The U.S.-Mexico border offers unparalleled economic opportunities for Americans who live near the border as well as for workers and their employers throughout the United States. With the House of Representatives looking at various approaches to immigration reform—in which increased border security is a top priority—it is also critical to look at how the border improves competitiveness and brings direct and indirect prosperity to communities across the country.

This fact sheet—the fifth in our series on immigrants and the economy—details five reasons why U.S.-Mexico border is critical for the U.S. economy. A secure border is vital, but so is a border that provides security in a way that does not result in the unintended consequence of unnecessarily stifling commerce.

via Get the Facts: Five Reasons Why the U.S.-Mexico Border Is Critical to the Economy | AS/COA.