Cities That Exclude, Economies That Lose: The Challenge of Building Inclusive Urban Communities Along the U.S.–Mexico Border
- Editorial
- May 27
- 3 min read
In the 21st century, cities are no longer just clusters of infrastructure. They are hubs of economic, cultural, and social exchange where development is only sustainable when built on inclusion. In both Mexico and the United States, urban zones along the border concentrate opportunity but also perpetuate structural inequalities that continue to marginalize millions: migrants, seniors, people with disabilities, racialized youth, women-led households, and the LGBTQ+ population. Economic development that excludes these groups is, by definition, failed development.
In 2024, both countries made strides in urban inclusion policies, though with significant regional disparities. In the United States, cities such as El Paso and San Diego increased investments in accessible housing and universal infrastructure, with a 12.3% growth in budgets allocated to inclusive urban development, according to the Urban Institute. By contrast, Mexican cities like Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez raised spending on social integration programs by only 6.8%, mainly focused on food subsidies and educational scholarships, according to data from CONEVAL and the Mexican Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial, and Urban Development (SEDATU).
In 2024, 38% of the border population in Mexico lived under moderate or high levels of social deprivation, while on the southern Texas border, 27% of Latino residents reported significant barriers to accessing quality health or education services. These figures not only reflect inequality; they represent missed economic potential. According to the Brookings Institution, inclusive cities generate 2.5% to 4% more annual urban GDP growth than exclusionary ones by unlocking the productivity of traditionally marginalized residents.
Technology has also played a key role in promoting inclusion. In 2024, 71% of U.S. border cities integrated digital accessibility features into public service platforms, while only 34% of Mexican municipalities adopted tools such as virtual sign language interpreters or web interfaces designed for low-vision users. This digital divide deepens exclusion and undermines equal access to civic participation.
Yet there are inspiring examples. Nogales, Sonora launched “Vecindarios Abiertos,” a program that blends tactical urbanism with digital inclusion, benefiting over 4,000 people with disabilities and elderly residents. On the U.S. side, Laredo introduced its “MoveTogether” strategy in 2024, redesigning public transit routes while offering cross-subsidies for students, agricultural workers, and those with reduced mobility.
Binational collaboration has also shown promise. The “Frontera Sin Muros Sociales” initiative—supported by institutions such as UTEP and El Colegio de la Frontera Norte—coordinated six pilot projects in twin cities focused on community health, youth development, and participatory public space design. These efforts have demonstrated that inclusion is not merely a moral imperative, but a smart governance strategy that enhances urban performance on both sides of the border.
Still, the road ahead in 2025 remains challenging. Fragmented budgets, weak institutional coordination, and political resistance to addressing the intersectionality of exclusion are major hurdles. The accelerated growth of metropolitan areas has led to gentrification, forced displacement, and increased violence in vulnerable neighborhoods—factors that only intensify urban segregation.
Another critical issue is territorial intelligence. Many cities still lack disaggregated data on disability status, gender identity, or migration status, which severely limits the effectiveness of public policy. Without precise data, inclusion becomes a well-intentioned narrative rather than an actionable agenda.
To transform border cities into engines of inclusive development in 2025, we must redefine political priorities, invest in rights-based tech solutions, and strengthen partnerships between local governments, universities, and civil society organizations. Inclusion is not a progressive luxury—it is an economic, democratic, and social prerequisite for urban prosperity.
Written by: Editorial
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