jason Ackleson). In Tony Payan, Alfonso López de la Osa Escribano and Jesús Guillermo Velasco, eds., The Future of U.S.-Mexico Relations: Strategic Forecasting. Houston, Texas: Arte Público, The University of Houston (2020): pp. 145-164.

“Una Guerra Improvisada: Lecciones para el Futuro de la Seguridad en México” (co-authored with Tony Payan). In John M. Ackerman, ed., El Cambio Democrático en México: Retos y Posibilidades de la “Cuarta Transformación. Mexico City: Siglo XXI, UNAM and EL INEHRM (2019): pp. 613-639.

“Oil, Gas, and Guns: War, Privatization, and Violence in Tamaulipas, Mexico” (co-authored with Carlos Daniel Gutiérrez-Mannix). In Dawn Paley and Simon Granovsky-Larsen, eds., Organized Violence and the Expansion of Capital. Regina, Canada: University of Regina Press (2019): pp. 135-161.

“Política Migratoria, Migración Irregular y Seguridad: Un Análisis de las Dos Fronteras Mexicanas.” In José Luis Calva, ed., Migración de Mexicanos a Estados Unidos: Derechos Humanos y Desarrollo (Vol. 20. Mexico 2018-2024: Nueva Estrategia de Desarrollo). Mexico City: Juan Pablos Editor, UNAM (2019): pp. 1032-1055.

“Militarización y Redes Sociales: La Guerra Virtual contra la Delincuencia Organizada en México.” In Efrén Sandoval Hernández, ed., Violentar la Vida en el Norte de México: Estado, Tráficos y Migraciones en la Frontera con Texas. Mexico City: CIESAS, Plaza y Valdés (2018): pp. 183-220.

“Migración Irregular, Delincuencia Organizada y Trata de Personas en la Frontera de Tamaulipas con Texas” (co-authored with María Fernanda Machuca). In Efrén Sandoval Hernández, ed., Violentar la Vida en el Norte de México: Estado, Tráficos y Migraciones en la Frontera con Texas. Mexico City: CIESAS, Plaza y Valdés (2018): pp. 303-325.

“Una Política de Seguridad ‘No Convencional’ y el Nuevo Paramilitarismo en México.” In Carlos Antonio Flores Pérez, ed., La Crisis de Seguridad y Violencia en México: Causas, Efectos y Dimensiones del Problema. Mexico City: CIESAS (2018): pp. 94-115.

“Militarización, Violencia y Límites a la Seguridad Ciudadana en un Estado en Crisis: El Caso de Tamaulipas.” In José Alfredo Zavaleta Betancourt and Arturo Alvarado Mendoza, eds., Violencia, Seguridad Ciudadana y Victimización en México. Pachuca, Hidalgo: Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (2018): pp. 213-236.

“The War on Drugs in Latin America from a Development Perspective.” In Julie Cupples, Marcela Palomino-Schalscha, and Manuel Prieto, eds., The Routledge Handbook of Latin American Development. New York, New York: Routledge (2018): pp. 132-144.

“Between the Sword and the Wall: Guatemalan Refugees in the Yucatán Peninsula” (co-authored with Arthur Sanders Montandon). In Gerhard Besier and Katarzyna Stokłosa, eds., How to Deal with Refugees? Europe as a Continent of Dreams. Münster, Germany: LIT Verlag (2018): pp. 131-153.

“Militarización y Violencia en Tamaulipas.” In Raúl Benítez Manaut and Sergio Aguayo Quezada, eds., Atlas de la Seguridad y la Defensa de México 2016. Mexico City: Colectivo de Análisis de la Seguridad con Democracia (CASEDE) and Instituto Belisario Domínguez del Senado de la República (2017): pp. 181-190.

“Participación Ciudadana y Seguridad en la Frontera Norte de México: Un Balance de las Experiencias.” In Socorro Arzaluz and Arturo Zárate Ruiz, eds., Frontera Norte y Ciudadanía ante la Encrucijada de la Inseguridad. Tijuana, Baja California: Colegio de la Frontera Norte (2017): pp. 219-238.

“Seguridad, Estado de Derecho y Reforma Energética en México” (co-authored with Tony Payan). In Tony Payan, Stephen Zamora and José Ramón Cossío, eds. El Estado de Derecho y la Reforma Energética. Mexico City: Tirant Lo Blanch México (2016): pp. 403-434.

“Undocumented Migration, Organized Crime and Trafficking in Persons along the Eastern U.S-Mexico Border” (co-authored with Jennifer Bryson Clark). In Werner Mackenbach and Günther Maihold, eds., Globalización, Migración, Convivencia. Perspectivas de Centroamérica y México. San José, Costa Rica: Editorial Jade (2015): pp. 39-51.

“Bilingual College Education at UTB: Improving Student Success in the Rio Grande Valley” (co-authored with Oralia de los Reyes). In Milo Kearney, Anthony Knopp, Antonio Zavaleta, and Thomas Daniel Knight, eds. Yet More Studies in Rio Grande Valley History (Vol. 13). Brownsville, Texas: The University of Texas at Brownsville (2015): pp. 339-359.

“Women and Violence on the ‘Forgotten’ Border.” In Milo Kearney, Anthony Knopp, and Antonio Zavaleta, eds. Still More Studies in Rio Grande Valley History (Vol. 12). Brownsville, Texas: The University of Texas at Brownsville (2014): pp. 233-254.

“Drug Wars, Social Networks and the Right to Information: Informal Media as Freedom of the Press in Northern Mexico” (co-authored with Jose Nava). In Tony Payan, Kathleen Staudt, and Z. Anthony Kruszewski, eds., A War that Can’t Be Won: Binational Perspectives on the War on Drugs. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Press (2013): pp. 96-118.

“Violencia en el Noreste Mexicano. El Caso Tamaulipas: Estado, Sociedad y Crimen Organizado.” In Vicente Sánchez Munguía, ed., Violencia e Inseguridad en los Estados Fronterizos del Norte de México en la Primera Década del Siglo XX1. Puebla, Puebla: Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (2013): pp. 139-162.

“Las Fuentes de Financiamiento como Determinantes de la Transformación del Modelo Económico en México (1940-1998)” (co-authored with Gerardo Jacobs and Vicente Cell). In Mauricio de Miranda, ed., Reforma Económica y Cambio Social en América Latina y el Caribe. Cuatro Casos de Estudio: Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, México. Bogotá, Colombia: TM Editores, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Cali (November 2000): pp. 96-140.

Articles

Peer-reviewed

“A Power Elite Alliance and Local Environmental Policy: Elon Musk in Cameron County” (coauthored with Michelle Keck). Case Studies in the Environment 8:1 (2024): 2317715. DOI: 10.1525/cse.2024.2317715

“Mexican Money Laundering in the United States: Analysis and Proposals for Reform” (coauthored with Charles Lewis and William Yaworsky). Journal of Illicit Economies and Development 6:1 (2024): pp. 64–78. DOI: 10.31389/jied.224.

“Paradojas del Trumpismo, la Crisis del Fentanilo y la Guerra Contra los Cárteles. Norteamérica CISAN-UNAM 19:1 (January-June 2024). DOI: 10.22201/cisan.24487228e.2024.1.668.

“Drugs, Elites and Impunity: The Paradoxes of Money Laundering and the “Too-Big-To-Fail” Concept” (co-authored with Charles Lewis and William Yaworsky). Small Wars Journal (January 2024): pp. 1-30.

“Social Network Analysis of Illicit Organ Trading Networks: The Medicus Case” (co-authored with Joshua Nielsen, Abu Bakkar Siddique, Meng-Hao Li, Monica Gentili, Seán Columb and Naoru Koizumi). Trends in Organized Crime (November, 2023), pp. 1-38. DOI: 10.1007/s12117-023-09513-1.

“Messengers of Justice: Social Network Analysis of Public Relations Support for Migrants” (co-authored with Cindy Azucena Gómez-Schempp, Naoru Koizumi, Rajendra Kulkarni and William Yaworsky). Atlantic Journal of Communication (December 20, 2022). DOI: 10.1080/15456870.2022.2150191.

“Notes on a Perilous Journey to the United States: Irregular Migration, Trafficking in Persons, and Transnational Organized Crime” (co-authored with Blair K. Schaefer). Latin American Politics and Society 64:3 (August 2022): pp. 142-160.

“New Studies and Trends in Human Mobility in the Americas: Assessing Migrant Smuggling Networks.” Symposium on International Human Mobility. APSA Migration and Citizenship Newsletter 9:1 (Summer 2022): pp. 13-20.

“A Dangerous Journey to the U.S. and a “New Deal” for Migrant Women and Girls” (co-authored with Michelle Keck). The Brown Journal of World Affairs 28:2 (Spring/Summer 2022): pp. 1-17.

“The End of the Merida Initiative?" Georgetown Journal of International Affairs 23:1 (Spring 2022): pp. 59-64. DOI: 10.1353/gia.2022.0010.

“North American Borders in Comparative Perspective During COVID Times” (co-authored with Victor Konrad). Norteamérica CISAN-UNAM 17:1 (January-June 2022): pp. 109-137. DOI: 10.22201/cisan.24487228e.2022.1.504.

“Assessing the International Influence of Private Philanthropy: The Case of Open Society Foundations” (co-authored with Lucas Nuñez and Hayden Ludwig). Global Studies Quarterly 1:4 (December 2021). DOI: 10.1093/isagsq/ksab039.

“Explicando las Caravanas Migrantes: ¿Hipótesis de Trabajo, Activismo Académico o Teorías Conspirativas?” (critical note; co-authored with Naoru Koizumi). Frontera Norte: International Journal of Borders, Territories and Regions 33 (November 15, 2021). DOI: 10.33679/rfn.v1i1.2197.

“Messengers of a Drug War in the Cyberspace: The Case of Tamaulipas” (co-authored with Rajendra G. Kulkarni, Patrick R. Baxter and Naoru Koizumi). Small Wars Journal (September 2021): pp. 1-30.

“Seguridad en México en tiempos de la 4T”. Política y Gobierno 28:2 (2021): pp. 27-35.

“The Nature of MS-13 in the American Context: A Transnational Comparison” (co-authored with Mariely López-Santana and Camilo Pardo-Herrera). International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice (July 6, 2021). DOI: 10.1080/01924036.2021.1949739.

“The Eagle, the Condor, and Exodus: New Directions in Political Theatre and Border Spectacle” (co-authored with William Yaworsky and Cindy A. Gómez-Schempp). Journal of Borderlands Studies 36:5 (2021): pp. 791-811. DOI: 10.1080/08865655.2021.1918570.

“Metodologías de Investigación, Crimen Organizado y Análisis de Redes Sociales: Un Estudio de Caso en la Frontera.” Revista Latinoamericana de Metodología de la Investigación Social 21:11 (April-September 2021): pp. 69-81.

“Borders in Transition: North American Borders in Comparative Perspective” (co-authored with Victor Konrad). L'Espace Politique 42:3 (2020): pp. 1-22.

“Migration, Border Security, and New Forms of Resistance in the Age of Trump.” Security and Peace (Sicherheit und Frieden, S+F) 38:2 (2020): pp. 100-105.

“Carteles Inc. Paramilitarismo Criminal, Energía y la Nueva ‘Guerra contra el Narco’ en México.” Confluenze. Rivista di Studi Iberoamericani 12:1 (2020): pp. 43-55.

“Transforming Mexico’s Energy Field: The Intended Consequences of a Drug War.” Small Wars and Insurgencies 30:2 (2019): pp. 489-517.

“Reforming Mexico’s Anti-trafficking in Persons Legislation” (co-authored with Arthur Sanders Montandon). Mexican Law Review 11:1 (2018): pp. 3-30.

“Re-victimizing Trafficked Migrant Women: The Southern Border Plan and Mexico’s Anti-trafficking Legislation” (co-authored with Jennifer Bryson Clark). Eurasia Border Review 8:1 (2017): pp. 55-70.

“Citizen Journalism: From Thomas in Boston to Twitter in Tamaulipas: A Case Study” (co-authored with Ruth Ann Ragland and María Machuca). The Journal of Social Media in Society 5:3 (2016): pp. 283-315.

“Workers, Parties and a "New Deal:" A Comparative Analysis of Corporatist Alliances in Mexico and the United States, 1910-1940” (co-authored with Ruth Ann Ragland). Labor History 57:3 (2016): pp. 323-346.

“U.S. Drug Policy and Supply Side Strategies: Assessing Effectiveness and Results” (co-authored with Michelle Keck). Norteamérica CISAN-UNAM 10:2 (July-December 2015): pp. 47-67.

“Inequalities and Global Flows in Mexico’s Northeastern Border: The Effects of Migration, Commerce, Hydrocarbons, and Transnational Organized Crime.” Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies 40:3 (Autumn 2015): pp. 326-350.

“Losing the Monopoly of Violence: The State, a Drug War, and the Paramilitarization of Organized Crime in Mexico (2007-2010)” (co-authored with Michelle Keck and Jose Nava). State Crime Journal 4:1 (2015): pp. 77-95.

“Violence on the “Forgotten” Border: Mexico’s Drug War, the State, and Paramilitarization of Organized Crime in Tamaulipas in a ‘New Democratic Era’”. Journal of Borderlands Studies 29:4 (2014): pp. 419-433.

“The Phenomenology of Perception and Fear: Security and the Reality of the U.S.-Mexico Border” (co-authored with Terence Garrett). Journal of Borderlands Studies 29:2 (2014): pp. 243-255.

“Seguridad y Migración en las Dos Fronteras de México: Diagnóstico y Recomendaciones de Política y Cooperación Regional.” Revista Migración y Desarrollo 12:22 (first semester 2014): pp. 147-171.

“Administrative Surveillance and Fear: Implications for U.S.-Mexico Border Relations and Governance” (co-authored with Terence Garrett and Michelle Keck). European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies 96 (April 2014): pp. 35-53.

“Desarrollo Empresarial, Inversión Extranjera y Crimen Organizado en México: Los Efectos Reales de la Violencia (2006-2010).” Panorama Socioeconómico 31:46 (July 2013): pp. 25-36.

“Security, Migration, and the Economy in the Texas-Tamaulipas Border Region: The ‘Real’ Effects of Mexico's Drug War.” Politics & Policy 41:1 (February 2013): pp. 65-82.

“The Spectacle of Drug Violence: American Public Discourse, Media and Border Enforcement in the Texas-Tamaulipas Border Region during Drug War Times.” Norteamérica CISAN-UNAM 7:2 (July-December 2012): pp. 199-220.

“Mexico’s Economic Dilemmas and Democratic Challenges in an Era of Reform.” Latin American Politics and Society 54:4 (Winter 2012): pp. 179-188.

“The Mathematics of Mexico-U.S. Migration and U.S. Immigration Policy,” co-authored with Miriam Rojas-Arenaza. Policy Studies 33:4 (July 2012): pp. 297-312.

“Political Cohesion in Northern Mexico: The Case of Nuevo León (1994-2006)." The Journal of South Texas 25:1 (Spring 2012): pp. 4-39.

“Political Factionalism in Southern Mexico: The Case of Oaxaca (2000-2006)." The Journal of Politics in Latin America 4:1 (2012): pp. 73-106.

Non peer-reviewed

“The Onion of Kensington” (coauthored with Sergio Chapa). The American Prospect 36:1 (February 25, 2025): pp. 50-55.

“Addressing the US Immigration Crisis in the Era of ‘America First’.” Global Policy Journal (February 14, 2025).

“Cartels Are Not ‘Foreign Terrorist Organizations,’ but Terror in Mexico Is Real.” Texas Observer (January 29, 2025).

“The Dangerous Narrative of the War on Cartels." Georgetown Journal of International Affairs (November 23, 2024).

“La 4T Ante el Crimen” (co-authored with Ricardo Ravelo Galó). Nexos (May 4, 2024).

“An Unwinnable Drug War.” Texas Observer (March-April, 2024).

“Cabilderos contra la Reforma al Sector Eléctrico, Estado y Soberanía.” El Cotidiano - Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) 37:232 (March-April 2022): pp. 65-77.

“Field Report: Security in Tamaulipas Today: Simulated Peace” (co-authored with Jorge A. Pérez). Small Wars Journal - El Centro (January 3, 2022). Field Report: Security in Tamaulipas Today: Simulated Peace (Spanish version).

“Two Big Risks of Forced Migrations: Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons” in Gender-Based Violence Dispatch No. 6 (co-authored with Beatriz García Nice). Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson Center (December, 2021).

“U.S. Immigration Policy for Cubans: From Revolution to COVID-19” (co-authored with Elliot Spagat). Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson Center (October, 2020).

“Chronicles of a War Foretold.” NACLA Report on the Americas 52:1 (Spring 2020): pp. 41-46.

“The Myths of Central American Undocumented Immigration and MS-13 in the United States” (co-authored with Mariely López-Santana). Symposium Issue: ‘Border Myths: Exploring the Myths and Realities of Immigration Policies at the Border’. California Western International Law Journal 50:1 (Fall 2019): pp. 119-138.

“Energy and Security in Mexico: The Real Winners of a Drug War.” Fletcher Security Review 5:1 (Summer 2018): pp. 57-62.

Wilson Center policy report: Arguments to Reform Mexico’s Anti-Trafficking Legislation (co-authored with Arthur Sanders Montandon). Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson Center (March 22, 2018).

“New Forms of Crime and Violence in the Americas: Human Trafficking, Transnational Organized Crime and Migration in Central America and Mexico.” Hemisphere 26 (Summer 2017): pp. 32-33.

“Crimen, Corrupción y Pérdida del Monopolio de la Violencia en Honduras: Reflexiones y Apuntes de Viaje a San Pedro Sula, Choloma, El Progreso y la Ceiba.” Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson Center (June 2017).

“La Peligrosa Trayectoria de la Niñez Migrante hacia Estados Unidos.” Seguridad y Sociedad 6:14 (December 2016): pp. 8-13.

“Rhetoric, Policy and Reality: U.S. Border Security and Migration Reform.” Voices of Mexico 99 (Spring-Summer 2015): pp. 11-13.

“Militarización y Seguridad Ciudadana en Tamaulipas: Dilemas de la Sociedad Civil y Límites a la Participación Ciudadana en una Entidad donde el Estado Perdió el Monopolio de la Violencia.” In Taller sobre Seguridad Ciudadana en México. Monterrey, Nuevo León: Woodrow Wilson Center, CAF - Development Bank of Latin America, and Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey (October 2014).

“Violence and Foreign Direct Investment in Mexico: The Economic Impact of the ‘War Against Drugs’.” Voices of Mexico 96 (Autumn 2013): pp. 17-22.

“A Business Perspective on Violence and Organized Crime.” Voices of Mexico 94 (Autumn 2012): pp. 19-22.

“La Vuelta en ‘U’ de la Transición Mexicana: Los Límites de la Democracia Electoral a Diez Años de la Alternancia.” Revista Folios 4:24 (Autumn 2011): pp. 74-80.

“El Actual Modelo de Desarrollo: Orígenes y Perspectivas” (co-authored with Gerardo Jacobs). Bien Común y Gobierno 23 (July 2000): pp. 13-26.

Encyclopedia Entries

“Mexico” (co-authored with Carlos Daniel Gutiérrez-Mannix). The SAGE Encyclopedia of Surveillance, Security, and Privacy. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications (2018).

“Latinos and U.S. Policy.” The Encyclopedia of United States - Latin American Relations (EUSLA). Washington, DC: CQ Press (2012).

“First Meeting of American Presidents (Panama), 1956.” The Encyclopedia of United States - Latin American Relations (EUSLA). Washington, DC: CQ Press (2012).

“Second Meeting of American Presidents (Punta del Este), 1967.” The Encyclopedia of United States - Latin American Relations (EUSLA). Washington, DC: CQ Press (2012).

Book Reviews

Howard Campbell, Downtown Juárez: Underworlds of Violence and Abuse. In North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) (March 18, 2022).

Nilda M. García, Drug War and Criminal Networks: The Dark Side of Social Media. In Small Wars Journal (December 2020).

Kathleen Staudt, Border Politics in a Global Era: Comparative Perspectives. In Journal of Borderlands Studies 35:2 (2020): pp. 315-316.

George W. Grayson, The Cartels: The Story of Mexico’s Most Dangerous Criminal Organizations and Their Impact on U.S. Security. In Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books (September 2014).

Diego E. Osorno, La Guerra de Los Zetas: Viaje por la Frontera de la Necropolítica. In Critical Reviews on Latin American Research 3:1 (2014).

Ricardo Ravelo, Zetas: La Franquicia Criminal. In Diario 19 (February 23, 2014).

Shannon Speed, Rights in Rebellion: Indigenous Struggle and Human Rights in Chiapas. In Latin American Politics and Society 50:4 (Winter 2008): pp. 193-196.

Issue Briefs and Public Policy Reports

“Dismantling Migrant Smuggling Networks in the Americas.” Policy Brief (June 2022). Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

“Desafíos de la Seguridad Fronteriza, la Cooperación Internacional y la Agenda Post-Covid-19.” In Gestión de la Seguridad y Migración en Fronteras de Europa y América del Norte: Cooperación O Exclusión en Contexto Covid-19. El COLEF and Asociación de Regiones Fronterizas Europeas (RFE, 2020), Tijuana, Baja California: pp. 24-27.

“El Desafío de la Seguridad Fronteriza a un Año de gobierno de la 4T.” In Desafíos Sociales en la Frontera Norte de México a un Año de Gobierno de AMLO. Laboratorio de Estudios sobre Violencia en la Frontera Norte (LEVIF, 2019). El COLEF, Tijuana, Baja California: pp. 18-21.

“Political Turpitude: The Negative Impact of Zero-Tolerance Immigration Policies on Irregular Labor Markets” (co-authored with Tony Payan). Issue Brief no. 07.09.18. Rice University’s Baker Institute, Houston, Texas.

“Mexican Armed Forces and Security in Mexico” (co-authored with Tony Payan). Issue Brief no. 05.31.16. Rice University’s Baker Institute, Houston, Texas.

“Land Ownership and Use under Mexico’s Energy Reform” (co-authored with Tony Payan). Issue Brief no. 10.29.14. Rice University’s Baker Institute, Houston, Texas.

“Energy Reform and Security in Northeastern Mexico” (co-authored with Tony Payan). Issue Brief no. 05.06.14. Rice University’s Baker Institute, Houston, Texas.

Other Publications

“Política Migratoria, Migración Irregular y Seguridad: Un Análisis de las Dos Fronteras Mexicanas” post scriptum. In José Luis Calva, ed., Migraciones de Mexicanos y Políticas Migratorias, Agenda para el Desarrollo 2024-2030, vol. 20. Mexico City: Consejo Nacional de Universitarios and Editorial Fontamara (2025): pp. 188-191.

“La Guerra por Sonora (y sus Recursos).” In Sentido Común 03 (August 21, 2022): pp. 38-41.

“A Perilous Journey Along the Darién Gap” (coauthored with Jaime Scott). In North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) (October 14, 2021).

“Guerra, Narcoterror y Crónicas de Carteles.” In Revista Líder México 4:40 (January 2020): pp. 42-48.

“Crónicas de una Guerra Anunciada.” In Revista Líder México 3:39 (December 2019): pp. 48-49.

“Paramilitarismo. Después de Doce Años, estos son sus Efectos en México.” In Revista Líder México 3:38 (November 2019): pp. 50-52.

“La Lucha Interna que Divide al Imperio.” In Revista Líder México 3:36 (September 2019): pp. 40-42.

“El Chapo and Mexico’s Drug War Spectacle” (coauthored with Laura Weiss). In North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) (March 4, 2019).

“Magic is Not Always Good” (co-authored with Kathleen Staudt). In The Inquisitive Eater, The New School (January 10, 2019).

“Crónicas de Cárteles, Breitbart y la Guerra que Bosquejan en México.” In Newsweek en Español [cover story] 21:35 (September 1, 2017); pp. 16-22.

“La Tregua con Las Maras que Destruyó el Estado” (Interview with former guerrilla member Raúl Mijango). In Newsweek en Español [cover story] 20:24 (June 6, 2016); pp. 14-22.

Foreword of the book Drug War Capitalism by Dawn Marie Paley. Oakland, CA: AK Press (2014).

“Migración, Crimen Organizado y Política en las Dos Fronteras de México.” Revista Internacional de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, SOCIOTAM 24:2 (July-December 2014): pp. 87-113. [Revised version of article in Revista Migración y Desarrollo 12:22 entitled “Seguridad y Migración en las Dos Fronteras de México: Diagnóstico y Recomendaciones de Política y Cooperación Regional”]

“El Rascatripas. Hombre, Unos 35 Años de Edad.” In Lolita Bosch and Alejandro Vélez Salas, eds., Tú y Yo Coincidimos en la Noche Terrible. Mexico City: Nuestra Aparente Rendición (2012): pp. 89-90.

Op-Eds

“El Infierno en Sonora y la Guerra de Trump.” El Universal, November 18, 2024.

“The Myth of the Mexican ‘Cartels.” Small Wars Journal, April 17, 2023.

“Closing Roxham Road Loophole A Benefit to All Migrants” (co-authored with Christian Leuprecht). National Post, April 14, 2023.

“Michael Moore Documentary ‘Planet of the Humans’ Unveils Flaws with Renewable Energy” (co-authored with Alexander Dunlap). Houston Chronicle, May 28, 2020.

“COVID-19 and the Future of North American Borders” (co-authored with Victor Konrad). Houston Chronicle, May 11, 2020.

“Central American Caravans are not Organic Migrations. What Forces are Behind Them?” In The Dallas Morning News (May 14, 2019).

“Caravanizando la Migración: Una Perspectiva desde México” (coauthored with Alejandro Solalinde). In Proceso magazine (May 5, 2019).

“Paradojas del Activismo Migratorio: ¿Coyotes o Robin Hoods?” (co-authored with Alan Bersin). El Heraldo de México, January 18, 2019.

“Activistas Defensores de Migrantes y Traficantes de Personas. El Fin de la Inocencia” (co-authored with Alan Bersin). El Informador, January 3, 2019.

“Migrant Activists and Human Smugglers Collaborated at the Southern Border: Innocents Lost” (co-authored with Alan Bersin). The Hill, December 29, 2018.

“Is MS-13 as dangerous as Trump suggests?” (co-authored with Mariely López-Santana and Camilo Pardo). Monkey Cage, The Washington Post, December 7, 2018. 

“AMLO y la Frontera: ¿Seguirá México siendo el Patio Trasero de Estados Unidos?” Aristegui Noticias, August 17, 2018.

“Mexico's New President AMLO and Donald Trump Have Promised Mutual 'Respect.' How Long Can That Last?” TIME Magazine, July 3, 2018.

“Yuriria Sierra, Leon Krauze, Emiliano Salinas y La Trata Electoral.” Revista Polemón, June 25, 2018.

“Mexico’s Drug War and Neoliberal Energy Reforms Could Be Good for Business, Especially Mercenary Companies.” Upside Down World, October 2, 2017.

“Criminal Corporations, Energy, and Militarization in the Age of Trump” (commentary). Austin, TX: University of Texas Press (2017).

“Gobierno espía: Gobierno inepto.” Newsweek en Español, July 3, 2017.

“Immigration and border security in the age of Trump.” The Expert Take, Mexico Institute, Woodrow Wilson Center. March 24, 2017. 

“¿A quién le conviene que se olvide la violencia en Tamaulipas?” AMÉXICA-Univision, August 12, 2016.

“Visiones fronterizas sobre seguridad: la realidad “desde dentro” en ambos lados.” AMÉXICA-Univision, July 18, 2016.

“¿Qué está detrás de la elección en Tamaulipas? Seguridad y energía.” Sinembargo.mx, May 29, 2016.

“Seguridad Fronteriza y Reforma Migratoria en los Estados Unidos: Retórica, Política y Realidad.” La Frontera, 35:2 (Spring 2015): pp. 14-15.

“New Economic Opportunities on the U.S.-Mexico Border Amid the Drug War.” La Frontera, 34:1 (Fall 2013): p. 4.

“Achieving Border Security: A Matter of Money or Competency? The Baker Institute Viewpoints series: Border Spending / Houston Chronicle, August 1, 2013.

Commentaries

“Can Businesses Stay Safe from Gangs in Mexico?” Contribution to Latin America Advisor (The Dialogue), Featured Q&A (August 21, 2024).

“Will Cuba e Able to Strengthen its Electrical Grid?“ Contribution to Latin America Energy Advisor (The Dialogue), Featured Q&A (March 29, 2024).

“Why Is Mexico Reconsidering its Oil Donations to Cuba?“ Contribution to Latin America Energy Advisor (The Dialogue), Featured Q&A (October 13, 2023).

Blogs

Blog of 12 episodes in Borderzine: Reporting across Fronteras (The University of Texas at El Paso, UTEP): “A Nine-Day Road Trip Hugging the Texas-Mexico Border” (co-authored with journalist Sergio Chapa)

BOOKS IN PROGRESS

Book manuscripts:

Coyotes LLC: The Industry of Human Smuggling and its Transnational Crime Networks [in contrt with Columbia University Press; to be completed Fall 2025].

Cartels Inc.–A New Generation: Transnational Criminal Networks, Energy and Civil War in Mexico [Second edition of Los Zetas Inc.; University of Texas Press; to be completed in August 2026].

PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS

Keynote presentations and other featured lectures

“Frontera: The Rio Grande Valley Advantage.” Featured lecture at South Texas College (McAllen, Texas; November 5, 2024).

“Beyond Boundaries: A Dialogue on U.S.-Mexico Border Security.” Featured lecture at South Texas College (McAllen, Texas; November 4, 2024).

“My Experience as an Immigrant in the United States.” Featured presentation at the 7th Annual Community Dinner of Undocu@Mason (GMU, Fairfax, VA; April 28, 2024).

“Failed Drug Policy in the United States in the Era of a Fentanyl Crisis.” Guest speaker, Casper Committee on Foreign Relations Business Meeting (Casper, WY; April 11, 2024).

“My Journey and A Dangerous Journey to the United States in an Era of Opportunities.” Keynote address at the Education and Health Research Hub Conference on College Students of Immigrant: “Research, Practice and Community Engagement” (Fairfax, VA; February 2, 2024).

“Comparative Authoritarianism in Latin America.” Featured speaker, Democracy and Anti-Corruption Defenders (DAC) Fellowship Program Speaker Series (Arlington, VA; January 22, 2024).

“Evolución del Crimen Organizado en la Frontera México-USA.” Featured presentation; Series: “Diálogos Desde la Frontera” of El COLEF (Tijuana, Baja California; November 25, 2024).

“U.S.-Mexico Relations, Border Security Policy and Social Movements.” Keynote speaker, U.S. Department of State's International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) project titled “Border Security – Manpower, Technology, and Infrastructure” (Arlington, VA; October 31, 2023).

“Mexico and the 2024 U.S. Elections.” Keynote speaker, 34^th International Congress on Electoral Studies: “Representation and Legitimacy in the Construction of Democracy” organized by El COLEF (Tijuana, Baja California; October 20, 2022).

“Risks for Migrants in an Era of Opportunities: Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons.” Distinguished Speaker, LMI’s Event to Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month: “Prosperity, Power and Progress” (Tysons, VA; September 20, 2023).

“The Current State of U.S.-Mexico Relations and U.S.-Mexico Border Security.” Keynote speaker, U.S. Department of State's International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) project titled “Border Security Management” (Arlington, VA; September 12, 2023).

“Immigration Issues in Times of Crises.” Guest speaker, Casper Committee on Foreign Relations Business Meeting (Casper, WY; May 11, 2023).

“The Current State of U.S.-Mexico Relations: Partners or Distant Neighbors?” Keynote speaker, Dr. Erich Liebert World Affairs Lecture Series, Florida Gulf Coast University (Fort Myers, FL; February 24, 2023).

“U.S.-Mexico Relations and Border Relations Today.” Guest speaker, Foreign Policy Association Business Meeting (Harrisburg, PA; November 29, 2022).

“Notas sobre un Peligroso Viaje a los Estados Unidos: Migración Irregular, Trata de Personas y Delincuencia Organizada.” Guest speaker, online conference to commemorate “World Day Against Trafficking in Persons” organized by the Council and the Attorney General’s Office of the state of Chihuahua, Mexico (online; August 2, 2022).

"AMLO’s Electricity Reform Proposal” ("Charla sobre la propuesta de reforma eléctrica del presidente de México, Andrés Manuel López Obrador"). Featured lecture hosted by the Mexican Studies Group, the Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY), Mexican Studies Institute. (online; May 4, 2022).

“Impact of COVID-19 on Migrant Communities.” Guest speaker, Kozmetsky Center of St. Edwards University (online; March 23, 2021).

“Mexico’s Role in Curbing Migration from the Northern Triangle.” Guest lecture hosted by Cornell’s Political Union, Cornell University (Ithaca, NY; October 29, 2019).

“Delincuencia Organizada, Tráfico Humano y Trata de Migrantes en México en la Era de las Caravanas.” Guest speaker, the Permanent Symposium on Human Trafficking, Special Program on Human Trafficking (Cátedra Extraordinaria sobre Trata de Personas), UNAM (Mexico City; September 2, 2019).

“A Border Support Network: Pseudo-activism and Homeland Security in the Age of Migrant Caravans.” Keynote speaker, Homeland Security Conference: On the Boarder by the Sea, UTRGV (Brownsville, Texas; May 23-24, 2019).

“Latin America, Immigration, Security and U.S. Policy Issues.” Pearson Lunch and Learn, and conversation with Obama Foundation Scholars. Hosted by the Harris School of Public Policy and The Pearson Institute, The University of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois; May 8, 2019).

“A Crisis at the Border? A Wall and Caravans in the Context of U.S. Hegemony and the Monroe Doctrine.” Featured speaker, Franklin & Marshall College (Lancaster, Pennsylvania: April 9, 2019).

“Mexico’s Transnational Organized Crime.” Guest speaker, Joint Task Force North, Department of Defense (El Paso, Texas; February 27, 2019).

“The Spectacle of the Wall and U.S. Border Security.” Reves Distinguished Lectures in International Studies, William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia; February 19, 2019).

“The United States and Mexico: Partnership Tested.” Guest speaker, 2019 Great Decisions lecture series (Williamsburg, Virginia; February 19, 2019).

“Criminal Corporations, Extractive Industries and A Drug War: Organized Crime and Late Capitalism at the Mexico-U.S. Border.” Featured lecture at Leiden University (Leiden, The Netherlands; June 13, 2018).

“The Spectacle of U.S.-Mexico Border Security: Drugs, Immigration, and Political Rhetoric in the Trump Era.” The Herman Brown Distinguished Scholar Lecture, Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, Texas; February 5, 2018).

“Delincuencia Organizada en Centroamérica y las Fronteras. Un Problema de Seguridad Regional." Featured speaker, opening of the Master’s Program in Hemispheric Security 2018 - Mexico’s Federal Police (Mexico City; January 12, 2018).

“The History of U.S-Mexico Border Security Cooperation: From “Distant Neighbors” to Partners.” Keynote speaker, Second International Conference on Border Studies, UTRGV (Brownsville, Texas; October 27, 2017).

“Riesgos de la Inversión Empresarial Transfronteriza México-Estados Unidos.” Keynote speaker, 3^rd International Congress: Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, and Competitiveness, Instituto Tecnológico de la Paz (La Paz, Baja California Sur; May 2-4, 2017).

“The Future of U.S.-Mexico Relations.” Featured speaker, Elliott School of International Affairs of George Washington University (Washington, DC; February 22, 2017).

“Right-Wing Populism and the Future of Mexico-U.S. Border Relations.” Guest speaker, Centre for Border Region Studies of Southern Denmark University (Sønderborg, Denmark; February 16, 2017).

“Challenges and Opportunities in United States-Mexico Relations.” Guest speaker, Kozmetsky Center of St. Edwards University (Austin, Texas; February 8, 2017).

“Security and the Energy Sector in the Tamaulipas-Texas Border: Real Winners and Losers of a so-called ‘War on Drugs’.” Featured speaker, International Congress on Border Studies, UTRGV (Brownsville, Texas; October 19, 2016).

“Connecting the Dots: Drug War Capitalism, Police Violence, Anti-Immigrant Hype, Militarization, and Communities of Resistance.” Featured speaker, 11^th Annual Gathering, People for Peace and Justice, South Texas College (Weslaco, Texas; February 13, 2016).

“A Dangerous Journey to the United States.” Keynote speaker at an event in commemoration of International Human Rights Day; hosted by Casa de Proyecto Libertad and Movimiento del Valle por los Derechos Humanos (Brownsville, Texas; December 10, 2015).

“Paramilitarism and the Energy Sector in Mexico.” Guest speaker, Conference Series on State Violence and Illegalities organized by CIESAS-Noreste (Monterrey, Nuevo León; June 19, 2015).

“Energy and Security along the Eastern U.S.-Mexico Border: Challenges and Opportunities in the Framework of Mexico’s Energy Reform.” Guest speaker, Quarterly Public Affairs Luncheon of the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce (South Padre Island, Texas; April 15, 2015).

“Energy, Organized Crime, and Violence in Mexico (2006-2014).” Guest speaker, 2015 Harvard College Initiative for Latin American Relations (HILAR) Conference (Querétaro, Querétaro; March 14, 2015).

“Opportunities and Challenges of Mexico’s Energy Reform in Tamaulipas.” Featured speaker, “U.S.-Mexico Energy Forum” (Brownsville, Texas; October 6, 2014).

“Los Zetas Inc. An Emerging Transnational Corporation, Hydrocarbons, and Mexico’s Drug War.” Featured speaker, Montana State University Billings (Billings, Montana; November 8, 2013).

“The Texas-Mexico Border Today: Violence, Economic Development, Trade and Hydrocarbons.” Guest speaker, Rotary Harlingen (Harlingen, Texas; September 6, 2013).

“Human Trafficking, Undocumented Immigration and Organized Crime in Mexico and the United States.” Guest speaker, Rio Grande Valley Partnership Chamber of Commerce (Weslaco, Texas; March 28, 2013).

“Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling in the Rio Grande Valley.” Guest speaker, Valley International Country Club/VICC (Brownsville, Texas; March 20, 2013).

“Seguridad, Migración y Economía en la Frontera Este México-Estados Unidos: Los Efectos ‘Reales’ de la Denominada ‘Guerra contra las Drogas’.” Keynote speaker at the strategic event to commemorate the 30^th Anniversary of El Colegio de la Frontera Norte: “Diagnóstico de la Realidad Social, Económica y Cultural de la Violencia y la Delincuencia en Municipios: Reflexiones Comparativas” (Monterrey, Nuevo León; October 24, 2012).

“Violencia en el Este de la Frontera México-Estados Unidos: Narcotráfico y Militarización.” Featured speaker, CISAN, UNAM (Mexico City; August 20, 2012).

“El Caso de Tamaulipas y los Zetas: Claves para Entender la Nueva Configuración del Crimen Organizado en México.” Featured speaker, CISAN, UNAM (Mexico City; August 15, 2012).

“The Present and Future of Organized Crime in Mexico.” Guest speaker, Valley International Country Club/VICC (Brownsville, Texas; April 20, 2012).

“Violence on the ‘Forgotten Border’: Cartel Wars in Tamaulipas, Mexico and its Border with Texas.” Keynote speaker, 25^th Annual Public Administration Theory Network (PAT-Net) Conference (South Padre Island, Texas; May 20-23, 2012).

“The Current Dilemmas of ‘Illegal’ Immigration in Mexico and the U.S: Poverty, Drugs, and Policy.” Featured speaker, Sixth Annual Conference on Human Trafficking, South Texas College (McAllen, Texas; April 16-18, 2012).

“Flujos de Inversión, Desarrollo Empresarial y Seguridad en México: Las Empresas Mexicanas y Extranjeras en un Entorno Violento.” Keynote speaker, First International Congress: Business Administration and Management in the 21^st Century, Instituto Tecnológico de la Paz (La Paz, Baja California Sur; February 13-15, 2012).

“Violence along the Texas-Mexico Border: Economic and Social Effects on Border Communities.” Guest speaker, South Padre Island Faculty Lecture Series, Club Padre (South Padre Island, Texas; January 20, 2012).

“Violence along the Texas-Mexico Border: Implications for Border Communities.” Guest speaker at event organized by the Pan American Round Table of Beeville, Texas (Beeville Country Club; October 6, 2011).

“Seguridad Fronteriza y Narcotráfico en México - El Caso Tamaulipas y los Zetas: Clave para Comprender el Crimen Organizado en el País.” Featured presentation at Universidad Iberoamericana (Mexico City; November 7, 2011).

Academic conferences (paper presentations)

“Public Opinion and the Paradoxes of Elon Musk's Space Project: The Case of SpaceX in Cameron County, Texas” (co-authored with Michelle Keck and Dongkyu Kim). Paper to be presented at the 82^nd Annual Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) National Conference (Chicago, Illinois; April 3-6, 2025).

“Messengers of Justice: Social Network Analysis of Public Relations Support for Migrants." Paper presented at the “Dupont Summit on Science, Technology and Environmental Policy” (online; December 6, 2024).

“Paradojas del Trumpismo, la Crisis del Fentanilo y la Guerra Contra los Cárteles.” Paper presented at the conference organized by Norteamérica/CISAN-UNAM: "Temas del Trumpismo en las Elecciones Presidenciales de Estados Unidos en 2024" (Mexico City; October 23-24, 2024).

“Frontera: A Journey across the U.S.-Mexico Border.” Book presentation at the Mexican Association of International Studies (AMEI) (Chihuahua, Chihuahua; October 16-18, 2024).

“Public Opinion and the Paradoxes of Elon Musk's Space Project in Cameron County, TX:

A Survey of Cameron County Residents’ Perceptions of SpaceX” (co-authored with Michelle Keck and Dongkyu Kim). Paper presented at the 120^h Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association (APSA) (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; September 5-8, 2024).

“U.S. Bound Migration and the Industry of Human Smuggling.” Paper presented at the International Studies Association (ISA) 2024 Annual Convention (San Francisco; April 3-6, 2024).

“Elites, Technology and Local Environmental Policy in the Era of Elon Musk” (co-authored with Michelle Keck). Paper presented at the 119^th Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association (APSA) (Los Angeles, California; August 31-September 3, 2023).

“A Power Elite Alliance and Local Environmental Policy: Elon Musk in Cameron County” (co-authored with Michelle Keck). Paper presented at the 27^th World Congress of Political Science of the International Political Science Association (IPSA) (Buenos Aires, Argentina; July 15-19, 2023).

“U.S. Facilitators of Mexican Corruption and Organized Crime at the Border: The Logics of Money Laundering in the United States and Mexico (co-authored with Charles Lewis and William Yaworsky). Paper presented at the Third World Conference of the Association for Borderland Studies (ABS) (Eilat, Israel; February 13-18, 2023).

“Militarización, Geopolítica y Soberanía Energética” (co-authored with Carlos Daniel Gutiérrez-Mannix). Paper presented at the 5^th Latin American and Caribbean Congress of Social Sciences - Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) 2022 (Montevideo, Uruguay; November 16-18, 2022).

“Redes de Poder detrás de la Violencia y el Consumo de Drogas en México y Estados Unidos. Crítica al Marco Bicentenario.” Paper presented at the 5^th Latin American and Caribbean Congress of Social Sciences – FLACSO 2022 (Montevideo, Uruguay; November 16-18, 2022).

“Money Laundering by Mexican Politicians in the United States” (co-authored with William Yaworsky and Charles Lewis). Paper presented at the 82^nd Annual Meeting Society for Applied Anthropology (Salt Lake City, Utah; March 22-26, 2022).

“Ethics and the Facilitation of Human Mobility. A Perilous Journey from Cuba to the United States” (co-authored with Jaime Scott). Paper presented at the Academic and Policy Symposium “Contested Meanings of Migration Facilitation: Emigration Agents, Coyotes, Rescuers, and Human Traffickers” organized by University of California Berkeley (online conference; November 15-17, 2021).

“Mensajeros de Una Guerra Contra las Drogas en el Ciberespacio: El Caso de Tamaulipas” (co-authored with Rajendra G. Kulkarni, Patrick R. Baxter and Naoru Koizumi). Paper presented at the International Conference “Problemas Actuales de México: Violencia, Seguridad y Justicia" organized by Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), El Colegio de México, Jagiellonian University and UNAM (online conference; November 9, 2021).

“Assessing the International Influence of Private Philanthropy: The Case of Open Society Foundations” (co-authored with Lucas Nuñez and Hayden Ludwig). Paper presented at the 117^th APSA Annual Meeting (Seattle, Washington; September 30-October 3, 2021).

“Organized Crime and Research Methods at the Border: A Feminist Perspective.” Roundtable at the 2021 ABS Annual Conference (online conference; April 15-17, 2021).

“The Eagle, the Condor, and Exodus: New Directions in Political Theatre and Border Spectacle” (co-authored with William Yaworsky and Cindy A. Gomez-Schempp). Paper presented at the International Studies Association (ISA) 2021 Annual Convention (online conference; April 6-9, 2021).

“A Caravan/Border Support Network: American Activism, Counterinsurgency and the Geopolitics of Border Security.” Paper presentation at the symposium “New Directions at the Border,” hosted by the Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environmental Studies at Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada; October 17, 2019).

“Border Support Networks: Migrant Caravans, U.S. Activism and Social Network Analysis” (co-authored with Naoru Koizumi, Rajendra Kulkarni and Cindy A. Gomez-Schempp). Paper presented at the 116^th APSA Annual Meeting (online conference; September 10-13, 2020).

“North American Borders in Comparative Perspective: Parallels and Inequalities in an Era of Global Transition” (with Victor Konrad). Paper presented at the International Colloquium “Frontières dans les Amériques,“ Université Grenoble Alpes (Grenoble, France; June 11-13, 2019).

“The Truth about ‘The Caravans’: A Network Analysis of American Pseudo-Activism and Homeland Security” (co-authored with Cindy A. Gomez-Schempp). Paper presented at the 61^st ABS Annual Conference (San Diego, California; April 24-28, 2019).

“The United States-Mexico Borderlands: Exploring Alternative Futures” (co-authored with Jason Ackleson). Paper presented at the 2019 American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Conference (Washington, DC; March 8-12, 2019).

“Los Mexicanos Ilegales en Los Estados Unidos: A Human Problem” (co-authored with Alfonso Correa-Coss). Presentation at the 16^th Border Regions in Transition (BRIT) Conference (Nigeria-Benin Republic; October 15-18, 2018).

“The State vs. the Maras: An Assessment of MS-13 in the American Context” (co-authored with Mariely López-Santana and Camilo Pardo). Paper presented at the 114^th APSA Annual Meeting (Boston, Massachusetts; August 30-September 2, 2018).

“Who benefits from the U.S.-supported War on Drugs in Latin America?” Paper presented at the UCSD-Stanford joint research workshop “Criminal and Political Violence in Mexico and Central America” (San Diego, California; May 4, 2018).

“Revictimizing Women in Mexico: The Effects of the Current Anti-trafficking in Persons Legislation” (co-authored with Arthur Sanders Montandon). Paper presented at the 60^th ABS Annual Conference (San Antonio, Texas; April 4-7, 2018).

“The History of U.S.-Mexico Border Security Cooperation” (co-authored with Evan McCormick). Paper presented at the 60^th ABS Annual Conference (San Antonio, Texas; April 4-7, 2018).

“Trafficking of Migrants and Organized Crime: A Dangerous Journey to the United States.” Paper presented at the 113^th APSA Annual Meeting (San Francisco, CA; August 31-September 3, 2017).

“The Southeastern U.S. border with Mexico under the Donald J. Trump’s presidency. How will border security interact?” Roundtable at the 59^th ABS Annual Conference (San Francisco, California; April 12-15, 2017).

“Militarización y Redes Sociales: La Guerra Virtual contra la Delincuencia Organizada en México.” Paper presented at the CIESAS-Noreste’s workshop “Migraciones, Inseguridad y Violencia en el Noreste de México” (Monterrey, Nuevo León; June 21, 2016).

“Irregular Migration, Organized Crime and Trafficking in Persons along the Tamaulipas Border with Texas.” Paper presented at the CIESAS-Noreste’s workshop “Migraciones, Inseguridad y Violencia en el Noreste de México” (Monterrey, Nuevo León; June 20, 2016).

“The New Dynamics of the once ‘Forgotten Border’: Trade, Infrastructure and Security in Brownsville/Matamoros in a New Energy Era.” Paper presented at the 15^th BRIT Conference (Hamburg, Germany – Sønderborg, Denmark; May 17-20, 2016).

“Límites de la Seguridad Ciudadana y Reforma de las Instituciones de Seguridad y Justicia: El Caso de Tamaulipas.” Paper presented at the Conference “Márgenes Estatales, Seguridad Ciudadana y Reforma de la Justicia Penal en México” (El Colegio de México; Mexico City; May 3-4, 2016).

“Trafficking in Persons and Migration in Tlaxcala, Mexico's Sex Trafficking Capital.” Presentation at the eleventh Annual Symposium on Human Trafficking, South Texas College (McAllen, Texas; April 18-20, 2016).

“Energy and Security in the Texas-Tamaulipas Border: Winner and Losers of the War on Drugs.” Paper presented at the 58^th ABS Annual Conference (Reno, Nevada; April 13-16, 2016).

“Migration and Trafficking along Mexico’s Southern Border: The Unintended Consequences of Mexico’s Southern Border Plan and the Re-victimization of Vulnerable Groups” (co-authored with Jennifer Bryson Clark). Paper presented at the 58^th ABS Annual Conference (Reno, Nevada; April 13-16, 2016).

“Cartels, Coyotes and Traffickers: Risks for Migrants in the Two Mexico’s Borders” (co-authored with Jennifer Bryson Clark). Paper presented at the 58^th ABS Annual Conference (Reno, Nevada; April 13-16, 2016).

“Trata de Migrantes y Delincuencia Organizada Transnacional: Una Ruta Peligrosa desde los Países del Triángulo del Norte hasta la Frontera Tamaulipeca.” Paper presented at the Conference “La Frontera Noreste de México: Migración y Desarrollo. Retos y Desafíos” organized by El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (Monterrey, Nuevo León; September 24, 2015).

“Security and the Social Media in Mexico: The Role of Civil Society, the State and Organized Crime.” Presentation at the International Conference/Workshop “El Contexto de la Comunicación en Condiciones de Riesgo y Crisis en los Sectores Gubernamentales, Privados y ONGs” (Comunicación en Áreas Específicas: Seguridad), UNAM (Mexico City; June 29 and 30, 2015).

“U.S.-Mexico Border Issues and Policy Directions.” Paper presented at the conference on ‘The Texas-Mexico Border in Comparative North American Context’ (UTB; Brownsville, Texas; May 7-8, 2015).

“La Guerra Contra las Drogas en Redes Sociales: El Ciberespacio, el Nuevo Campo de Batalla.” Paper presented at the 33rd International Congress of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) (San Juan, Puerto Rico; May 27-30, 2015).

“Understanding the Linkages between Undocumented Migration, Organized Crime and Trafficking in Persons along the Eastern U.S.–Mexico Border” (co-authored with Jennifer Bryson Clark). Paper presented at the 57^th ABS Annual Conference (Portland, Oregon; April 8-11, 2015).

“An Emerging Field after Mexico’s ‘Drug War’: Energy, Security and Business-led Cross-border Governance.” Paper presented at the 57^th ABS Annual Conference (Portland, Oregon; April 8-11, 2015).

“Reflections on the Two North Korean Borders.” Roundtable at the 57^th ABS Annual Conference (Portland, Oregon; April 8-11, 2015).

“Trafficking in Persons along Mexico’s Eastern Migration Routes: The Role of Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations” (co-authored with Jennifer Bryson Clark). Paper presented at the tenth Annual Symposium on Human Trafficking, South Texas College (McAllen, Texas; March 25-26, 2015).

“Emerging Fields after a Drug War: Businesses, Energy and Militarization on the Texas-Mexico Border.” Paper presented at the Cross-Border Governance in North America and Europe: Comparative Perspectives (Regina, Canada; September 22-23, 2014).

“Research Methods and Research Experiences on the Eastern U.S.-Mexico Border: Paramilitarization of Organized Crime, Extreme Violence and Social Media.” Paper presented at the First ABS World Conference (Joensuu, Finland and St. Petersburg, Russia; June 9-13, 2014).

“Violence, Paramilitarization, and Hydrocarbons: A Business Model of Organized Crime in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico.” Paper presented at the 32^nd LASA International Congress (Chicago, Illinois; May 21-24, 2014).

“Desarrollo, Comercio, Energía y Delincuencia Organizada Transnacional en la Frontera Norte de México: Un Análisis de la Desigualdad Fronteriza.” Paper presented at the 56^th ABS Annual Conference (Albuquerque, New Mexico; April 2-5, 2014).

“New Research Methodologies in Violent Borders: The Use of Social Media to Study the ‘Forgotten’ (Texas-Tamaulipas) Border.” Paper presented at the 56^th ABS Annual Conference (Albuquerque, New Mexico; April 2-5, 2014).

“Resistance and Community Empowerment through Social Media: How Border Towns Protect Themselves Against Border Violence” (co-authored with Manuel Chávez). Paper presented at the 56^th ABS Annual Conference (Albuquerque, New Mexico; April 2-5, 2014).

“Inequalities and Global Flows in Mexico’s Northeastern Border: The Effects of Migration, Commerce, Hydrocarbons, and Transnational Organized Crime.” Paper presented at the 44^th Urban Affairs Association (UAA) (San Antonio, Texas; March 19-22, 2014).

“Risks on Freedom of Information and the Press due to Violence on the Southwestern U.S. Border.” Paper presented at the 55^th ABS Annual Conference (Denver, Colorado; April 10-13, 2013).

“Security and Migration in the Two Mexican Borderlands.” Paper presented at the 55^th ABS Annual Conference (Denver, Colorado; April 10-13, 2013).

“Migration and Organized Crime in the Texas-Tamaulipas Border Region: Human trafficking and the Dilemmas of Migrant Smuggling in the Rio Grande Valley” (co-authored with Jennifer Bryson Clark). Paper presented at the Eighth Annual Symposium on Human Trafficking (McAllen and Brownsville, Texas; April 9-11, 2013).

“Losing the Monopoly of Violence. Max Weber, the Mexican State, and the Paramilitarization of Organized Crime in Mexico during Drug War Times” (co-authored with Jose Nava). Paper presented at the 25^th Annual PAT-Net Conference (South Padre Island, Texas; May 20-23, 2012).

“Women and Violence on the ‘Forgotten’ (Texas-Tamaulipas) Border.” Paper presented at the 54^th ABS Annual Conference (Houston, Texas; April 11-14, 2012).

“The Phenomenology of Perception and Fear: Living and Working on the U.S.-Mexico Border” (co-authored with Terence Garrett). Paper presented at the 2012 ASPA Conference (Las Vegas, Nevada; March 2-6, 2012).

“Drug Wars, Social Networks and the Right to Information: The Rise of Informal Media as the Freedom of Press’s Lifeline in Northern Mexico” (co-authored with Jose Nava). Paper presented at the 107^th APSA Annual Meeting (Seattle, Washington; September 1-4, 2011).

“Border Violence, the (Mis)use of Media, and Border (Mis)management: The Media Spectacle of the so-called ‘War on Drugs’.” Paper presented at the 24^th PAT-Net Annual Conference (Norfolk, Virginia; May 19-22, 2011).

“Administrative Surveillance and Fear: Implications for Governance for Those Living on the Mexican and U.S. Border” (co-authored with Terence Garrett and Michelle Keck). Paper presented at the 24^th PAT-Net Annual Conference (Norfolk, Virginia; May 19-22, 2011).

“Language, Ethnicity and Inequality” (co-authored with Irma Guadarrama). Paper presented at the 53^rd ABS Annual Conference (Salt Lake City, Utah; April 13-16, 2011).

“The Current Dilemmas of Mexico-U.S. Border Economics: Media Spectacles, Drug Violence, and U.S. Immigration Policy.” Paper presented at the 2011 ASPA Conference (Baltimore, Maryland; March 11-15, 2011).

“Measuring Up Student Success: Discovering Factors Contributing to Student Success in Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs)” (co-authored with Oralia de los Reyes). Paper presented at the 2011 APSA Teaching and Learning Conference (Albuquerque, New Mexico; February 11-13, 2011).

“Democracy in ‘Two Mexicos’: The Challenge of Political Exclusion and Economic Inequality in Oaxaca and Nuevo Leon.” Paper presented at the 29^th LASA International Congress (Toronto, Canada; October 6-9, 2010).

“The Mathematics of Mexico-U.S. Migration Policies” (co-authored with Dr. Miriam Rojas-Arenaza: Mathematics Department, University of Puerto Rico). Paper presented at the 23rd PAT-Net Annual Conference (Omaha, Nebraska; May 20-23, 2010).

“The Democratic Fragility Index: Assessing the Quality of Latin American Democratic Institutions.” Paper presented at the 68^th Annual MPSA National Conference (Chicago, Illinois; April 22-25, 2010).

“21^st Century Democracy in the ‘Two Mexicos’: Political Factionalism or Political Cohesion?” Paper presented at the 105^th APSA Annual Meeting (Toronto, Canada; September 3-6, 2009).

“Rules or Rebellion? Lessons for Young and Unequal Democracies.” Paper presented at the 21^st IPSA World Congress (Santiago, Chile; July 12-16, 2009).

“Challenges to Democratic Stability in Southern Mexico: Inequality, Electoral Exclusion and Active Political Factionalism.” Paper presented at the 28^th LASA International Congress (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; June 11-14, 2009).

“Sources of Political Cohesion in Northern Mexico: The Case of Nuevo León.” Paper presented at the 67^th Annual MPSA National Conference (Chicago, Illinois; April 2-5, 2009).

Academic events and scholarly presentations

“Recepción de Migrantes Deportados en la Frontera.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (Tijuana, Baja California; March 25, 2025).

Book presentation: Frontera: A Journey across the U.S.-Mexico Border. Organized by Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) Tijuana – Law School (Tijuana, Mexico; March 20, 2025).

Book presentation: Frontera: A Journey across the U.S.-Mexico Border. Organized by UNAM Tijuana – Estación Noroeste de Investigación y Docencia (Tijuana, Mexico; March 20, 2025).

“México te Abraza: El Albergue Flamingos en Tijuana.” Participant in the seminar organized by El COLEF (Tijuana, Baja California; March 12, 2025).

“Public Policy for Migrant Populations.” Webinar for The Gloria E. Anzaldua Binational Fellowship program organized by the CUNY Mexican Studies Institute at Lehman College (online; March 10, 2025).

“Causes and Consequences of Mass Deportations.” Research discussion sponsored by the Institute for Humane Studies (online; February 20, 2025).

“Frontera, Violencias, Migración y Ciudades en América Latina: Un Corte de Caja a 25 Años del Siglo XXI.” Presenter in the international seminar organized by El COLEF, FLACSO and UACJ (online; February 12, 2025).

“México-Estados Unidos, 2025-2028 y la Frontera del Siglo XXI.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (Tijuana, Baja California; February 6, 2025).

“100 días de gobierno de Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo." Speaker in the panel organized by the Observatory of the Mexico-U.S. Binational Relationship, UNAM (online; January 29, 2025).

“Relaciones México-Estados Unidos, Seguridad y Defensa en la Segunda Administración de Donald Trump.” Presenter in the webinar organized by El COLEF and George Mason University (online; January 23, 2025).

Panelist in the “3rd Annual U.S.-Mexico Defense and Security Roundtable” organized by the University of Arizona, Tucson Committee on Foreign Relations and the Binational Research Consortium (Tucson, Arizona; November 21, 2024).

“Políticas de Estados Unidos y la Frontera Norte de México.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (Tijuana, Baja California; November 19, 2024).

Book presentation: Frontera: A Journey across the U.S.-Mexico Border. Organized by Universidad de Kino as part of the “Fifth Cycle of Research Seminars” (Hermosillo, Sonora; November 13, 2024).

“Elecciones en Estados Unidos y las Fronteras.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (Tijuana, Baja California; November 6, 2024).

Electiones en Estados Unidos.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (Tijuana, Baja California; October 30, 2024).

“Conversatorio: Impacto de las Elecciones de Estados Unidos en México y en la Región Fronteriza.” Presenter in the “Seminar on Structural Violence” organized by Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) (Tijuana, Baja California; October 15, 2024).

Book presentation: Frontera: A Journey across the U.S.-Mexico Border. Organized by the Observatory of the Mexico-U.S. Binational Relationship, UNAM (online; October 4, 2024).

Book presentation: Frontera: A Journey across the U.S.-Mexico Border. Organized by St. John’s University (online; September 26, 2024).

Co-presenter of the book Políticas de Estados Unidos y las Fronteras de México 2020-2022, (Coordinated by Elizabeth Maier and José María Ramos), organized by El Colef as part of the series: “Dialogues from the Border” at Tijuana Cultural Center (Tijuana, Baja California; September 20, 2024).

“Human Mobility in the Americas: Agenda and Futures.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (Mexico City; July 10, 2024).

“Seguridad y Desarrollo en las Fronteras de México.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (Mexico City; June 26, 2024).

Book presentation: Frontera: A Journey across the U.S.-Mexico Border. Organized by Universidad de Tijuana (Tijuana, Mexico; June 25, 2024).

“Publishing in ISA journals.” Participation in roundtable at the CEEISA-ISA Joint International Conference “Knowing the Global-Local: Imagining Pasts, Debating Futures” at University of Rijeka (Rijeka, Croatia; June 18-21, 2024).

“Poderes Fácticos y Narcotráfico: Lecciones de 2024.” Speaker in the panel organized by the Institute of Social Research (IIS) and the University Program of Studies on Democracy, Justice and Society (PUEDJS), UNAM (Mexico City; June 12, 2024).

Book presentation: Frontera: A Journey across the U.S.-Mexico Border. Organized by Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE) (Mexico City; June 11, 2024).

"Relación México-Estados Unidos: Seguridad y Desarrollo." Speaker in the seminar organized by CIDE and El COLEF (Mexico City; June 11, 2024).

Book presentation: Frontera: A Journey across the U.S.-Mexico Border. Organized by CISAN and Research Center on Latin America and the Caribbean (CIALC), UNAM (Mexico City: May 24, 2024).

“Weaponizing Migration and Impacts on Sovereignty.” Guest lecture for the NESA-AFRICOM Workshop Series “Changing Nature of Security: Transnational Threats Know No Boundaries” (Casablanca, Morocco; May 6-9, 2024).

“Seguridad en la Agenda Política México-Estados Unidos.” Participant in the webinar organized by Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP); “Elections in Mexico and the World” series (online; March 19, 2024).

“Fear, Propaganda and a Manufactured Border Crisis in Election Times.” Guest lecture, HIS 4151: U.S.-Mexico relations, University of Ottawa (online; March 15, 2024).

“Irregular Migration.” Guest lecture for the “Combating Transnational Threat Networks in the Americas” course; William J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, National Defense University (Washington, DC; March 12, 2024).

“Super Tuesday and State of the Union.” Speaker in the panel organized by the Observatory of the Mexico-U.S. Binational Relationship, UNAM; series: “Time of Elections: U.S.-Mexico Relation in the Context of the 2024 Electoral Processes” (online; March 11, 2024).

“Mexico’s Election: A Discussion on the Country’s Future.” Speaker in the panel organized at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University (Washington, DC; January 30, 2024).

“Security. Cooperation. Governance.  The Canada-United States Open Border Paradox.” Participant in the morning plenary panel, 26^th Biennial Conference “Canada: Near And Far,” Association for Canadian Studies in the United States (ACSUS) (Arlington, VA; November 17).

“The Industry of Human Smuggling and Its Transnational Crim Networks,” Guest lecture for the course “Illicit Markets and Organized Crime in Americas,” Multidimensional Security School (ESEM), University of São Paulo (online; November 16, 2023).

“Immigration: What Should Be Done About Human Smuggling?” Guest facilitator and presenter, “Right, Wrong or Different?” program, Leadership Education and Development Office (LEAD) and International Programs and Services (OIPS), GMU (Fairfax, VA; November 15, 2023).

“Unveiling Shadows: Addressing Human Trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean.” Speaker in the panel organized by the Latin American Studies Club, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University (Washington, DC; November 13, 2023).

“Gender and Sex Trafficking in a Perilous Journey to the United States.” Guest lecture for the Alpha Nu Chapter of Sigma Psi Zeta at GMU (online; October 5, 2023).

“Geopolitics of Illicit Crops and Peace Policies.” Participant in the panel organized by the Institute of Legal Research (IIJ) and CISAN at UNAM (Mexico City; October 5, 2023).

“Violencia, Narcotráfico y Migración en el Estado Fronterizo de Sonora.” Speaker in the panel entitled “Violencia y Derechos Humanos en la Frontera Norte;" 2nd Seminar on ‘Society and Territory in the State of Chihuahua’, organized by El Colegio de Chihuahua (Chihuahua, Chihuahua; October 4, 2023).

“Organized Crime and Citizen Security.” Instructor, Certificate Program on “Strategic Management for Citizen Security,” UNAM (online/Mexico City; July 1, 2023).

“Fieldwork and Ethnography.” Presenter in the Mobilization and Political Economy (MPE) Summer Program 2023; APSA-NSF-University of (online/ Pittsburgh, PA; June 27, 2023).

“Plan Sonora: Aspiration, Reality y Dependence.” Presenter in the seminar on "Mexico’s Mining History and Comparative Regions" organized by CIESAS and Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) (online/Mexico City; June 9, 2023).

“Fentanyl: Shared Responsibility?” Participant in the webinar “The Economic Route,” organized by UDLAP (online; June 8, 2023).

“The Migration and Trafficking Nexus.” Guest lecture for the NESA-AFRICOM Workshop Series “Transnational Threats Know No Boundaries” (Bangkok, Thailand; April 29-May 7, 2023).

“Immigration and Human Trafficking.” Guest lecture for the “Combating Transnational Threat Networks in the Americas” course; William J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, National Defense University (Washington, DC; April 20, 2023).

“A Conversation on Studying the Border through the Fulbright Scholar Program.” Participant in the roundtable organized by ABS (Tempe, Arizona; April 12-15, 2023).

“Human Trafficking.” Participant in panel 1A of the GMU-NSF Conference on Disrupting Operations of Illicit Supply Networks (D-ISN) (Arlington, VA; March 27-28).

“Entendimiento Bicentenario y la Nueva Visión de Cooperación Antinarcóticos entre México y Estados Unidos.” Presenter in the International Congress “Mexico 2023: Security, Justice and Economic Development in the Western Hemisphere” (Mexico City; March 13-17, 2023).

“Is Mexican Democracy Dying in President Lopez Obrador’s Era?” Presentation at Florida Gulf Coast University (Fort Myers, FL; February 23, 2023).

“Cumbre de Líderes de América del Norte: Contexto y Políticas.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (online; January 12, 2023).

“Mexico’s Security Dilemmas.” Participant in the roundtable organized by the International Security Studies program and the School of Government and Policy, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ; December 5, 2022).

“Women, Migration and Violence.” Presenter in the Second Meeting on “Violence Against Women” organized by El Colegio de Chihuahua and Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua (online; November 28-29, 2022).

“Elecciones en Estados Unidos y la Agenda con México: Fronteras y Geopolítica.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (online; November 3, 2022).

“Migration and Human Trafficking in the Americas.” Lecture, Distinguished Speaker Series, Global Politics Fellows, GMU (Arlington, VA; September 22, 2022).

“Trafficking and Migration.” Speaker, North Africa Senior Leaders Workshop organized by the North East Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA) and United States Africa Command (U.S. AFRICOM) (Washington DC; September 9, 2022).

“Challenges and Opportunities relating to Teaching and Researching the U.S. and Mexican Border.” Guest lecture for the online “2022 Global Infusion Summit” organized by Prairie View A&M University (online; July 29, 2022).

“Trata de Personas, Tráfico de Migrantes y otras Formas de Delincuencia Organizada Transnacional.” Guest lecture, Online Certificate Program on Human Trafficking, Special Program on Human Trafficking (Cátedra Extraordinaria sobre Trata de Personas), UNAM (online; July 18, 2022).

“What is Moving and How: People Smuggling and Trafficking.” Panel presenter in the North East Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA), United States Africa Command (U.S. AFRICOM) and European Institute of the Mediterranean: “Transnational and Transoceanic Threats: Future Trends and International Players” (Casablanca, Morocco: June 16, 2022).

“Cumbre de las Américas y las Fronteras: Seguridad y Desarrollo.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (online; June 8, 2022).

“Seguridad Nacional, Energía y Relaciones México-Estados Unidos" Presenter in the seminar organized by Universidad de Tijuana (Tijuana, Baja California; May 30, 2022).

“Irregular Migration and Human Trafficking in the Americas.” Guest lecture for the “Combating Transnational Threat Networks in the Americas” course; William J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, National Defense University (Washington, DC; May 18, 2022).

“Challenges to Democracy in Latin America.” Guest speaker, Professional Skills Development Session for the Donald McHenry Global Public Service Fellows Program, Georgetown University (Washington, DC; March 30, 2022).

“Violence Against Women.” Panel presenter in the 4^th Annual Security Challenges in Latin America Forum organized by the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University and the William J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, National Defense University: “Security, Defense and Gender in Latin America: What are the Impacts?” (Washington, DC; March 10, 2022).

“Biden: Primer Informe a la Nación.” Presenter in the international seminar organized by the Observatory of the Mexico-U.S. Binational Relationship, and CISAN, UNAM (online; March 4, 2022).

“Las Fronteras de México: Seguridad Nacional, Gobernanza y Desarrollo.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (online; February 23, 2022).

“U.S.-Bound Migration, Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons in the Americas.” Lecture, Distinguished Speaker Series, Global Politics Fellows, GMU (online; February 8, 2022).

“Organized Crime in Mexico and the Implications to the State.” Presenter in the panel organized by the group on Politics and Society in Latin-America and the Caribbean (PSLAC) at the University of Warwick (online; January 26, 2022).

“Organized Crime in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands.” Guest speaker, “Advanced Seminar on Regional Security in the Mexico-United States Region.” Organized by UDLAP and U.S. Embassy in Mexico (online; November 30, 2021).

“Mexico-U.S. Relations, the Mexico-U.S. Border and Immigration.” Lecture, Distinguished Speaker Series, Global Politics Fellows, GMU (online; November 11, 2021).

“A Un Año de la Elección del Presidente Biden (2020-2021). Opciones para el Noreste de México.“ Presenter in the seminar organized by Universidad de Tijuana (online; November 5, 2021).

“Apuntes sobre la Evolución Organizacional de Agrupaciones Delictivas en el Norte de México.” Participant in panel organized by Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) (online; October 26, 2021).

“Faculty Panel: Grand Challenges.” A Presidential Investiture at GMU - Special Event (Fairfax, VA; October 18, 2021).

“La Guerra Improvisada: Los Años de Calderón y sus Consecuencias.” Presenter at the book launch organized by Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) (online; October 12, 2021).

“A Perilous Journey from Cuba to the United States." Presenter in the “Telling Migrant Stories Workshop” organized by the Folklore Program, the Institute for Immigration Research, and the Center for the Study of Social Change, Institutions and Policy (SCIP), GMU (online; September 17-18, 2021).

“Trafficking in Persons and Human Smuggling: Two Different Illicit Activities.” Guest speaker, “Advanced Seminar on “Regional Security in the Mexico-United States Region.” Organized by UDLAP and U.S. Embassy in Mexico (online; September 9, 2021).

“Gobernanza de la Frontera México-Estados Unidos: Seguridad y Cooperación, Una Visión Internacional, 2001-2021.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (online; September 9, 2021).

“Human Mobility, Trafficking in Persons and Other Forms of Organized Crime.” Lecture, Online Certificate Program on Human Trafficking, Special Program on Human Trafficking (Cátedra Extraordinaria sobre Trata de Personas), UNAM (online; July 21, 2021).

“Current State of U.S.-Mexico Relations.” Lecture, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, GMU (online; June 24, 2021).

“Gobernanza, Desarrollo en Centroamérica y Políticas de Estados Unidos.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (online; June 8, 2021).

“Prevention of Money Laundering.” Lecture at the conference entitled: “The Phenomenology of Money Laundering and Organized Crime.” Organized by the Department of International Relations and Political Science, UDLAP (online; May 31, 2021).

“What is MORENA?” Participant in the webinar “Hanging in the Balance: Mexico's Midterm Elections and the Future of its Democracy,” organized by the Baker Institute’s Center for the United States and Mexico, Rice University (online; May 27, 2021).

“Balance of Mexico’s Government of the Fourth Transformation.” Panelist in the fifth roundtable to discuss Mexico’s mid-term elections (2021). Organized by the Division of Political Studies at CIDE (online; May 20, 2021).

“100 Días de la Administración Biden y su Relación con México. Un Balance General.” Panel presenter in the seminar entitled “Between Promises and Actions: The First 100 days of Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. in the White House.” Event organized by the Observatory of the Mexico-U.S. Binational Relationship, UNAM (online; April 30, 2021).

“Immigration and Human Trafficking.” Lecture for the “Combating Transnational Threat Networks in the Americas” course; William J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, National Defense University (Washington, DC; April 28, 2021).

“Las Cinco Vidas de Genaro García Luna.” Guest speaker, Sixth Congress “Space for Public Action: Challenges for Mexico y the World in the Post-Covid 19 era.” Organized by the Department of International Relations and Political Science, UDLAP (online; April 22, 2021).

“Addressing Racial Inequalities and Promoting Ethnic Justice at GMU.” Speaker, 2021 Ashoka Exchange Conference, GMU (online; March 18, 2021).

“Las Cinco Vidas de Genaro García Luna.” Speaker, Seminar on Violence and Peace (Seminario sobre Violencia y Paz), El Colegio de México (online; February 18, 2021).

Participant in the “Transnational Challenges” seminar organized by the North East Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA), United States Africa Command (U.S. AFRICOM) and European Institute of the Mediterranean (online; January 28, 2021).

“Women Seeking Refuge: Displacement and Protection in 2021." Presenter in the panel organized by the Gender and Politics Center, GMU (online; December 1, 2020).

“Maras, Pandillas y Crimen Organizado en Ciudades de EEUU, MX y Centroamérica.” Panel presenter for the series entitled “Migraciones en Ciudades de las Américas.” International seminar organized by Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) (online; November 25, 2020).

“Seguridad Multidimensional, Derechos a la Ciudad y Fronteras: ¿Cambios en la Relación con Estados Unidos?" Presenter in the seminar organized by Universidad de Tijuana (online; November 24, 2020).

“Elección Presidencial en Estados Unidos: ¿Demócrata o Republicano?” Presenter in the seminar organized by Universidad de Tijuana (online; November 4, 2020).

“MS-13, Migration and Trump.” Presenter in the panel organized by the Schar School of Policy and Government, GMU (online; October 21, 2020).

“COVID-19 and Immigrant Communities.” Presenter in the panel organized by the Institute for Immigration Research (IIR), GMU (online; October 7, 2020).

“Elecciones en EEUU y las Fronteras con México.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (online; October 6, 2020).

“How is the ‘War on Drugs’ Reported and Denied?” Speaker, Certificate Program on Critical Journalism and Protection of Journalists, Universidad Iberoamericana (Mexico City, online course; September 2, 2020).

“T-MEC: Industrialización, PYMES, Agenda Laboral y Economía Solidaria en Frontera Norte”. Presenter in the seminar organized by Universidad de Tijuana (August 3, 2020).

“Gobernanza de Fronteras Globales: ¿Reciprocidad o Exclusión?” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (online; July 15, 2020).

“De la invisibilidad al Protagonismo: Racismo Institucional y Lucha Antirracista en EEUU y Brasil.” Panel presenter for the series entitled “Poblaciones Vulnerables,” organized by Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) (online; June 15, 2020).

“The Effects of COVID-19 in Our Society.” Presentation at the international forum entitled: "Enfermedades Zoonóticas Emergentes desde la Perspectiva de Una Salud: SARS-CoV-2,” organized by Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (online; June 11, 2020).

“Elecciones en EU 2020: Propuestas e Impactos: COVID19, Seguridad Nacional y Fronteras.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF and Instituto Nacional de Administración Pública (INAP) (online; May 13, 2020).

“Políticas de Seguridad en las Fronteras: Una Visión Global. De la Exclusión a la Inclusión Social.” Presenter in the seminar organized by El COLEF (online; April 2, 2020).

“El Ocaso de los Zetas.” Speaker, Seminar on Violence and Peace (Seminario sobre Violencia y Paz), El Colegio de México (Mexico City; January 24, 2020).

“¡Sálvese Quien Pueda! Violencia Generalizada y Desplazamiento Forzado en el Noreste de México.” Discussant of the book by Séverine Durin, CIESAS-Noreste (Monterrey, Nuevo León; January 23, 2020).

“Life along the U.S.-Mexico Border in 2019.” Speaker at event organized by GMU’s Institute for Immigration Research (IIR), GMU (Fairfax, VA; December 3, 2019).

“Geopolitics, Crime and Fragility in the Americas; Colombian-Venezuelan Relations at a Turning Point?” Participant in open panel discussion organized by School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-SCAR) and Schar School of Policy and Government at GMU (Arlington, VA; November 21, 2019).

“Organized Crime and Violent Extremism in Latin America.” Panel presenter at the “Washington Security and Defense” seminar; William J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, National Defense University (Washington, DC; November 7, 2019).

“New Human Smuggling and Trafficking Networks: A Social Network Analysis in Times of Mass Migrations.” Speaker, 12^th Annual Homeland Defense and Security Education Summit (University Agency Partnership Program); organized by the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey, California; November 1, 2019).

“Dilemmas of a Modern Underground Railroad in the Era of Migrant Caravans: A Road to Freedom or Modern-day Slavery.” Speaker, symposium “Chasing Slavery: The Persistence of Forced Labor in the Southwest,” hosted by the Center for the Study of the Southwest Texas State University (San Marcos, Texas; October 25-26, 2019).

“Along the U.S.-Mexico Border.” Speaker at event organized by the Center for Security Policy Studies (CSPS), GMU (Arlington, Virginia; October 10, 2019).

“La ‘Verdad’ sobre las Caravanas Migrantes: Un Análisis de Redes, Tráfico Humano y Contrainsurgencia en las Dos Fronteras de México.” Panel presenter at the Institute for Latin American Studies (LAI) Alumni Summer School, “Violence and Social Conflicts,” Freie Universität Berlin (Berlin, Germany; September 23-27, 2019).

“Agenda de Investigación para la Comprensión de los Fenómenos Migratorios.” Panel presenter at the international forum: “El Reto de Converger: Jóvenes y Migración. Agendas de Investigación, Políticas y Participación,” organized by UNAM, et al. (Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua; September 18-20, 2019).

“Violence, Organized Crime, and Migration in Central America and Mexico.” Lecture. Resilient Communities Against Transnational Gangs (RESCAT): Workshop for Law-Enforcement, Public Officials and Defense Professionals / K-12 Teacher Training Workshop, Florida International University (Miami, FL; April 18-19, 2019).

“Immigration and Human Trafficking.” Lecture for the “Combatting Transnational Threat Networks” course; William J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, National Defense University (Washington, DC; March 21, 2019).

“The Myths of Central American Undocumented Immigration and MS-13 in the United States.” Presentation at the Border Myths Symposium: “Exploring the Myths and Realities of U.S. Immigration Policies;” organized by California Western School of Law (San Diego, California; March 9, 2019).

“The Spectacle of U.S.-Mexico Border Security.” Featured speaker, Faculty Luncheon Series, Association of Public Policy PhD Students (APPS), Schar School of Policy and Government, GMU (Washington, DC; March 2, 2019).

“Research Methods, Organized Crime and Social Media: A Case Study at the Border”. Presentation at the 2018-2019 speaker series “Critical Criminology: Feminist Approaches to Crime, Law, and Deviance;” sponsored by The Urban Ethnography Lab (UEL) at the University of Texas at Austin (Austin, Texas; January 31, 2019).

“Conducting Ethnographic Research in Conflict Zones.” Workshop for the Urban Ethnography Lab (UEL) at the University of Texas at Austin (Austin, Texas; January 30, 2019).

“Ethnographies of Transnational Criminal Corporations: Los Zetas Case.” Lecture sponsored by Ethnographies of Empire Research Cluster, American University (Washington, DC; January 24, 2019).

“The State of U.S.-Mexico Relations.” Guest speaker, Sigma Iota Rho (SIR), George Washington University (Washington, DC; January 24, 2019).

“Los Zetas Inc.” Featured speaker, First Regional Summit: “El Mercado de la Cocaína. Criminalidad Organizada en el Área Común de Inseguridad Atlántica,” organized by UNAM and the Mexican Center for Superior Naval Studies (Centro de Estudios Superiores Navales, CESNAV) (Mexico City; November 13-14, 2018).

“Public Safety, Peace y Transitional Justice.” Panel presenter at the international conference: “La Transformación Histórica del Régimen Mexicano en un Contexto Global: Los Retos para el Nuevo Sexenio,” organized by Diálogos por la Democracia, UNAM (Mexico City; November 7-9, 2018).

“The Real Relationship between the U.S. and Mexico,” conversation with Andrew Selee, President, Migration Policy Institute (MPI). Fall for the Book Festival, GMU (Washington, DC; October 11, 2018).

“New Illicit Networks along the Migration Routes: Human Smugglers, Transnational Organized Crime, and Corruption.” Presentation at the Conference “Amérique Centrale: La Crise Invisible“ organized by the Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Internationales de l'Université de Montréal (CÉRIUM, The Montreal Centre for International Studies) (Montreal, Canada; October 2, 2018).

“The U.S.-Mexico Border in the Trump Era: Immigration, Security and Political Rhetoric.” Presentation at the 2018 ABS Japan Chapter Workshop “Border Studies Today: Seen from North America, Europe and Asia” (Tokyo, Japan; September 29, 2018).

“Borders in the Americas in the Era of Trump: Walls and Closed Borders.” Presentation at the World Social Science Forum’s Special Session to Commemorate the Completion of the Ito Campus, Kyushu University: “Border Studies Today: Theoretical Development and Its Role in the Contemporary World” (Fukuoka, Japan; September 28, 2018).

“Public Policies for Addiction Prevention and Citizen Security.” Panel presenter at the National Meeting of CONACYT’s “Thematic Network on Addiction Prevention and Citizen Security,” Colegio de la Frontera Norte (Monterrey, Nuevo León; September 6-7, 2018).

“Alternative Perspectives to Understand Militarization and Organized Crime in Latin America.” Institute for Latin American Studies, Freie Universität Berlin (Berlin, Germany; June 19, 2018).

“Human Smuggling, Trafficking of Migrants and Organized Crime in Mexico: A Dangerous Journey to the United States.” Lecture for the “Combatting Transnational Organized Crime” course; William J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, National Defense University (Washington, DC; May 17, 2018).

“¿Guerra o Paz?: Drogas, Migración y Crimen Organizado.” Panel presenter at the international conference: “Democracia y Autoritarismo en México y el Mundo, de Cara a las Elecciones de 2018,” conference organized by Diálogos por la Democracia, UNAM(Mexico City; February 14-16, 2018).

“Trafficking of Migrants and Organized Crime in Central America, Mexico and the U.S.” Participant in the panel “Borders and Migration in a Trump Presidency.” International Colloquium, Observatory on the United States: Trump: l'an un; Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) (Montreal, Canada; November 9, 2017).

“Law Enforcement Security Cooperation on the U.S.-Mexico Border” (co-authored with Alan Bersin). Work-in-progress presentation; Authors’ Workshop – Binational Institutional Development on the U.S.-Mexico Border; Baker Institute’s Center for the United States and Mexico, Rice University (Houston, Texas; October 26, 2017).

“Perpetual Resistance and Violence in Latin America.” Participant in the panel discussion organized by Florida International University for the official launch of Hemisphere 2017.  (Washington, DC; September 21, 2017).

Speaker on the panel “Corruption and Security in Latin America.” OMNIA’s “II Summit for Latin-American Public Policy Students,” Georgetown University and Organization of American States (Washington, DC; April 1, 2017).

Speaker on the panel on “Drivers and Causes of Forced Migration and Immigration.” Emerging Global Issues Forum on “Forced Migration, Immigration, and Security,” organized by the Global Studies Institute and Georgia State University (Atlanta, Georgia; March 30, 2017).

“Mexico’s Current Situation and Recent Developments.” Featured speaker at the conference: “Drug Trafficking in Latin America: A Case Study on Colombia and Mexico. Lessons, Successes, and Challenges Ahead,” organized at Georgetown University (Washington, DC; February 10, 2017).

“Energía y Seguridad en México: Siguiendo la Ruta del Dinero.” Presentation at CISAN, UNAM (Mexico City; April 1, 2016).

“Seguridad, Migración Irregular y Trata de Personas: La Ruta desde Centroamérica hacia Norteamérica.” Presentation at CISAN, UNAM (Mexico City; March 2, 2016).

“Dilemas de la Migración en Las Américas: Desarrollo, (In)Seguridad y Delincuencia Organizada.” Workshop organizer and panel presenter at the 2015 International Metropolis Conference ‘Migrants, Key Players in the 21^st Century’ (UNAM; Mexico City; September 7-11, 2015).

“Security, the Rule of Law, and Energy Reform in Mexico” (co-authored with Dr. Tony Payan). Presenter at the Author's Workshop: “The Rule of Law and Mexico's Energy Reform,” Baker Institute’s Center for the United States and Mexico, Rice University (Mexico City; March 13, 2015).

“(In)security and Violence on the Mexico-U.S. border.” Presentation at the Workshop on Borders and Globalization; organized by the Border Research Team (Cuerpo Académico #83 Estudios Fronterizos) of the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez (Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua; November 14, 2014).

“Migration, Organized Crime and Human Trafficking in the Eastern U.S.-Mexico Border Region.” Participant in the International Workshop-Seminar on Globalization, Coexistence and Migration: Perspectives from Central America and Mexico; organized by the Cátedra Wilhelm and Alexander von Humboldt in Humanities and Social Sciences, Universidad de Costa Rica (San José, Costa Rica and Mexico City; June 4 and 6, 2014).

Book presentation of A War that Can’t Be Won: Binational Perspectives on the War on Drugs. Panel presenter at CISAN, UNAM (Mexico City; March 3, 2014).

“Participación ciudadana y seguridad en la Frontera Norte de México: Balance de las Experiencias.” Presenter at El COLEF’S strategic event: “Seguridad Pública: Los Límites y Alcances de la Participación Social en la Frontera Norte” (Monterrey, Nuevo León; December 5, 2013).

“Social Media and Citizen Journalism in ‘Drug War’ Times: Informal Media as Freedom of Press in Northeastern Mexico.” Presenter at the workshop “Constructing Insecurities: Perceptions of Deviance and Informality in Latin America,” Institute for Latin American Studies, Freie Universität Berlin (Berlin, Germany; July 12, 2013).

“Security, Migration, and the Economy in the Texas-Tamaulipas Border Region: The ‘Real’ Effects of Mexico’s Drug War on U.S. and Mexico Border Cities.” Guest speaker, Latin American and Latino Studies Lecture Series. University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, Arkansas; February 28, 2013).

“Fronteras Seguras.” Guest speaker, conference: “The Future of Regional Security: U.S., Mexico and Central America. Assessment and the Future of CARSI and the Merida Initiative,” El Colegio de México (Mexico City; November 15, 2012).

“The ‘Forgotten’ Border.” Guest speaker, Bridging Cultures Conference “Assessing the Cultural Heritage of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Borderland,” University of Texas at San Antonio (San Antonio, Texas; November 9, 2012).

“Enrique Peña Nieto, Paramilitarism in Mexico and the Future of the Merida Initiative.” Panel presenter at the Second Global Security Summit organized jointly by the Greater Austin Crime Commission and the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security. Panel: “Implications of Mexican Elections for Combating Narcotics Trafficking in North America and U.S.-Mexico Relations,” Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin (Austin, Texas; November 8, 2012).

“Crimen Organizado y Migración Indocumentada en Tamaulipas: El Cruce hacia Estados Unidos por la ‘Frontera Olvidada’.” Panel presenter at the “Permanent Seminar on International Migration,” organized by El COLEF, Instituto Mora, CIESAS; COLMICH, COLMEX, and FLACSO (Mexico City; June 1^st, 2012).

“Governance in Dark Times: Implications for Border Security.” Participation in roundtable at the 25^th Annual Public Administration Theory Network (PAT-Net) Conference (South Padre Island, Texas; May 20-23, 2012).

“La Frontera Tamaulipeca, el Tráfico de Personas y la Nueva Configuración del Crimen Organizado en México.” Panel presenter at the conference: “Problemática Fronteriza y Migración,” organized by the Center for Superior Naval Studies (Centro de Estudios Superiores Navales, CESNAV) (Mexico City; November 9, 2011).

Public presentations

“What Happens if Trump Bombs Mexico?” Participant in the Tabletop Exercise organized by Win Without War Education Fund (Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC; February 27, 2025).

“Balance de Seguridad a 100 días de la Era Sheinbaum.” Panelist in the webinar organized by México Evalúa (online; January 16, 2025).

Book presentation: Frontera: A Journey across the U.S.-Mexico Border. Mexican Institute of Strategic Studies in Security and National Defense (Instituto Mexicano de Estudios Estratégicos en Seguridad y Defensa Nacionales, IMEESDN) (Mexico City; April 18, 2024).

“Security along the U.S.-Mexico border.” Guest lecture at “Latin America Seminar” organized by Alan L. Freed Associates (Capitol Hill Club, Washington; April 16, 2024).

“Extreme Social and Political Polarization in Mexico.” Participant in the conference “Democracy at Risk” organized by the NGO ‘Save Democracy’ (online, Mexico City; March 15, 2024).

“Political Risk and Mexico's Investment Climate.” Presenter in the panel organized by the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center Scholars (webcast, Washington DC; March 6, 2024).

“U.S. bound migration, human trafficking and other forms of transnational crime in the Americas.” Speaker, meeting of the European Cities and Regions on Human Trafficking (ECRT) in cooperation with the German Marshall Fund (Amsterdam, The Netherlands; February 15-16, 2024).

“Fentanyl and Third Generation Gangs in Latin America.” Participant in the 24-Hour Conference on Organized Crime - 2023 Edition, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (online; October 18, 2023).

“Organized Crime in Mexico.” Participant in the 24-Hour Conference on Organized Crime - 2023 Edition, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (online; October 18, 2023).

Book presentation: Frontera: A Journey across the U.S.-Mexico Border. "5th Latin American Book Fair - Celebrating Heritage, Language & Culture," (Philadelphia, PA; October 14, 2024).

“De Vecinos Distantes a Socios Cercanos: La Seguridad a Ambos Lados de la Frontera.” Panel presenter at Los Angeles Book Fair and Literary Festival - Festival LéaLA (Los Angeles, CA; September 15, 2023).

“Worse than Futile: What’s Wrong with Using the U.S. Military to Counter Fentanyl?” Speaker at the event organized by the CATO Institute Cato Institute to discuss using the U.S. military to counter the illegal flow of fentanyl (Washington, DC; August 18, 2023).

“Criminal organizations, Corruption and Violence.” Speaker, Global Session organized by Climate and Land Use Alliance (CLUA) and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (online; August 10, 2023).

"Corruption, Democracy, and Human Trafficking: Spotlight Central America and Mexico.” Speaker, roundtable organized by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) (online; February 24, 2023).

“Security and Organized Crime in Mexico in the Era of the Bicentennial Framework.” Speaker, “U.S./Mexico AG Binational Summit” organized by the Attorney General Alliance (AGA) (Los Cabos, Mexico; December 13-16, 2022).

“Money Laundering.” Participant in the 24-Hour Conference on Organized Crime - 2022 Edition, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (online; October 13, 2022).

“Human Trafficking and Organized Crime.” Participant in the 24-Hour Conference on Organized Crime - 2022 Edition, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (online; October 13, 2022).

“Enfrentando la Violencia” (roundtable on “Violence in Mexico”). Speaker, 2022 Mexico City’s International Book Fair (Mexico City; October 8, 2022).

“People Smuggling and Trafficking.” Speaker, program entitled “Regional Responses to Refugee and Migration Issues,” International Visitor Leadership Program, U.S. Department of State (Arlington, VA; September 7, 2022).

“Seguridad Nacional y Defensa en Tiempos de Incertidumbre: Decisiones Políticas desde México.” Panel presenter at the Congress of Mexico City (Mexico City; May 27, 2022).

“The U.S.-Mexico Border: Organized Crime, Border Security, Immigration, and DREAMers.” Presentation at Alexandria Library (online; March 31, 2022).

“Foro Empresarios 4T por la Reforma Eléctrica.” Speaker and panelist at the event organized by the Mexican Business Association “VOZ de las MIPYMES” (online; March 30, 2022).

“Drug Trafficking in the Americas.” Presentation for Greenspring residents, Great Decisions lecture series (online; February 2, 2022).

“El Lobby Energético y la Soberanía en América.” Presentation in the International Seminar on “Energy Sovereignty in Latin America” (online; February 5, 2022).

“Los Narco Políticos.” Presenter in the webinar organized by the Colectivo de Análisis de la Seguridad con Democracia (CASEDE) (online; January 28, 2022).

“Cabilderos Contra la Reforma, Estado y Soberanía.” Presentation in the ‘Open Parliament’ organized by the Mexican Congress to discuss the Initiative to reform the electricity sector. Theme 2 - “The Role of the State in the Construction of the National Electricity System;” Panel 6 - “The States as Guarantor of Sovereignty and the National Electricity System.” (Mexico City; January 25, 2022).

“Trading Life: Organ Trafficking, Illicit Networks, and Exploitation.” Participant in the 24-Hour Conference on Organized Crime - 2021 Edition, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (online; December 2, 2021).

“The Impact of Refugees on the U.S. and World Economy.” Presentation for Men's Fellowship of Reston (online; November 27, 2021).

“The Eagle, the Condor, and Exodus: Psychological Operations and Propaganda.” Presentation in the SOUTHCOM Strategic Symposium focused on Central and South America (online; November 17, 2021).

“The Future of U.S.-Mexico Relations.” Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Academic Webinar (online; November 3, 2021).

“The Current State of Mexico-U.S. Relations.” Presentation at Alexandria Library (online, September 28, 2021).

“The Improvised War: Former President Calderón and Mexico’s War on Drugs.” Book launch organized by Baker Institute’s Center for the United States and Mexico (online; September 9, 2021).

“La Guerra Improvisada: Los Años de Calderón y sus Consecuencias.” Book launch organized by the Colectivo de Análisis de la Seguridad con Democracia (CASEDE) (online; September 7, 2021).

“Mexico's Mid-Term Elections: What's at Stake and What to Expect.” Presenter in the panel organized by the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center Scholars and the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center of the Atlantic Council (online; May 6, 2021).

“100 Días de la Administración de Biden.” Presenter in the webinar organized by the Colectivo de Análisis de la Seguridad con Democracia (CASEDE) (online; March 21, 2021).

“Las Cinco Vidas de Genaro García Luna.” Book launch organized by the Colectivo de Análisis de la Seguridad con Democracia (CASEDE) (online; March 18, 2021).

“Seguridad Fronteriza en América Latina: Pandemia y Crisis.” Participant in the panel organized by La Opinión Newspaper of Cúcuta, Colombia (online; February 10, 2021).

“La Relación EEUU-México: Visión desde Estados Unidos.” Organizer of the webinar series on “U.S. elections,” Colectivo de Análisis de la Seguridad con Democracia (CASEDE) (online; November 6, 2020).

“Migration and Foreign Policy: How U.S. policies force people out of their home countries”. Presenter in the seminar co-organized by Migrant, Immigrant and Refugee Rights (MIRR) Alliance and Project Blueprint (online; October 28, 2020).

“Mexico-United States Migration Trends.” Speaker at the closing event for the Rio Bravo Congressional Fellowship 2020, organized by the Atlantic Council and U.S.-Mexico Foundation (Washington DC, online event; September 3, 2020).

“Immigration and the Workforce-Essential Workers in the Time of COVID-19.” Presenter in the panel organized by the Center for Houston’s Future, Rational Middle Media and Baker Institute’s Center for the United States and Mexico (online; August 12, 2020).

“Migration and Gender in the COVID Era.” Presenter in the panel organized by the Kota Alliance (online; April 30, 2020).

“The Central American Migrants’ Experiences through Transit Countries and Other Notes from the Field: Understanding International Migration on the Ground.” Speaker, first session of “Workshop Series on International Migration and Refugee Flows in the Americas,” organized by the Organization of the American States (OAS) (Washington DC; November 20, 2019).

“International Asylum Framework: 21^st Century Hemispheric Challenges.” Participant in the panel organized by The Inter-American Bar Association D.C. Chapter and the American Society of International Law (Washington DC; November 19, 2019).

“The Administration’s Fight Against Corruption and Crime: A first Assessment.” Panel presenter at ‘The Mexico Business Summit's 17^th edition’ (Cancún, Quintana Roo; October 20-22, 2019).

“Global Migrations and Migration in the Americas.” Speaker, Mason Speakers Event at ‘The Woodlands’ Retirement Community (Fairfax, Virginia; October 15, 2019).

Presenter: “Regional Media Overview Panel.” Exchange Program “A Digital Path to Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Latin America” organized by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) (Washington, DC; August 23, 2019).

“The U.S.-Mexico Border”. Speaker, Mexico Regional Intensive Seminar, U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service Institute (Washington, DC; August 20, 2019).

“Human Trafficking in the Current Migration Context in Central America.” Panel presenter at the annual conference to celebrate the “World Day Against Trafficking in Persons,” organized by Mexico’s Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB), Under secretariat of Human Rights, Population and Migration (Mexico City; August 2, 2019).

“General Concepts and the Complexity of Migrant Realities.” Presenter at the “Workshop to Strengthen Access to Justice for Migrants in Mexico,” organized by International Organization for Migration (IOM) (Mexico City; July 24-25, 2019).

“How to Report on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery.” Presenter at the workshop on “Reporting on Human Trafficking and Slavery for Mexican Journalists,” organized by Thomson Reuters Foundation (Mexico City; July 23, 2019).

“Gangs, Cartels, and Human Trafficking in Central America, Mexico and the United States.” Brown bag lecture, Polaris Project (Washington, DC; October 25, 2018).

“Human Trafficking in the United States.” Lecture, Defense Intelligence Agency’s International Intelligence Fellows Program (DIA-IIFP) on “Intelligence Support to Transnational Threats” (DIA, Washington, DC; September 19, 2018).

Panelist. Book Launch of Homelands: Four Friends, Two Countries and the Fate of the Great Mexican-American Migration (by Alfredo Corchado). Woodrow Wilson Center (Washington, DC; September 4, 2018).

“People on the Move: Immigration and Human Trafficking within and through Latin America.” Southern Command Seminar (Miami, Florida; May 2, 2018).

Book signing and presentation of Los Zetas Inc. (discussants: Eric Olson, Vanda Felbab-Brown, Steven Dudley, and Nick Miroff). Woodrow Wilson Center (Washington, DC; February 13, 2018).

“Transnational Organized Crime in Mexico and Central America: Corruption, Migration and Drugs.” Participant in the closing panel of the Master’s Program in Hemispheric Security - Mexico’s Federal Police (Mexico City; December 4, 2017).

“The Challenges of Crossing Borders: Derechos Humanos y Aspectos Humanitarios de la Transmigración.” Panel presenter at the international conference: “The Americas in Movement, Coping with Migration,” organized by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) (Mexico City; December 1, 2017).

Participation in the event “Security in Mexico” (with Genaro Garcia Luna, Mexico’s former Secretary of Public Security, and Tony Payan). Baker Institute’s Center for the United States and Mexico, Rice University (Houston, Texas; November 20, 2017).

Book signing and presentation of Los Zetas Inc. Participant in the panel “Inside the Cartels: Organized Crime across the Border” (with Hipólito Acosta, Melissa del Bosque, and Ricardo C. Ainslie); C-Span2/Book TV Tent, Texas Book Festival (Austin, Texas; November 4, 2017).

“Central American Migration Push/Pull Factors: What Changes May be Underway? What are their Implications?” Participant in Migration Policy Institute (MPI) Roundtable (Washington, DC; September 19, 2017).

“Trata de Personas, Crimen Organizado y Migración en los Principales Destinos Turísticos de la Península de Yucatán. El Caso de Cancún y Zonas Aledañas de Gran Turismo, México.” Featured speaker, International Congress on “Fighting Trafficking in Persons and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Boys, Girls and Teenagers related to Travel and Tourism,” organized by the General Directorate of Migration and Foreign Affairs and the Costa Rican Tourism Board (San José, Costa Rica; September 12-14, 2017).

Participant in the panel “Structure of Cartels and Gangs and their Impact on Commerce.” Southeast Analysts Roundtable (SEAR) Summer Meeting (Houston, Texas; July 19, 2017).

“Human Trafficking in the Americas: The Cases of Mexico and Central America.” Public lecture at the course on Western Hemisphere Intensive Regional Studies, U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service Institute (Washington, DC; April 20, 2017).

Speaker on the panel on “Human Trafficking.” 2017 Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) Leadership Conference and HIPGiver Gala (San Francisco, California; March 23, 2017).

“Transnational Organized Crime in Mexico and Central America.” Speaker on the panel: “Crime, Corruption and Citizen Security.” Western Hemisphere Leadership Seminar for Mid-Level Officers, U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service Institute (Washington, DC; March 21, 2017).

“Trafficking in Persons in Central America and Along Mexico's Eastern Migration Routes:  The Role of Transnational Criminal Organizations.” Presentation of report and participant in the panel: “Migration, Trafficking, and Organized Crime in Central America, Mexico, and the United States,” organized by the Woodrow Wilson Center (Washington, DC; March 1, 2017).

Commentator and participant in the U.S.-Japan Research Institute (USJI) Policy Forum: “Asia and the World as Seen by Border Studies: Implications for U.S.-Japan Relations” (Washington, DC; February 28, 2017).

“Crime and Violence in Latin America and the Caribbean: Prevention and Migration.” Participation in the panel to comment a study by the World Bank entitled “Stop the Violence in Latin America: A Look at Prevention from Cradle to Adulthood,” organized by the World Bank and the Woodrow Wilson Center (Washington, DC; February 7, 2017).

“The Current State of U.S. Mexico Security Cooperation and Future Prospects: The Case of Tamaulipas.” Featured speaker, the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute annual conference: “The State of Security in Mexico: Why are Homicides Increasing? How to Reduce the Violence” (Washington, DC; February 3, 2017).

“Trafficking in Persons in Central America and Along Mexico's Eastern Migration Routes: The Role of Transnational Criminal Organizations.” Presentation of (JTIP Grant) findings at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Policy (Washington, DC; October 18, 2016).

“Trafficking in Persons in Central America and Along Mexico's Eastern Migration Routes:  The Role of Transnational Criminal Organizations.” Presentation of (JTIP Grant) findings at the U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (Washington, DC; August 23, 2016).

“Life on the Border: Rhetoric or Reality?” Special guest; Texas Tribune conversation in the framework of the project “Bordering on Insecurity” (The Centennial Club; McAllen, Texas; August 4, 2016).

“Trata, Tráfico de Migrantes y Delincuencia Organizada: Peligros en la Ruta Migratoria del Golfo de México.” Featured speaker, Workshop on Human Trafficking organized by Mexico’s National Institute of Immigration (INM) (Morelia, Mexico; September 21, 2015).

“Energy Reform and Property Rights in Mexico. Three Key Areas: Land Ownership, Water and Infrastructure.” Featured speaker, Pre-Summit Workshop “Doing Business in Mexico: A Guide for International Companies.” Mexican Energy Opportunities Summit: Oil, Gas and Power (Mexico City; April 28-30, 2015).

“Dinámicas de la Delincuencia Organizada en la Frontera Noreste.” Speaker on the panel “Contemporary Themes on Security” organized by Colectivo de Análisis de la Seguridad con Democracia (CASEDE) (Mexico City, April 29, 2015).

“Immigration: The Next Five Years.” Panel presenter at the 2015 Texas Tribune’s Conversation Series (Brownsville, Texas; February 27, 2015).

“Militarization, Paramilitarization and Organized Crime: Challenges for Citizen Security in Tamaulipas, Mexico.” Presentation at the Workshop on Citizen Security in Mexican Cities; organized by the Woodrow Wilson Center, CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Monterrey, Nuevo León; October 28, 2014).

“Life on the Line: Tweeting the Drug War.” Panel presenter at South by Southwest (SXSW)-Interactive Conference (Austin, Texas; March 9, 2013).

“National Security and Drug Trafficking.” Panel presenter at the seminar: “A Debate on Mexico’s Security and Defense 2012,” Colectivo de Análisis de la Seguridad con Democracia (CASEDE) and Casa COLEF (Mexico City; November 16, 2012).

“Drogas, Violencia y Tráfico de Personas en las Dos Fronteras de México: Diagnóstico y Recomendaciones de Política y Cooperación Regional.” Panel presenter in the third meeting of the project “Los Procesos Migratorios en México y Centroamérica: Diagnóstico y Propuestas Regionales,” Mexican Embassy in Guatemala (Guatemala City; October 1, 2012).

“La Frontera ‘Olvidada’. El Caso Tamaulipas: Clave para Entender la Nueva Configuración del Crimen Organizado en México.” Featured speaker, “International Seminar on Mexico: National Security, Civil-Military Relations, Democracy and the Fight Against Organized Crime,” organized by CIDE, CASEDE, El COLEF, USD, Wilson Center, et al. (Mexico City; October 18-20, 2010).

EDITORIAL WORK

Co-lead editor of the Borderlanders/Fronterizos journal    
(Texas Christian University Press) [first number and issue: 2027]. 

Co-editor of the International Studies Perspectives (ISP) journal (Cambridge University Press).

Member of the editorial board, “Homeland Security Policy Papers Series,” Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Member of the editorial board of Revista de Estudios en Seguridad Internacional (Journal of Studies in International Security, Universidad de Granada, Spain).

Member of the international advisory board of Eurasian Border Review (ERB; Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan).

Member of the editorial board of CienciaUAT journal (Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Mexico).

OTHER (ACADEMIC) ACTIVITIES

Member of the team that develops a sampling frame for the Survey on Migration at Mexico’s Northern Borderlands (Encuesta sobre Migración en la Frontera Norte de México, EMIF Norte) and Mexico’s Observatory of Migration Flows, El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (January-May, 2025).

Co-organizer of conference entitled “Themes of Trumpism in 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections.” Norteamerica journal, CISAN, UNAM (hybrid format; October 23-24, 2024).

Member of the Council of the Oswaldo Aranha Chair on Security and Defense, International Relations Institute, University of São Paulo (January 17, 2024-present).

Member of the 2003 Ralph J. Bunche Award committee of the American Political Science Association.

Reviewer of game design: “Borders and Values” (game) by Brian A. Jackson, David R. Frelinger and Emily Yoder. RAND Corporation's Social and Economic Wellbeing Division, Washington, DC office, Arlington, VA.

Mentor for the DHS-sponsored Summer Research Team (SRT) Program for Minority Serving Institutions (MSI); organized by GMU and the DHS Criminal Investigations and Network Analysis (CINA) Center of Excellence (Arlington, Virginia; June-August, 2022).   
Project: “The Impact of a Pandemic on Mexican Cartel Activities”

Member of the IIR Faculty Affiliate Steering Committee, GMU (April 2022-present).

Participant in the Organized Crime Index expert group meeting assessing the criminality and resilience of North & Central America - Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (online; March 24, 2021).

Member of the panel to select the recipients of the 2021 Thesis Awards on Human Trafficking (7º Premio Universitario de Tesis sobre Trata de Personas) at UNAM (online; February 19, 2021).

Member of the External Review Panel to select Woodrow Wilson Center Residential Fellows 2021-2022 (online; January 20, 2021).

Affiliated faculty at Mason’s Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA), GMU (Fall 2020-present).

Affiliated faculty at Mason’s Institute for Sustainable Earth (ISE), GMU (Fall 2020-present).

Organizer of webinar titled “Social Justice in America: Forgotten Issues? Immigration and Latino Populations.” Schar School series on “Social Justice in the Americas,” GMU (online; July 15, 2020).

Member of the External Review Panel to select Woodrow Wilson Center Residential Fellows 2020-2021 (Washington, DC; January 24, 2020).

Member of the Executive Council of the Western Social Science Association (WSSA); 2019-May 2021.

Participant, Institute for Latin American Studies (LAI) Alumni Summer School, “Violence and Social Conflicts,” Freie Universität Berlin (Berlin, Germany; September 23-27, 2019).

Conference program committee member, Homeland Security Conference: On the Border by the Sea, UTRGV (Brownsville, Texas; May 23-24, 2019).

Co-Organizer, Migration, Homeland Security, and Gangs Conference (GMU; Fairfax, Virginia; October 24, 2018).

President of the Association for Borderlands Studies (ABS); 2017-2018.

Affiliated faculty at the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC), GMU (Spring 2018-present).

Affiliated faculty at the Institute for Immigration Research (IIR), GMU (Spring 2018-present).

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Affiliated faculty at the Center for Security Policy Studies, GMU (Fall 2017-present).

Member of the Faculty Advisory Committee of the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security at GMU (Fall 2017-present).

Member of the Scientific Committee of the 16^th BRIT Conference (Nigeria-Benin Republic; October 15-18, 2018).

Member of the International Scientific Committee of the 3^rd Brazilian Congress of Political Geography, Geopolitics and Territorial Management, CONGEO (Universidade Federal Fluminense Niterói, Río de Janeiro; September 10-14, 2018). 

Member of the Scientific Committee of the Second ABS World Conference (Vienna, Austria-Budapest, Hungary; July 10-14, 2018).

Member of the External Review Panel to select Woodrow Wilson Center Residential Fellows 2018-2019 (Washington, DC; January 26, 2018).

Member of CONACYT’s Thematic Network on Addiction Prevention and Citizen Security (April 2018 to date).

Chair of the 59^th ABS Annual Conference: “Bridges or Walls? The Case for Open Borders in the XXI Century” (San Francisco, California; April 12-15, 2017).

Vice-President of ABS (2016-2017).

Second Vice-President of ABS (2015-2016).

Member of the Woodrow Wilson Center-COMEXI Commission on Building a Secure and Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border (2015).

Chair of the conference: “The Texas-Mexico Border in Comparative North American Context” (UTB; Brownsville, Texas; May 7-8, 2015).

Co-chair of the conference: “Desperate Journeys: From Forced Migration to Servitude.” Co-organized by South Texas College, UTB, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, and Fuerza del Valle (South Texas College; McAllen, Texas; March 25-26, 2015).

Member of the Executive Board of ABS (2011-2014).

Co-chair of the conference: “Migrant Smuggling and Human Trafficking in Drug War Times: A Dangerous Journey to the United States.” Co-organized by UTB and South Texas College; Brownsville and McAllen, Texas; April 9-11, 2013.

Member of the Technical Committee of evaluation of the 2013 “Awards for U.S.-Mexico Cross-Border Cooperation and Innovation.”

Member of the Regional Research Network in Public Safety and Social Development (Red Regional de Investigación en Seguridad Pública y Desarrollo Social, REDSPDS) (November 2012 to date).

Reviewer for the journals: American Political Science Review (Cambridge Core), Journal of Public Policy (Cambridge Core), Latin American Politics and Society (Cambridge Core), Journal of Latin American Studies (Cambridge Core), Politics & Policy (Wiley), Journal of Borderlands Studies (Routledge), International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior (PrAcademics Press), Norteamérica CISAN-UNAM), Frontera Norte (El Colegio de la Frontera Norte), Estudios Demográficos y Urbanos (El Colegio de México), Trayectorias (Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León), Revista Mexicana de Política Exterior (Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores).

Co-coordinator of UTB Faculty Research Symposium (UTB; Brownsville, Texas; September 2010-December 2011).

Member of the “Central Group” (Grupo Central). Project “Los Procesos Migratorios en México y Centroamérica: Diagnóstico y Propuestas Regionales.” Participants: ITAM, Sin Fronteras, ECOSUR, IMUMI, CIESAS, FLACSO, INCEDES Guatemala, Universidad Centroamericana “José Simeón Cañas” (El Salvador), et. al.

Member of the researchers’ network of the project “México Estatal: Calidad de Gobierno y Rendición de Cuentas en las Entidades Federativas” (CIDE and UNDP; Mexico City; October, 2009-December 2012).

Member of the Program Committee and Site Committee for the 25^th PAT-Net Annual Conference.

Organizer/Chair/Discussant of the Conference “Women in Mexican Politics” (UTB; Brownsville, Texas; May 6, 2011).

Program Scholar at the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) Summer Training Program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research (University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; July 21-August 15, 2003).

Courses:

Regression Analysis II: Linear Models.   
Scaling and Dimensional Analysis.

OTHER (NON-ACADEMIC) ACTIVITIES

Member of the Jury for Mexico’s National Journalism Award (Premio Nacional de Periodismo) 2020.

“Frontera: Images from the U.S.-Mexico Border.” Photo exhibition at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (with Sergio Chapa), Reagan Building, 4^th Floor, (Washington DC; November 4, 2019 - March 31, 2020).

Participated as expert witness in Immigration Court.

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT

1.   ETHOS Foundation; Mexico City[2]   
Director of the Area of Political Analysis; August 2007-September 2008.

 2.   Ministry of Finance; Mexico City   
General Directorate of International Financial Affairs   
Advisor to the Director General of International Financial Affairs; 1998-1999.

 3.   Ministry of Agriculture; Mexico City   
General Directorate of Agricultural Sector Studies   
Chief of the Department of Economic Studies; 1997.

 4.   Organization of American States (OAS); Washington, DC   
Development Programs Department of the Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD), and Unit for Social Development and Education (USDE)   
Junior Associate, Summer Program; June-August 2002.

MEMBERSHIPS

American Political Science Association (APSA)   
Association for Borderlands Studies (ABS)   
International Studies Association (ISA)   
Colectivo de Análisis de la Seguridad con Democracia (CASEDE)   
Member of the Global Initiative Against Organized Crime (since 2017): The Global Initiative Network

MEDIA

Columnist in SinEmbargo newspaper since August 2018 (biweekly column).

Columnist in La Opinión (Los Angeles, CA) since July 8, 2024 (monthly column). 

Quoted and cited frequently in national and international news media on the topics of Mexican politics, U.S-Mexico relations, border security, immigration, and particularly on drug trafficking issues and drug violence in Mexico. Among these media sources are: The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Los Angeles Times, Politico, Foreign Affairs, USA Today, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, The Nation, NPR, The Economist, Newsweek, BBC World News, C-SPAN Washington Journal, Univision, Telemundo, Voice of America, El País (Spain), RT News (Russia), Telesur (Venezuela), NTN24 (Colombia), El Mercurio (Chile), El Clarín and Infobae (Argentina), O Globo (Brazil), major Mexican media outlets, and many others.

Commentator in Astillero Informa (weekly comments on current issues of security in Mexico; Thursdays, 2:00 p.m., Mexico City).

Commentator in Puntos y Comas of “SinEmbargo Al Aire” (weekly comments on current issues of Mexican politics and international relations; Thursdays, 8:00 p.m., Mexico City) – until October 2022.

Commentator in La Octava Digital: “The Critical Perspective with Guadalupe Correa” (weekly comments on Mexican politics; Tuesdays, 6:15 p.m., Mexico City) – until November 2022.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Spanish: native speaker   
English: fluent   
Portuguese: intermediate level   
 

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[1] The DSD Fellowship is funded by the Open Society Foundations' Latin America Program and Global Drug Policy Program. The fellowship program is a partnership between Open Society Foundations (OSF), Social Science Research Council (SSRC), International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and Universidad de los Andes in Bogota, Colombia.

[2ETHOS Foundation is a Mexican think-tank dedicated to research, analysis, evaluation and design of public policies in the areas of poverty alleviation, social and economic sustainable development, and the consolidation of democracy in Latin America (www.ethos.org.mx).