Nuevo Laredo is considered the “customs capital of Latin America” because of its high volume of international trade operations in the region,[2][3][4] and number 1 in importance for US inland commercial traffic.

The increasing numbers of Apaches led the Spanish authorities to establish military garrisons and towns to serve as a buffer zone against northern indigenous tribes.

Early in 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo divided the territory attached to Laredo between the United States (Texas) and Mexico (Tamaulipas).

Nuevo Laredo fell inside this area of tax exemption in order to be competitive with American markets.

[10] During the early stage of international trade that crossed through the Nuevo Laredo-Laredo border, activity in general was low but high in import-export of cattle, gold, silver and leather.

[10] In 1881, the railroad infrastructure connecting Nuevo Laredo with central Mexico and with San Antonio, Texas was established by president Porfirio Diaz.

While economically, the city continued to be influenced by international trade with the United States and its influential customs office.

The Nuevo Laredo customs office became so important, that the city began to attract an influx of population from different regions of the country.

In the 1980s and 1990s municipal presidents of Nuevo Laredo focused their efforts in regularizing the west-side settlements into incorporated neighborhoods.

In the 2000s and 2010s endeavors by municipal presidents shifted to paving streets and building schools for west-side Nuevo Laredo.

A shortage of natural gas led to blackouts in Texas and along the border during the February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm.

[16] Los Zetas and Gulf Cartel separated in early 2010 and fought for the control of the smuggling routes to the United States.

[19] The Cartel del Noreste, known locally by its initials CDN, grew power from its deep historical roots in Nuevo Laredo.

CDN also held control of Nuevo Laredo because its top leaders are locals and members of the Treviño family.

First, Juan Francisco Treviño Chávez, alias “El Kiko” assumed leadership of the CDN cartel.

After his capture in 2016, Juan Gerardo Treviño Chávez, alias “El Huevo” assumed control of CDN.

[20][21] In March 2022, the Mexican military arrested “El Huevo”, sparking an extreme outbreak of violence marked by an hours-long firefight, burned-out vehicles, and shots fired at the United States Consulate in Nuevo Laredo.

[22] In February 2025, a joint operation by The Secretariat of National Defense carried out the operation with assistance from Mexican Navy, Attorney General’s Office, the Mexican National Guard and the Department of Security and Citizen Protection, that led to the capture of Ricardo González Sauceda, aliases 'El Ricky' or 'Mando R,' in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas.

Authorities said that on August 17th, González Sauceda coordinated an attack on the Mexican military in Nuevo Laredo, injuring five soldiers and killing two.

[23] Nuevo Laredo is in the northern tip of Tamaulipas on the west end of the Rio Grande Plains.

The Síndicos supervise the municipal budget and expenditures, and the Regidores represent the people of different neighborhoods of Nuevo Laredo as well as their own political party.

Nuevo Laredo has a very developed logistics and transportation industry, complemented with a variety of hotel chains, restaurants and a cultural center where events such as the Tamaulipas International Festival take place.

The main highway and railroad leading from Central Mexico through Mexico City, San Luis Potosí, Saltillo and Monterrey join with two major U.S. rail lines at Nuevo Laredo and major American highway Interstate 35, thus offering fast access to the most important metropolitan areas and seaports of Texas, as well as northern states and Canada.

There is also the Colombia-Solidarity (Solidaridad) Bridge (located about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of the city in Colombia, Nuevo León).

Their games in Nuevo Laredo are played in Parque la Junta, which opened in 1947[32] and has a capacity of 6,000 people.

The team left the park in 2003 for Estadio Nuevo Laredo, located on the west side of the city, a move that was criticized.

Phase II of this project will include a new soccer stadium within Mexican Primera Division standards for a possible expansion of one of its teams to Nuevo Laredo.

Phase II also includes a gym that will seat 1,500 fans to enjoy basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics among other sports.

In Nuevo Laredo, Charrería is a well-known sport, having several teams such as Asociación de Charros Rancho Media Luna, and Santa María 05.

[41] The Casa de Cultura (En: House of Culture) houses music, painting, dance and literature workshops and also presents major artistic and cultural events such as art exhibitions, concerts, film samples, dance recitals and plays, among others.