Border Region

USMBHC Outreach Offices

The U.S. - Mexico Border Region

The United States-Mexico border region is defined as the area land being 100 kilometers (62.5 miles) north and south of the international boundary (La Paz Agreement).  It stretches approximately 2000 miles from the southern tip of Texas to California.  The population for this expanse of land is estimated to be approximately 12 million inhabitants.  This population is expected to double by the year 2025.  The combined population of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California is 61,637,146 (2000 Census).  The estimated combined population of the six Mexican border states in 1990 was 12,246,991.  Two of the ten fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States - Laredo and McAllen - are located on the Texas-Mexico border.   Additionally, there are 154 Native American tribes totaling 881,070 Native Americans living in the 4 U.S. border states.  In the actual border region, there are approximately 25 Native American Nations.

This is a dynamic region that is medically underserved with a population that has pressing health and social conditions, higher uninsured rates, high rates of migration, inequitable health conditions and a high rate of poverty.  The border area comprises:

• Two sovereign nations
• Four states in the United States and six states in Mexico
• A total of 44 counties and 80 municipalities
• 14 pairs of sister cities

The U.S. Hispanic population is now the nation’s largest minority group.  In 2002, Hispanics were more likely than non-Hispanic Whites to reside in the West and the South.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2000), statistics indicate that in the U.S. border counties, 25%-30% of the population is uninsured; inhabitants have less private health insurance, 40% vs. 60% for the state average; and the average yearly income is $14,560.

In general, educational attainment is lower along the border when compared to the rest of the United States.  With the exception of San Diego, 25 year olds in the border counties average two to three less years of school than in the United States as a whole.
 
In the border region:

• Three of the ten poorest counties in the United States are located in the border area
• Twenty-one of the counties on the border have been designated as economically distressed areas
• Approximately 432,000 people live in 1,200 colonias in Texas and New Mexico, which are unincorporated, semi-rural communities that are characterized by substandard housing and unsafe public drinking water or wastewater systems
• The unemployment rate along the U.S. side of the Texas-Mexico border is 250-300 percent higher than in the rest of the country; and
• Due to rapid industrialization, the communities on the Mexican side of the border have less access to basic water and sanitation services than the rest of the nation.

The United States-Mexico Border is recognized as one of the busiest in the world.  There are 43 points of entry (POEs) on the border between the United States and Mexico.  Every day, 800,000 people arrive in the United States from Mexico.  In 2001, over 300 million two-way border crossings took place at 43 POEs. 

Although, there have been significant economic changes due to international trade agreements with Mexico, there continues to be major problems associated with the general poverty of the border area.  Without increases and sustained federal, state and local governmental and private funding for health programs, infrastructure and education the border populations will continue to lag behind the rest of the United States in these areas.

Health challenges along the border remain significant.  The USMBHC requires the combined commitment and focused efforts of health care, social services, educational and environmental agencies and organizations, and policy makers.  According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, if made the 51st state the border region would:

• Rank last in access to health care;
• Second in death rates due to hepatitis;
• Third in deaths related to diabetes;
• Last in per capita income;
• First in the numbers of school children living in poverty; and
• First in the numbers of children who are uninsured.

For additional information:

United States-Mexico Border Health Commission
211 N. Florence, Ste. 101
El Paso, TX   79901
Phone:  915-532-1006
Fax:  915-532-1697