A new bipartisan organization launched Tuesday aims to reshape how the United States and Mexico engage on economic and cultural fronts, drawing together former ambassadors, CEOs, and political figures from both parties. The American Mexican Leadership Council (AMLC) is the brainchild of Sergio Gonzales, who served as deputy chief of staff for Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign.
Gonzales told The Hill the group is unprecedented in its scope. “This organization is truly the first of its kind, an organization that is connecting leaders across community of 40 million people from across the country, and also focused on the relationship with Mexico, which is one of our most important partners and allies,” he said. He emphasized the deep cultural and economic ties between the two nations, noting that Mexico is now the United States’ largest trading partner, with over $2.5 billion in goods and services exchanged daily.
“How can we work together as a diaspora, as the Mexican American community, and how can we ensure that we’re working together with Mexico to expand economic opportunity and prosperity and regional economic security?” Gonzales added. “There’s just an immense consequence of the policies and perceptions of both the community in this country as well as the relationship with Mexico that cannot be taken for granted any longer.”
The AMLC’s board reflects its bipartisan ambitions. It includes Federico Peña, who served as Transportation Secretary under President Bill Clinton; former House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican from Florida; and former California Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, a Democrat. Nathalie Rayes, former U.S. ambassador to Croatia, serves as co-chair of the board.
“As someone who has spent my career working across borders, I believe deeply in leadership that is informed, collaborative, and forward-looking,” Rayes said in a statement. “The American Mexican Leadership Council is built to advance that kind of leadership – strengthening ties, building trust, and delivering real impact for our communities in both countries.”
Gonzales highlighted the economic stakes, noting that major industries rely on cross-border partnerships. “Major industries have a lot at stake when it comes to partnership. And so this organization really is about bringing our Mexican American community together and connecting leaders so that we can work with decision makers and experts and others across different sectors, including business, to have a very thoughtful, constructive and forward leaning discussion and agenda when it comes to the economic future,” he said.
The launch comes at a time when bipartisan efforts on other fronts, such as a bipartisan bill targeting eased Russia oil sanctions, show that cross-party collaboration remains possible on key issues. The AMLC aims to fill a gap in advocacy for the Mexican American community, which numbers roughly 40 million people, and to ensure that U.S.-Mexico relations are prioritized in policy discussions.
The group plans to engage policymakers, business leaders, and community organizations to advance a forward-looking agenda. Its formation signals a recognition that the relationship with Mexico, often overshadowed by domestic political debates, requires sustained, organized attention from both sides of the aisle.
