--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The U.S.-Mexico border has often been…" description: "\"The U.S.-Mexico border has often been described as an open wound. NAFTA was expected to heal it, albeit through a long, slow, and imperfect scarring pr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/denise-dresser-9506_cooperation_the-u-s-mexico-border-has-often-been-des_386156.jpg" --- # The U.S.-Mexico border has often been described as an open… ![“The U.S.-Mexico border has often been described as an open wound. NAFTA was expected to heal it, albeit through a long, slow, and imperfect scarring process, by creating a basic framework for cooperation between the two countries.” quote by Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/denise-dresser-9506_cooperation_the-u-s-mexico-border-has-often-been-des_386156.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/denise-dresser-9506_cooperation_the-u-s-mexico-border-has-often-been-des_386156.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff7/denise-dresser-9506_cooperation_the-u-s-mexico-border-has-often-been-des_386156.jpg) > “The U.S.-Mexico border has often been described as an open wound. NAFTA was expected to heal it, albeit through a long, slow, and imperfect scarring process, by creating a basic framework for cooperation between the two countries.” [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote describes the US‑Mexico border as a wound, with NAFTA as a slow, imperfect healing process that creates a cooperative framework. **In simple terms:** Border seen as a wound; NAFTA as a gradual fix. Key Takeaway Support policies that promote sustainable cross‑border cooperation. Themes politics economics international relations healing cooperation Mood thoughtful optimistic Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - diplomatic negotiations - economic forums - community workshops - policy reviews Key Concepts trade agreements regional development social integration Questions to Reflect On - What are the long‑term effects of NAFTA on border communities? - How can healing be measured beyond economics? A Different Perspective Healing may be uneven and contested. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cooperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooperation/) [NAFTA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nafta/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) ## Related quotes > [I have gone down to the border in Texas, the southern border. I also went down to the California-Mexico border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/i-have-gone-down-to-the-border-in-texas-the-southern-border-i-also/) [Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/) > [Mexico with the United States has outnegotiated us and beat us to a pulp through our past leaders. They've made us look foolish. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/mexico-with-the-united-states-has-outnegotiated-us-and-beat-us-to-a/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I have to convince other Democrats and Republicans that it's wise to invest in the U.S.-Mexico border, not just for security, but also for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beto-o-rourke/i-have-to-convince-other-democrats-and-republicans-that-it-s-wise-to/) [Beto O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beto-o-rourke/) > [Six million jobs in the US depend on trade with Mexico. Ten border states - six in Mexico and four in the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bersin/six-million-jobs-in-the-us-depend-on-trade-with-mexico-ten-border/) [Alan Bersin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bersin/) > [On my recent trip to the Mexico border, Border Patrol agents in California told me they have arrested the same coyotes 20 times, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-keller/on-my-recent-trip-to-the-mexico-border-border-patrol-agents-in/) [Ric Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-keller/) > [Trying to decipher where President Obama really stands on free trade can be like trying to trace the U.S.-Mexico border with a Google map.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-easton/trying-to-decipher-where-president-obama-really-stands-on-free-trade/) [Nina Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-easton/) > [NAFTA was conceived to avoid discrimination against goods. A U.S.-Mexico treaty on immigration should be devised to prevent discrimination against people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/nafta-was-conceived-to-avoid-discrimination-against-goods-a-u-s/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [NAFTA will continue to regulate the relationship between Mexico and Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/nafta-will-continue-to-regulate-the-relationship-between-mexico-and/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [America has lost one-third of its manufacturing jobs since NAFTA, a deal signed by Bill Clinton and supported strongly by Hillary Clinton. And by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/america-has-lost-one-third-of-its-manufacturing-jobs-since-nafta-a/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Let me first clarify that NAFTA is a trilateral agreement. The decision of walking away is not of Mexico or Canada. The decision of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/let-me-first-clarify-that-nafta-is-a-trilateral-agreement-the/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [I am all in favor of growing the American economy and engaging in trade with the world, but not at the expense of American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-yoho/i-am-all-in-favor-of-growing-the-american-economy-and-engaging-in/) [Ted Yoho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-yoho/) > [We recognize that NAFTA is a three-country agreement, and we need a three-country negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/we-recognize-that-nafta-is-a-three-country-agreement-and-we-need-a/) [Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/) > [NAFTA, by itself, will not collapse. The possibility is that the United States leaves the treaty, but the treaty itself would keep regulating relations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/nafta-by-itself-will-not-collapse-the-possibility-is-that-the-united/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [This softwood lumber dispute is a very old dispute that almost follows a dynamic entirely of its own that is actually somewhat independent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/this-softwood-lumber-dispute-is-a-very-old-dispute-that-almost/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-nafta-can-work-better-but-it-s-a/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) ## More by Denise Dresser > [Latin America's economies are organized in a way that concentrates wealth in a few hands but then leaves it untaxed, depriving governments of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/latin-america-s-economies-are-organized-in-a-way-that-concentrates/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [Ignoring party leaders in order to sway public opinion may work in countries where elected representatives are responsive to their constituencies. But in Mexico,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/ignoring-party-leaders-in-order-to-sway-public-opinion-may-work-in/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [The National Action Party, in many ways, emulated the PRI in the way in which it conducted itself in government, supporting corporatist leaders, supporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/the-national-action-party-in-many-ways-emulated-the-pri-in-the-way-in/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [“Yo, al igual que usted, parezco una naranja. A mi, al igual que a usted, todos los días alguna empresa pública o privada me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/yo-al-igual-que-usted-parezco-una-naranja-a-mi-al-igual-que-a-usted/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [Democratic Latin America limps sideways because it can't run ahead. There are too many entry barriers to the poor, the innovative, and those without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/democratic-latin-america-limps-sideways-because-it-can-t-run-ahead/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [Pena Nieto is a product of the two television networks that groomed him for power and then propelled him to the presidency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/pena-nieto-is-a-product-of-the-two-television-networks-that-groomed/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [For too long, government officials have tinkered with Mexico's economic structure through piecemeal reforms that seek to ensure political stability but that do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/for-too-long-government-officials-have-tinkered-with-mexico-s/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [The PRI portrays itself as the force of the center, of stability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/the-pri-portrays-itself-as-the-force-of-the-center-of-stability/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [“¿Que es la maquinaria del PRI? Es el gobernador que manda a los maestros a marchar al DF para desquiciarla.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/que-es-la-maquinaria-del-pri-es-el-gobernador-que-manda-a-los/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [Mexico City is being used as a laboratory to send the message throughout the rest of Mexico that the Left can govern. That here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/mexico-city-is-being-used-as-a-laboratory-to-send-the-message/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [Mexico isn't a country of routine debates among presidential candidates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/mexico-isn-t-a-country-of-routine-debates-among-presidential/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [The PRI can afford to push democratization; it can afford to be generous because it has a very good chance of winning in clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/the-pri-can-afford-to-push-democratization-it-can-afford-to-be/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [Governments that don't need to broaden their tax base have few incentives to respond to the needs of their people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/governments-that-don-t-need-to-broaden-their-tax-base-have-few/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [Undoubtedly, Mexico's crime-related problems have become a focus of attention among lawmakers, law enforcement, and the media in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/undoubtedly-mexico-s-crime-related-problems-have-become-a-focus-of/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [In Latin America, many people live with outstretched hands. Throughout the hemisphere, paternalistic governments accustom people to receiving just enough to survive instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/in-latin-america-many-people-live-with-outstretched-hands-throughout/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) [Explore all 55 Denise Dresser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) ## More Cooperation quotes > [I wish I had played team sports. I think every kid should. Teamwork builds character - teaches people about leadership and cooperation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-rocca/i-wish-i-had-played-team-sports-i-think-every-kid-should-teamwork/) [Mo Rocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-rocca/) > [The U.S.-China relationship, of course, has elements of both cooperation and competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-donilon/the-u-s-china-relationship-of-course-has-elements-of-both-cooperation/) [Thomas E. 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We have to create cooperatives, we have to create intentional communities, we have to work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/we-have-to-deal-with-where-we-are-we-have-to-create-cooperatives-we/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [Cooperation isn't the absence of conflict but a means of managing conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/cooperation-isn-t-the-absence-of-conflict-but-a-means-of-managing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [We must never lose sight of the fact that we must take part in the development, not only of ourselves but of all humanity...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/we-must-never-lose-sight-of-the-fact-that-we-must-take-part-in-the/) [Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/) > [Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folkways and superstition, and of cooperation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/management-means-in-the-last-analysis-the-substitution-of-thought-for/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Women lead in ways different from men's. Men, I think, have been programmed to give orders. Women have been programmed to motivate people, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-fox/women-lead-in-ways-different-from-men-s-men-i-think-have-been/) [Muriel Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-fox/) > [I sometimes try to imagine what would have happened if we’d known the bonobo first and the chimpanzee only later—or not at all. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/i-sometimes-try-to-imagine-what-would-have-happened-if-we-d-known-the/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [In spite of my great admiration for individual splendid talents I do not accept the star system. 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