In this episode of Border Masters, we sit down with Christopher Teal, U.S. Consul General in Tijuana, to unpack what diplomacy really looks like on the ground at the busiest land border in the Western Hemisphere. From processing more than a thousand visas a day to strengthening U.S.–Mexico cooperation on migration, security, trade, and education, he offers a candid look at the realities behind the headlines. We also explore cross-border public safety coordination, USMCA and regional competitiveness, workforce development in Cali-Baja, and why Tijuana represents opportunity, innovation, and what he calls “the Mexican dream.”

A special thank you to our sponsors SENTRE and JD Group Logistics for making this episode possible.

Some Border Masters episodes are recorded in English and others in Spanish.

Listen to this episode and more at https://olasmedia.com, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment, and share. For guest suggestions or inquiries, email info@bordermasterspodcast.com.

Chapters:

00:02:15 – Meet Christopher Teal: A Diplomat at the Border
00:05:50 – From Illinois to International Diplomacy
00:07:22 – What a Consul General Does in Tijuana
00:13:23 – Migration Myths & Legal Pathways
00:17:27 – The Human Side of the Visa Process
00:23:35 – Visa Categories: Tourists, Students & Workers
00:25:54 – Translating Border Realities to Washington
00:28:17 – Security, Cartels & Cross-Border Enforcement
00:32:21 – USMCA, Trade & Regional Competitiveness
00:39:01 – Tijuana, Opportunity & Becoming a Border Master