In 1970, the gross national product for the United States was over $974 billion; for Mexico, it was $33 billion. The U.S. per capita national income was approximately $4,300, while Mexico's was slightly above $500. Living as neighbors with the reality of these vast differences has led to the implementation of various policy measures by both nations. Scant attention has been given to the significance of border practices and policies of each nation for its "own" people. The U.S. border policies and practices have affected a significant proportion of the Chicano population. Chicanos have long provided the mainstay of the unskilled and semiskilled labor force in the Southwest's rural and urban sectors. Yet in l970, the number of Chicano family members classified as officially living in poverty exceeded 1.2 million. Among the policies and practices having serious detrimental impact on the Chicano population have been the bracero program, the policy governing illegal entrants and commuters (those living in Mexico but frequently seeking employment in the U.S.), and the "twin plants" program (an arrangement by which laborers in Mexico assemble items for U.S.-owned industries). If the present border situation continues, the economic improvement for Chicanos will continue to be "grudgingly" slow. An alternative would be to impose and enforce strong restrictions upon illegal entrants, commuting workers, and employers who hire illegal workers. A tight border policy is an essential component of any serious public policy strategy to improve Chicano economic welfare. (NQ)