Policy Priorities
U.S. Leadership in the Hemisphere
We work to guarantee the United States remains the leading economic, political, and military power in the Western Hemisphere.Hemispheric Security is National Security
Our strategy begins with the principle that the safety of the U.S. depends on the stability of our neighbors—security must start at home and next door.Border Integrity and Homeland Defense
From stopping illicit flows to dismantling cartel-state alliances, we push for decisive policies that secure the border and reinforce our internal defenses.Push Back Against Chinese Influence
China is expanding its influence across Latin America—we’re exposing it and pushing back with policy and partnerships that protect U.S. interests.
At the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), we believe that safeguarding the homeland starts with securing our own neighborhood. The Western Hemisphere Initiative was launched to reaffirm and strengthen America's role as the undisputed leader in the region. Guided by the America First vision, we are committed to countering foreign adversaries—such as Communist China—who seek to undermine U.S. influence and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean.
This initiative isn't about short-term fixes—it's a long-term strategy to secure our borders, assert U.S. dominance, and build strong alliances across the hemisphere. By uniting policy, research, and action, the Western Hemisphere Initiative ensures America leads from a position of strength, rooted in sovereignty, and focused on the security and prosperity of our people.
In a fast-moving world, the Western Hemisphere is a front line. Our team is actively engaged—on the ground, in the room, and leading the conversation. We’re tracking critical developments, forging key alliances, and driving the ideas that keep America in command. Because if the United States doesn’t lead here, someone else will—and that’s a risk we won’t take.
Team
The Honorable Chad Wolf
Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer & Chair of AFPI’s Homeland Security & Immigration
The Honorable Robert Wilkie
Co-Chair, American Security
Joshua Treviño
Senior Fellow for the Western Hemisphere Initiative
Melissa Ford Maldonado
Director of the Western Hemisphere Initiative
Peter J. Brown
Senior Fellow for Western Hemisphere Security and Maritime Affairs
Kristen Ziccarelli
Director of Global Coalitions and Senior Policy Analyst for Homeland Security & Immigration
Latest
Op-Ed
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August 21, 2025
Colombia’s Lawfare Against Popular Ex-President is a Warning
A judge in Bogota found former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe guilty of bribery and procedural fraud late last month.
Op-Ed
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August 19, 2025
What America First Says to the World
In the age of Trump, our nation lives under the banner of America First. In domestic policy, this means securing our border, deporting those who are in the country illegally, and reestablishing law and order in our cities, among other key goals. But what does America First mean for the world beyond America? To answer that question, we must look back centuries.
News Release
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July 3, 2025
AFPI Welcomes Rear Admiral (USCG, Ret.) Peter J. Brown as Senior Fellow
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) is proud to announce that Rear Admiral (USCG, Ret.) Peter J. Brown, MS, JD, has joined the Western Hemisphere Initiative as Senior Fellow for Western Hemisphere Security and Maritime Affairs.
Statement
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June 9, 2025
AFPI Congratulates Joseph Humire on Appointment to the U.S. Department of Defense
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) proudly congratulates Joseph M. Humire — Senior Fellow for the Western Hemisphere Initiative at AFPI on his appointment as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Integration and Defense Support of Civil Authorities.
News Release
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June 3, 2025
AFPI Announces Launch of Western Hemisphere Initiative
Today, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) launched the Western Hemisphere Initiative, a bold new effort to restore American leadership and preeminence from Greenland to Tierra del Fuego—because protecting the homeland starts with securing our own hemisphere.
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