Are we at war on the Mexican Border?
Given President Obama's recent decision to send National Guard troops to the border and the fact that we are in the midst of Arizona's new immigrant round-up bills, I have come to question the reality behind "border wars."
So in an effort to "control" the border, money and personnel are being sent to the region to 'secure' the border. While Obama may have done this because of President Calderon's recent visit, the timing also coincides with the signing of the Arizona immigration law.
Granted, the violence on the border (Mexican side) has increased and the number of drug arrest on the US side continues to grow, what is a national guard presence going to do? Deter criminals? Not unless these troops are planning to camp out in the desolate areas (since that's where the drugs, smugglers, and violence will continue to be pushed toward) would this strategy work!
While both Republican and Democrat Congressmen applaud the measures taken by Obama, both groups feel that these measures are not enough - more money and more troops are being requested by both campus:
In general the border is a mess...a HOT MESS!
Earlier this year I was watching the National Geographic series, "Border Wars." After about five episodes I had failed to come to a definite conclusion about the reason the channel decided to follow various Border Patrol officers and Customs agents along the San Diego and Nogales border region. At first, it seemed like a pro-war series, perpetuating the fact that Mexicans are bringing problems to the US via drug smuggling, migrant smuggling, and illegal border crossings using fake IDs, documents, and slick criminal networks. Not only did the first few episodes seem to put immigrants in a negative light, it also seemed to place the Border Patrol on a pedestal as the gatekeepers protecting America's border in the strong desert sun using sophisticated war tactics.
Toward the end of the series a new light was being shed on the problem. The US war tactics don't solve the problem(s) and yes, there is more than one problem. The series ended with questions about the use of war tactics to end illegal immigration versus drug smuggling. It showed the sophistication of the drug cartels and gangs seeking to smuggle drugs, money, and weapons into the US and the market that pulls these criminals (US Market). It showed the lack of sophistication with which working-class Mexicans are attempting to cross the border for employment opportunities that pull these hard working people to the US. In essence the series closed with the summary that the US is largely to blame and that solutions need to come by changing the pull factors within the US (drug abuse, the drug trade, employment, lack of comprehensive immigration laws to allow workers to come to the US for periods of time to earn money and that lead to proper citizenship processes). I was shocked!
After following various agents for 5-7 episodes and the learning about the sophisticated weapons, scopes, and gear that the Border Patrol employs, it seemed like a waste of money! These were not working solutions! National Geographic could have just said "This is a small plug in a huge leak" and it would have been just as clear. Money was being spent and wasted because, in the end, huge amounts of drugs still make it through to the states, and huge numbers of people still work and live in the US illegally. Overall, I was slightly satisfied with the series - I think its worth watching to see just how our taxes are spent to pay for all of these war-like tactics in a situation that needs/requires more than one solution. And I am not sure that President Obama's recent decision for more money and more troops is answer. If we want to stop the violence, I think President Calderon should allow US law enforcement to assist the Mexican government with actual arrests and detainment for drug cartels. The Mexican federal police is not capable of managing/ending the violence. Placing our troops at various border cities is like sticking a couple of fingers into plug a hole the size of a Hoover Dam.
I hope that Presidents Obama and Calderon had more ideas than just this one to help stop the violence (FIRST) and begin to reform immigration laws (SECOND).
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