U.S. relations with Mexico are strong and vital. The two countries share a 2,000-mile border with 55 active land ports of entry, and bilateral relations between the two have a direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans, whether the issue is trade and economic reform, education exchange, citizen security, drug control, migration, human trafficking, innovation,or public health. The scope of relations between the United States and Mexico is broad and goes beyond diplomatic and official relations. It encompasses extensive commercial, cultural, and educational ties, with $1.7 billion of two-way trade and during normal economic and health times, there are hundreds of thousands of people crossing the border legally each day. In addition, 1.5 million U.S. citizens live in Mexico, and Mexico is the top foreign destination for U.S. travelers. In 1847–48, with the United States occupying Mexico at the conclusion of the Mexican–American War, there was talk in Congress o