Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation announced the release of a new book that examines U.S.-Mexico relations in the context of the current border crisis. "The Hard Country: The Mexican Crisis and America’s Answers" offers policy solutions based on the premise that Mexico is no longer a reliable partner.

"The fundamental purpose of this book is to illuminate the cul de sac into which American policy toward Mexico has meandered, and to further illuminate the options needed to exit it, in the American interest first and foremost," says author Joshua S. Treviño. "Those options, necessary and stark as they are, will seem shocking to those accustomed to thinking of the Mexican state as a well-meaning (if dysfunctional) neighbor to our south… On both sides, the nightmare scenario looms."

The first chapter, titled "Fue el Estado," outlines current issues between Mexico's political regime and U.S. leadership. It argues that by enriching cartels at its citizens' expense, the Mexican state plays a central role in its ongoing crisis.

Joshua S. Treviño serves as Chief Transformation Officer at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and has previously published research on U.S.-Mexico relations and states' constitutional authority regarding border defense.

The book will be released serially with new chapters available over several weeks.

Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit research institute based in Austin focused on promoting liberty, opportunity, and personal responsibility.