Blas Nunez-Neto

Blas Nuñez-Neto is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation, and an expert in homeland and border security, travel, and international trade policy. Prior to joining RAND, he served as a senior advisor to the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for more than two years.  His portfolio included international affairs and relations, travel and trade facilitation and enforcement, and border management. He also served as a key member of the Administration's efforts to normalize relations with Cuba.

Prior to CBP, Nuñez-Neto worked for more than 11 years in Congress researching these issues for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs and the Congressional Research Service (CRS). In the U.S. Senate, he was the chief advisor for the Chairman on all issues related to border security, immigration enforcement, international screening, and preventing terrorist travel. He conducted oversight over federal agencies and programs, drafted and negotiated legislation, organized Committee hearings, and authored Committee Reports and Member statements.

At CRS, Nuñez-Neto provided expert analysis for Members of Congress on border security, homeland security appropriations and management, juvenile justice, and offender reentry issues. He coordinated and led the CRS-wide Homeland Security Appropriations Team, testified before Congress, and presented at a number of conferences. He authored more than 50 reports and memoranda for Congress. 

Nuñez-Neto received his B.A. in political science and English, with cum laude honors, from the University of Pennsylania and his M.G.A. in government administration from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.