...Ever Stop? INTRODUCTION The United States and Mexico share a border that stretches 2,000 miles. The border is a product of the clash of the British and Spanish Empires. It is a place of lawlessness and violence. Drug cartels have used the border to smuggle illegal drugs into the United States for years. The United States market for drugs is a multibillion dollar a year industry. 90% of the illegal drugs that are smuggled into America come through our southern borders. As a nation we consume over 50% of the worlds illegal drugs, which exemplify the problem that America has with drug consumption. The demand for illegal drugs in the US allows drug cartels in Mexico to make billions of dollars by smuggling Marijuana, and Methamphetamines through the US/Mexican Border. Efforts to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the US have been unsuccessful. Drug Cartels use various methods in the transportation of their merchandise. Such methods include using underground tunnels, semi trucks, automobiles, and humans to transport these illegal drugs. Only 3 to 8 percent of the drugs that are smuggled from Latin America into the United States is confiscated, which is a very discouraging number. Our border patrol and DEA need to do a better job securing our borders and preventing the flow of such harmful drugs into America. There are a reported 7 cartels that operate in Mexico; the biggest players in the drug trade between Mexico and the US are the Tijuana, Juarez, Sinaloa, and the Gulf cartels...
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...Situation In the border between Guatemala-Mexico what started as a small conflict over in the month of February, has become a massacre. Over 10,000 innocent people have been killed in the bloodiest conflict between drug cartels that the region has ever seen. The conflict started in the middle of February, when a group of about 25 individuals attempted to cross illegally from Guatemala into Mexican territory through the Chilpepeño border crossing. These kinds of acts are widely known and beyond that, they are carried away by professionals in the matter with years of experience and institutions that back them up. The group had paid its dues to an organization that would be in charge of guiding them as well as the bribing of Mexican authorities. What was unknown to the organization was that among the individuals, there were some very dangerous thieves. Julio Carranza Sandoval and another 10 members of the Corajudos Mexican drug cartel had stolen 35 million dollars and 300 kilos of cocaine from the Almitran Guatemalan drug cartel a few days before. The crossing was planned to take place on February 16th. The group was being guided through the darkness of a moonless night when they were ambushed by members of the Almitran cartel. A few died on the spot, the rest were taken as hostages. Before the sun started to rise over the horizon, the Corajudos cartel had mobilized its people to the southern Mexican border and were heavy armed. The conflict has been prolonged for over a month...
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...level of access a person has in order to pursue happiness and to strive for a better life has been indisputably the gap among developed and undeveloped countries for decades. However, hard work does not seem to be the key factor to achieve happiness and/or a better life. Then, what does? During the beginning of the 1980’s decade, Mexico among other Latin-American countries started to adopt Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP) sponsored by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) in response to the neo-liberal ideology that was starting to spread around the world as the avenue for global well-being. The World Health Organization states that Structural Adjustment Programs: “were economic policies for developing countries that have been promoted by the WB and IMF since the early 1980s by the provision of loans conditional on the adoption of such policies.” The economic policies promoted by the IMF and WB were meant to encourage the structural adjustment of an economy by, for example, removing excess government controls and promoting market competition as part of the neo-liberal agenda. As a result, the agricultural economic sector in Mexico and Latin-America was the most affected after the implementation of the SAP’s economic policies. This lead to a massive migration of workers from the countryside from different...
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...1. The purpose of this paper is to describe key points of the economy and political systems of Mexico and to discuss why they are important United States (US) interests. This paper will focus on trade, economic stability, political stability, and transnational partnership. 2. The Mexican economy presents opportunity and potential to the US. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) relieved numerous cross-border tariffs along Mexico’s northern border.1 The enactment of NAFTA heralded a 41 percent increase in US-Mexico cross-border traffic and was noted as the busiest border in the world.2 Mexico’s two most dominant exports include manufactured goods and crude oil.3 Mexico was rated the 7th highest nation for foreign investment opportunity due to its macroeconomic stability and enticed manufacturers.4 In addition, Mexico was determined the 12th biggest oil exporter in the world.5 The Chicontepec basin contains 40 percent of Mexico’s natural oil reserves and remains mostly untapped due to lack of oil extraction technology.6 Despite recent gains, roughly half of Mexicans live below the poverty line.7 Epidemic poverty offers a...
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...Immigration and Border Policy In recent years, Illegal immigration has been a contemporary political and social debate. It has been the platform of many politicians, especially in the southwest, and it is often a popular subject in news media. People in favor of strict immigration policy often claim that illegal immigrants are costly to the American economy and that they take American jobs. The border control policy is ineffective, it is often too costly for its effectiveness. Border policies have increased the number of immigrant deaths in the deserts of border states. Not only that but the US/Mexico border is harmful to the environment. The anti-immigration policy that's currently in effect goes against a rich cultural history in North America. Lastly, popular arguments made for strict immigration will be brought to light. In 2006, George W. Bush signed H.R. 6061, also known as the Secure Fence Act, in an attempt to increase border security and expand the US/Mexico Border. Prompted by heightened national security measures after 9/11, the bill was designed to "help protect the American people" and marked " an important step toward immigration reform" (Bush 2006). The bill doubled funding for border security, increasing expenditures from $4.6 billion in 2001 to $10.4 billion in 2006. This money went to "[authorize] the construction of hundreds of miles of additional fencing along our Southern border" and to "[deploy] thousands of National Guard members to assist the Border Patrol"...
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...Trafficking between the United States and Mexico: The Drug Trafficking Nexus Transnational Crime and Globalization By: Katrina T. Mason May 2, 2008 The United States is quite known for their proactive stances on the “War on Drugs”, “War on Terror”, and “War in Iraq”. Some view them as the international police and others view them as the international fiend, but it is in no doubt that the United States takes a very active stance in fighting what they believe is evil and wrong within the world. This is increasingly true for the evils that occur within its own borders such as the continued drug epidemic, domestic violence, child abuse, poverty, gangs, and prostitution (with the exception of Nevada). Unfortunately though, the United States’ stance on legal activities crossing from their own governance into neighboring states where the activity is illegal is not held with the same level of concern or dedication. A primary example of this double standard can be seen on the Mexican-United States border. This is not in reference to the debris from the giant wall being built on the Mexican border falling to the southern side, the young Americans fleeing across the borders to intoxicate themselves, or even the revolution of McDonalds springing up in towns throughout Mexico; but instead to the small arms and light weapons trafficking continually flowing down from the border states into Mexico causing alarming murder rates, economical...
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...U.S. - Mexico Border What is the purpose of this "Great Wall" between Mexico and the U.S.? Cost? Approval? Before we get into that, lets review what the borders consist of now. The U.S. - Mexico Border is an international border separating Mexico, from the border of the United States; ranging from California in the west, to the far-east end of Texas. It is the most frequently crossed international border in the world. The border is made up of several different terrains. Ranging from mass-populated areas, to absolutely uninhabitable deserts, from rugged hills, to two rivers (the Colorado and the Rio Grande). With 763 million legal crossings, and 170,000 illegal crossings (a 90% drop since 2005) annually. The U.S. - Mexico border is enforced...
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...Assignment #2: Border wall, immigration Immigration is a topic that seems to always be current and controversial. Over the past few decades, politicians from both sides of the political spectrum in the United States have tried, unsuccessfully, to make substantial immigration reform. President Trump may have a keen advantage in tackling this issue, because the electorate has become somewhat immune to whatever he says. His shocking statements and comments have made most voters numb to whatever he will say next. In other words, he can talk about immigration and a border wall, without worrying too much about his popularity numbers. This leads us to the unique situation that the United States is in now. With a real chance for change in the air,...
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...Kansas City Southern Analysis Report Prepared for Vice President of Acquisitions Prepared by October 27, 2015 October 27, 2015 Kansas City Southern Analysis Report Prepared for Vice President of Acquisitions Prepared by October 27, 2015 October 27, 2015 To: From: Subject: Kansas City Southern Analysis Report Date: 10/27/2015 Kansas City Southern Introduction Kansas City Southern, founded in 1887, is a railway transportation company that covers the southern part of the US, Mexico, and Panama. It serves both commercial and industrial sectors (Kansas City Southern, 2014). The following report will cover the company’s growth potential, the competitive ratio analysis, the competitive edge it has over the other companies and the key aspects of the industry and how KCS fits in. The summary of the overall position of the company helps in guiding the purchasing decision. Ratio Analysis Looking at key ratios between Kansas City Southern and the rail industry, you will notice some positive and negatives points of interest between the two. The first key figure you will notice is the annual sales is significantly lower than the industry at 2.58B vs. an industry average of 10.5B. This is expected though because KCS is one of the smallest companies in the industry. Looking at profit margins, KCS does not perform up to the industry averages with gross profit margin, net profit margin, as well as pretax profit margin. The reason for this...
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...DRUGS ACROSS BORDERS 1 Drug Trafficking At The US/Mexican Border Adrian Bryant ENG 122 Terri Hennessey August 29, 2011 DRUGS ACROSS BORDERS 2 Sections along the border between the United States and Mexico have become so dangerous, due to drug trafficking, that both governments appear to be helpless in their cause to defend themselves against the movement of drugs and the violence that this movement has caused. Mexico's President Felipe Calderon's actions are being challenged by its citizens. In May of 2011 the U.S. State Department advised U.S. travelers to steer clear of 10 Mexican states, including most of the border region and popular vacation sites such as Acapulco and Monterrey (Hsu, 2011). It is the opinion of the researcher that drug trafficking has become so intertwined into drug cartel related issues, that the U.S. and the Mexican government have completely loss the ability to control the flow of drugs or contain the violence's associated with drug trafficking. Both governments appear to be helpless in their plight to defeat the drug cartels leaders or their mission to sell and transport drugs into the United States. The security of the people living on both side of the borders is upmost. Businesses, large and small, need to be...
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...with one another for dominance over smuggling routes along the border. Bordering states are facing a ominous threat of being caught the cross hair of drug violence. Neither the United States nor Mexico authorities have been able to stop the bloodshed and prevent the import of illegal drugs. The outdated drug polices of the United States have failed to successfully stop the usage of illegal substances among its citizens. Mexico is precariously close to being completely paralyzed by the almighty cartels who threaten to create a permanent criminal state. The US government needs to reevaluate its current drug polices and current out dated solution. The United States will not win the drug war. Mexico is a current state of turmoil and bloodshed between authorities and drug cartels. There have been thousands of lives lost over turf battles and control over the lucrative drug routes along the border. The threat is eminent that its only time before blood shed spills over to American Soil. Mexican cartels have shown to be as ruthless as any terrorist organization that currently exists today. The illegal drug trade has turned one time peasants into multi-millionaires. For instance Joaquin “ El Chapo” Guzman leader of the Sinaloa Cartel made Fortune magazine billionaire list .Mexican drug cartels have used traditional business models to increase profits, distribution and supply consumers like a legitimate organization. The American public however seem to be oblivious to the emerging...
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...which is located just between US and Mexican waters by a drug cartel, Just after this incident a Mexican investigator who was searching for this man’s body was found beheaded and was delivered to the Mexican military in a suitcase. These are just a few of the known violent acts carried out by drug cartels recently. The Mexican drug war has been going on since 2006 but recently has been given more publicity. What is the history behind the drug war, the drug cartels, and what is the US is doing to protect its citizens from this war. It is important as Americans that we understand what is taking place so close to home and that can one day affect us directly. According to Lee and History Guy Media the Mexican Drug War is an armed conflict between drug cartels and the Mexican Government. A drug cartel is defined as an illicit cartel formed to control the production and distribution of narcotic drugs. The mexican govt has attempted to crack down on different drug organizations by arresting leaders in the drug trade. In the CRS report for congress it states that Mexico is one of the highest producers and smugglers of cocaine, marijuana, and heroine due to its location geographically. Annually they make between 13 to 48 billion dollars from the US drug market. Violence is increasing as years go by with 8,500 lives taken this year alone which brings the total to nearly 30,000 lives since the beginning of the war. There are many known drug cartels in Mexico today. According to the Mexican...
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...the U.S.- Mexico border? Immigrants and their families came to the United States for a better life now are afraid to get caught by ICE and get deported back to their former country. While the president wants to build this wall, and keep U.S. citizens in and undocumented immigrants out. The idea of this wall shows how a nation would be divided by who wants to build the wall and why, the advantages and disadvantages. The person who wants to build this border wall is Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States. Trump wants to get rid of all the illegal aliens and has said to “Make America Great Again” his plan is to build a wall and to keep undocumented citizens...
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...security of the borders in The United States became top priority following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In 2002, 22 federal agencies were united to form The Department of Homeland Security to oversee the security of the country within and outside its borders. US Custom Border Protection (CBP) is an agency/department of The Department of Homeland Security that perform inspections in border and ports of entry. CBP officers and agents welcome all legitimate travelers and trade while preventing the entry of terrorists and their weapons. CBP law enforcement professionals enforce U.S. law, stopping narcotics, agricultural pests and smuggled goods from entering the country. They also identify and arrest travelers with outstanding criminal warrants. The number of U.S. Border Patrol agents has risen from fewer than 3,000 to more than 20,700; nearly 700 miles of fencing have been built along the southern border with Mexico; and surveillance systems, including pilotless drones, now monitor much of the rest of the border. In a speech in El Paso, Texas, in May, U.S. President Barack Obama claimed that the United States had "strengthened border security beyond what many believed was possible." Yet according to spring 2011 Rasmussen poll, nearly two-thirds of Americans think the border is no more, or even less, secure than it was five years ago. Some administration critics claim that the United States' frontiers have never been more porous. The border of about 2,000 miles...
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...Should The United States Militarize Its' Borders What does the word territory mean to you? Could it mean simply an area of land that is ruled under the jurisdiction of a state or leader? Territory is one of the never ending battles humans of the Earth will face. We fought over it hundreds of thousands of years ago. And we are still fighting over it today. The battles we face today are different that in the past. Today the United States are fighting to keep the U.S. of America free and not overrun. But is that victory we envision in our future worth the cost it will entail. The only thing that is separating the United States border and Mexico’s border is simply an imaginary line. It is nothing we can see just what we are told is there. Then there are the official structures, the fences and wall and the use of border patrol agents to enforce the laws and boundaries. Yet you still have illegal immigrants crossing into United States territory without permission. What can we do to solve this issue at hand? We can invest in the use of heavy force. We can militarize our borders. Militarization is the organization or aggregation of military force in a territory. (Wickham, n.d.) The United States can send thousands of men and women to the borders to stop this from occurring. They can increase the size of the fences and walls. Invest in drones and spy planes. The only problem is how many will it take, or how will this affect the economy of the United States. This could lead to higher...
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