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Throughout his decades-long career, Mike Curb has balanced a distinguished business, public service, and philanthropic initiatives with an emphasis on addressing complex national problems.
One such concern is the management of the U.S.-Mexico border—a challenge that involves not just security but also humaneness and long-term thinking. During the time he acted as California’s Governor and served as lieutenant governor, his active involvement in shaping bipartisan immigration policy has given him a unique approach to making border solutions work.
Mike has always advocated cooperation and ingenuity over political spectacle. His track record in California and Washington reflects his belief that pragmatic leadership grounded in compassion and common sense is the only way to achieve universally beneficial outcomes.
From Barriers to Bridges
Mike Curb acted as governor and served as lieutenant governor of California from 1979 to 1983. During this time, he was instrumental in advancing initiatives to update the state’s border policies and operations.
One of Mike’s most significant contributions was pushing for the creation of a second California border crossing, and Curb was proud to be able to announce the completion of that second border crossing. The goal was to reduce congestion and improve trade flows, thereby enhancing bilateral collaboration. Mike met with numerous Mexican government leaders, including the president of Mexico and the governors of Baja Sur and Baja Norte.
Many will remember that immigration was already politicized at the time. But Mike focused on pragmatic solutions that benefited shared interests between the U.S. and Mexico. He considered the border not as a line of division, but as a place of connection for millions of people whose economic well-being depended on border stability.
Reforming the System, Not Just the Rhetoric
Mike’s work toward the formulation of immigration policy extended past state lines. His endorsement of the creation and launching of the guest worker program was a vision for the future of labor, justice, and economic demand. By filling workforce gaps through legal, controlled means, the program was designed to stem illegal crossings while delivering the needed labor to American businesses.
Ronald Reagan brought Mike Curb to Washington to be part of his administration, and during that time, Curb also signed on to the bipartisan Simpson-Mazzoli Act of 1986, a landmark federal bill that aimed to reshape immigration policy by pairing enforcement with avenues of legalization. The law was a fleeting moment of cooperation in Washington—something Mike aligned with his approach of results over partisanship. When the bill was completed, it allowed for a pathway to citizenship for 3.2 million immigrants, and it is still regarded as the most significant immigration act of the past 40 years.
Partnership and Progress
Throughout his life, Mike realized that the border challenge couldn’t be addressed solely by policy—it also required interdisciplinary and international cooperation. His experience as co-chairman of Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign and chairman of the national finance committee helped him realize how diplomacy combined with domestic policy can make a difference.
He has always believed that border reform is as much about economic opportunity as about national security. Consequently, he advocated for laws that strengthen border law enforcement and legal immigration systems, allowing honest workers to contribute to the U.S. economy.
Leadership Based on Service
Mike Curb’s vision for border policy is informed by his sense of civic duty rather than by politics alone. His public service history and philanthropic work demonstrate his desire to empower communities and create systems that help people rather than separate them.
For Mike, immigration reform requires patience, courage, and moral courage. His track record shows his willingness to tackle challenging issues and pursue solutions that bring people together, not drive them apart.
Mike believes that now that President Trump has succeeded in closing the border, it is time to start thinking about a pathway to citizenship for our immigrants. Mike has been meeting with political leaders at the state and federal levels, discussing opportunities based on Mike’s experience with the Reagan administration in Washington and his experience in California government.
Building Solutions That Endure
Even today, the U.S.-Mexico border remains a hotbed of complex policy issues. But as Mike has repeatedly proven, change can be achieved when leaders commit to practical solutions instead of resorting to rhetoric.
Ultimately, Mike Curb’s vision for managing the border is based on partnership and respect for human potential. Curb, who was heavily inspired by his own Latino grandmother, reminds us that true progress results from leadership willing to engage problems and work toward solutions that produce lasting effects for all stakeholders. Curb is continuing to support immigrants through the Curb Foundation, which has created the Eloisa Salazar Center in Nashville, Tennessee, in honor of Mike’s grandmother and in association with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.
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