On this episode of the States Trust Podcast, TPPF’s Chris Myers sits down with border security expert and author Leon Rios for a deep dive on America’s border challenges. Drawing on three decades of military experience, Leon brings a fresh perspective—using a football analogy to explain why tackling border issues takes real teamwork. Chris and Leon dig into how federal, state, and local agencies can better work together, why border security is a national security issue, and what new leadership structures could help drive real progress.
1:22 – Treating border security as the “Gordian knot”
2:28 – Using a football analogy to describe challenges at the border
9:57 – How agencies can collaborate to strengthen border security
13:20 – Why border security is a national security issue
16:49 – The role of local law enforcement agencies
18:16 – The idea of creating an Office or Director of National Border Security
20:55 – Five proposed action steps