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Mexico drug war and US border patrol security

Abstract

The Mexico drug war and U.S border patrol security is today known to be the most influential conflict that has ever occurred. In the U.S- Mexico border, several incidences have taken place including the sending of bullets whizzling across the Rio Grande region, which borders the two countries. For a long time, the authorities did not care because they were sure that they were going to win the battle. The facts behind the war actually are that it sends many fears to the public because it left many dead (Archibold 238). When the security was intensified in this region, bullets could be heard from El Paso, which caused violence further in Mexico and Juarez and making this region to be the most feared. Today, the American police can boast of their success in bringing peace in this region, because it was thought to be the most dangerous war, which influenced several communities living in the region. Several issues were considered before security was improved in this region. As Sheriff, Richard puts: ‘Guns will never be a solution to the war, but peace comes through talks.’ This was the beginning of the reconciliation process between the countries (Marina 62).

Introduction

The recently US beef up security on its border with Mexico has threatened their diplomatic relations. Historically, Mexico has for a long time been used as safe passage for narcotics, illegal immigrants, and smuggled commodities predestined for the U.S. market originating from South, Central America, and elsewhere in the world (Marina 62).

Commonly reported in the 1980s to early ‘90s, Colombian drug barons were the main traffickers of cocaine and other illegal drugs into the U.S. When American anti-narcotic authorities intensified the Caribbean and South Florida, the Colombian organizations collaborated with the Mexican drug accomplices to transit cocaine to the U.S through Mexico. Mexico, having been a major origin of heroin and cannabis, the partnership was accomplished with minimal difficulty since Mexico had already an operational drug infrastructure capable of serving the Colombian traffickers as well (Coyle 68).   

The robust growth of the illegal trade went on until after mid 1980s when Mexican and Columbian trackers got into loggerheads. This misunderstanding arose from disagreement over sharing of benefits and over who-does-what in trafficking systems. With the passage of time, several drug cartels from Mexico were vanishing from the system as new one emerged (Warner 81). This was a result of deaths, arrest, or withdrawal of cartel leader from the trade creating power vacuums. These vacuums offered great opportunities for anti-drug law enforcement agencies in the U.S and Mexico to combat the trade. Mexican cartels would often bribe Mexican police to take action one another or disclosing to the US officials the secret operations of the rival cartels. This escalated into violence. The war among the rival cartels began to cool down since shortly before 1990 after the arrest of the Mexican drug baron, Gallardo Miguel (Marina 62). Through the 1990s, there was a quiet period until 2000 when the cartels resumed into violence (Warner 81).        

Literature review

            Paradigm can be termed as concepts used in looking for a solution on something. In this case, we are going to use three paradigms namely deterrent theory, collective security, and collective defense.

Deterrent theory: this is seen as a case where one party convinces the other that a particular incidence will bring a problem that will not benefit either of the countries. Rather than just looking at its cost, this method is useful in solving many problems. This particular method attempts to identify who will prevent what using which method (Archibold 341). This method is obviously accompanied by a few assumptions. The parties involved assume that are taking part in ensuring that this method is working. In the case of the United States, they should come on board with the Mexico and know that, given that the two countries stand to lose either way, one country should be given mandate to look on these matters of drug trafficking within the borders.

Collective security: this method was used during the world war by the then international community league of nation. This particular method goes to heightened degrees in that, countries join hands and decide to settle the existing row in a peaceful manner. The countries are brought together on a neutral ground and agree not to use force in ensuring the problem at hand is solved (Coyle 68). An organization is created to ensure that, those who attempt to frustrate efforts are curbed as this can frustrate efforts of solving the problem in question and bring war. In this case, of United States and Mexico, the two countries have been pointing fingers and none is accepting to accept the blame. Recently, a fifteen-year-old Mexican was shot dead by the United States border patrol while trying to gain entry in the country carrying some drugs. This has in return brought many problems and exchange of words has ensued. Collective security can be used in ensuring peace is realized (Archibold 341).

Collective defense: this is where countries agree that if any of them is affected so is the other. They also agree that, if any problem arises they will help one another in solving it. If by any chance, one country cannot handle the problem alone the other can come to its rescue. They should make use of the armed forces at all times for defense. In the same breath, the United States border patrol should enter into such agreement with Mexican patrol security. Any time drugs enter in either of the two countries, the other party should take it with a lot of seriousness just as if it is her who is being affected (Coyle 68).

Discussion

The United States border patrol is a department that ensures laws are strictly observed when admitting individuals who are not citizens of the United States. This department has the highest number of officers charged with the responsibility of enforcing law. However, drug dealers’ from neighboring country Mexico have recently threatened the good work that is being done by this department. The Mexican security argue that, the little money that is paid to go through the bridge to get to Texas is to blame for the increase in drugs and arms in these countries. Another factor as seen is the leniency within the borders. The extent at which this shoddy business is taking place is alarming. Studies indicate that, over 90% of the firearms that are used in Mexico have their source in the United States (Archibold 341).

Mexico and the United States have left no stone unturned in ensuring that trade between the two countries is going on without any hitches. However, drug traffickers have threatened the mutual benefits that have been there between the two countries. This has been on the rise since president Felipe took the office. This week the patrol officers because of the same menace shot a Mexican youth.

The Mexican drug war is a term that has been used to refer to the armed fighting among the cartels who want to take control over some regions, and conflict between the drug cartels with the Mexican government whose objective is to reduce drug trafficking. The drug trafficking organizations have formed very powerful alliances despite existing for just few years. The drug market in the U.S and Mexico are now dominated by the Mexican cartels. Apprehensions of the main culprits behind the cartels have led to escalated violence, as the players behind each cartel rival for routes into the United States (Coyle 68). Statistically, Mexico has been identified as one of the leading drug producing and tracking country. It is the main distributor of cannabis (methamphetamine) to the U.S. (Archibold 341).

Recommendation

Beginning in 2005, a strategy which was meant to end the war in the US and Mexico border was established. The strategy, which was dubbed in America as a national strategy, would be able to set the goals, which would govern the behavior of the people living within the affected zone. The strategy was built in five strategies, which include developing ways of combating terrorism and banning of illegal firearms, which get into the region. Through this, it was foreseen that the border will remain calm and that none of the individuals will live in fears again.

Another objective of the strategy would be to discourage entry, which were illegal in the US by developing a procedure, which would improve the enforcement of the police. The strategy was also established in a bid to apprehending, detecting, and getting rid of drugs, human smugglers and other sources of crimes, which had become rampant in the region (Marina 62). This process was geared at ensuring that individuals will be free of guilt and abrupt chaos, which arose any time in the region. Through the strategy, a smart border technology would be created. This involved coming up with a very systematic method of combating crime and illegal transactions in the region. In it involved the use of technological tools to conduct a serious scrutiny of individuals in the area and thoroughly search for any illegal entry of guns and other matter in the US and Mexico (Coyle 68).

The strategy also stipulated a method, which would improve the general live of individuals in the region and reduce the crime that had so long been felt in the region. This was in line with the strategy of expanding the territories so that Mexico and the US could be satisfied with the boarders. In 2007, specialized groups were also formed, which would see to it that the peace was also improved in the region. Some of these groups included the National Special Response Team, the Air Mobile Unit, the Border Patrol Tactical Unit and the Search, Border Patrol, Rescue and Trauma.

Conclusion

The Mexico drug war and U.S. border patrol security is an issue to recon. More than 7,000 people were left dead in 2008, and others especially in Juarez and Sinola began to battle for boundaries in the Mexican authorities. Their aim was to gain access to most of the cities, which were owned by the Mexicans. Through the creation of smuggling routes and creation of authorities, more than 30,000 people from the United States gained access to the Mexican region and more than 38,000 others have been killed since Calderon, the Felipe president introduced the offensive against the cartels when he took office in 2006. Today, most communities in the US are secured from further attacks, which occur just accords the river (Warner 81).

By looking at this war and discussing it basing on the IR paradigms, it can be seen that the war in Mexico and US border was much more than psychological but also influenced the social lives of people living in these regions. It is evident that war is a subject of social torture, a phenomenon which is common in the region between the US and Mexico.

References:

Archibold, C. Government issues waiver for fencing along border. New York, NY:  New York Times. 2008  (2) 234-342

Coyle, MWaivers for border fence challenged: Environmental groups take their complaints to  Supreme Court. The Recorder.  2008 (2) 65-73

Kanterly, D.  Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress. DIANE Publishing. 1999 (1) 54-73

Marina Caparini.  Borders and security governance: managing borders in a globalised world.  London: LIT Verlag Münster. 2006 (4) 2-76

Tony Payan.  The three U.S.-Mexico border wars: drugs, immigration, and Homeland Security Greenwood Publishing Group,  2006 (3) 54-63

Warner, J. U.S. Border Security: A Reference Handbook. Contemporary World Issues, ABC-CLIO,  2010:   54-83

 

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