Mexico, land rich in history and culture, is located on the northern border of the United States. Throughout the last decade and a half Mexico has struggled to maintain a stable economy, all the while trying to control the trafficking of drugs and humans across the American border.
The U.S. Department of State website (2010) states Mexico is classified by the World Bank as an upper-middle-income country. Poverty is widespread (around 44% of the population lives below the poverty line) and high rates of economic growth are needed to create legitimate economic opportunities for new entrants to the work force. The Mexican economy in 2009 experienced its deepest recession since the 1930s. The stated reason above is what has caused many Mexican citizens to cross the border into the United States looking taking any job they can find in order to help their families back home survive the trying times. Many have died in the trek to seek a better life, yet just as many have survived and are living and working in a large number of U.S. States. According to a PBS video called “Beyond the Border” (2001) one out of ten families in Mexico depend on the money sent to them by those family members that have managed to cross the U.S. border and get jobs. Although during his political campaign President Obama promised address the immigrations issues of the United States, this issue has been put on hold for a number of years. The New York Times (2011) report that the member of illegal immigrants in the United States outnumber the legal ones. Mexico’s proximity to the United States makes it a prime spot to cross, so not only do Mexicans trying to build a better life come into the country but also many other immigrants would venture the same route. Obviously, the United States and Mexico have to work closely in order to control the borders and take control of this problem.