Don't Be Afraid of Mexico

[Can't tell the difference between politics and policy? Need personal advice of a political nature -- or vice versa? Send your question to Stumped. Questions may be edited.]

Dear Stumped,

Why does it seem that the United States is so afraid of Mexico?

-- Dave Walker

Dear Dave,

Because you deserve a well-reported answer, I came to Mexico. I even stopped in Mexico City for a few days before coming to the beach.

Running in Chapultepec Park, behind the castle, I came across a Mexican tour group whose guide was getting into the gory details of the martyrdom of the "boy heroes.'' These were the military school cadets who leapt off a cliff to their deaths rather than surrender the Mexican flag to the invading American army in 1847. Later that day I took a friend to the San Angel neighborhood, and we saw the plaque commemorating the Irish members of the St. Patrick's brigade, who switched sides in the war and were then executed by the U.S. military.

Earlier we'd seen Diego Rivera's paintings depicting the power of U.S. companies in Mexico before the revolution. (If you ever get the chance, you should look up the exchange of letters between Rivera and David Rockefeller on display in Frida Kahlo's house here about whether Diego could remove Lenin from the mural he was paining in Rockefeller Center. A classic.) We'd also driven past the monument extolling the 1938 nationalization of the oil industry.

All of which is a reminder that Mexicans have plenty of grievances -- enough to hold a grudge, one might say, about their northern neighbor. And that's without pointing out the most obvious one: the fact that the U.S. invasion of Mexico in the 19th century cost Mexico half its territory. So what's remarkable, given this history, is how little anti-Americanism you find in Mexico. The United States is fortunate to have Mexico as a neighbor.

In answer to your question: Americans have little to fear. Mexico is a peaceful nation and a responsible player in world affairs (which means it will at times part ways with Washington, as it did during the U.N. Security Council's deliberations about the Iraq war). For all the talk of chaos on the border, the United States can police it without resorting to its military -- a huge luxury often overlooked.

None of this is to say there are no problems. Any border stretching thousands of miles between a rich nation and a developing nation of 100 million people is going to present plenty of complications. The failure to resolve the immigration mess is a serious issue. The United States and Mexico may have a symbiotic economic relationship and, at this point, a shared labor market, but it serves no one -- not the exploited Mexican workers, not Americans competing for work against undocumented aliens, not people living along the border -- to allow a black market to meet the legitimate needs of the U.S. economy.

As I never tire of saying, it's as if we have posted two signs next to each other on our southern border. One reads, "Don't Trespass," the other, "Help Wanted."

Washington needs to allow for a legal flow of workers to fill whatever number of slots the U.S. economy determines is needed -- and it must then be made clear to Mexican workers and U.S. employers that individuals here illegally will not be hired. Until that happens, hundreds of thousands of Mexicans will continue to cross illegally into the U.S. every year. This migration is not some nefarious Mexican plot. It is largely the result of America's schizophrenic immigration policy.

As for other issues that may make American afraid of Mexico: Drug violence is intensifying in Mexico, especially as the intramural cartel-on-cartel violence increasingly is turned on the state. President Felipe Calderon's government has unleashed the military on the cartels, resulting in more violence, at least in the short term. It is still too early to tell whether this is a case of things getting worse before they get better, as they must in these circumstances, or whether it's a case of things spiraling out of control.

On drugs, too, however, Mexico is as much the victim as the culprit. Thousands of people -- including police officers, journalists and innocent bystanders -- are dying each year because the United States can't come to terms with its drug problem, either by legalizing drugs or seriously curbing demand. The drug business in Mexico is truly an export business, and it's American weaponry and money (and lack of willpower) that is fueling the violence in Mexico.

In a close vote in 2006, Mexican voters elected Calderon, the more conservative and pro-American candidate. Poverty is still a glaring problem, but Mexico's well-managed economy has enjoyed unprecedented stability in recent years, allowing access to credit to a larger slice of the population. There is a growing middle class that shares the aspirations of its counterpart north of the border. And speaking of the economy: NAFTA, while a net positive for both economies, was far more devastating to mid-scale Mexican enterprises and agriculture than to U.S. enterprises. But to listen to political discourse in the U.S., it's as if the trade agreement was approved as a favor Mexico.

Mexicans are quite nationalistic, and they're not big fans of George Bush. But when I travel in Mexico these days, I am struck by how much goodwill there is toward the United States, certainly compared to 20 years ago. There may be many grievances, but there is nary a grudge.

By Andres Martinez | July 4, 2008; 12:00 AM ET
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Comments

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John Smith, Banco de Mexico probably already owns part of the paper on you house. You lack the huevos and moral fiber to make a difference.

Posted by: Bolade Gueyes | July 10, 2008 7:46 PM

john smith's economic theory that abortion creates a shortage of cheap labor, rather than impacting demand and supply equally, has me wondering if he's let us in on a GOP secret. If opposition to abortion at the GOP leadership level (as opposed to the sincere base) isn't about life, but about cheap labor, that certainly makes more sense, considering the GOP platform on the death penalty, needless war, and universal health care. If you're too sick to work, keeping you alive surely goes against their economic interests.

Posted by: jhbyer | July 6, 2008 8:53 AM

John Smith, you imply unwanted babies would grow up to force Americans into jobs that don't pay a living wage, jobs currently filled by illegals. ??? But then, it's not like we have 100% employment. Nice try exploiting the abortion issue. Sheesh.

Posted by: jhbyer | July 5, 2008 8:35 PM

Afraid of Mexico?? Well, we had to pin their ears back twice on the 19th Century. High School text books today often imply the US was acting out of Imperialistic Domination due to an erronious belief in "Manifest Destiny." Such are the times in the US.
Do we need a flow of already exploited "poor" brown people to work our fields???
If America had been smart and not been aborting our people since the 1960s, then maybe we would not need these 300 million or more people creaping up the backside of each and every entry level job in the US. You think our econemy is bad. You ain't seen nothing yet. When BANCO de MEXICO owns the paper on your house maybe it will sink in.........or not.

Posted by: john smith | July 5, 2008 7:24 PM

Excellent article. I have American and British friends who have emmigrated to the state of Puebla.

Mexico es un paÃs hÃbrido de AmÃ©rica y Europa. La gente es culta.

I fear gente naca.

Posted by: Anonymous | July 5, 2008 12:13 AM

"they took r jobs"

Posted by: augustiswest | July 4, 2008 10:57 PM

>>Sadly, many of the negative comments regarding this article are examples of very ignorant American's who surley don't speak a second language or have not traveled beyond the US borders. Shame of them.<<
How enlightened of you to share with us your vast intelligence and well of experience. To bad you don't know your backside from beans.
It's a simple enough proposition, oh enlightened one. The price of labor in a free market system is set by supply and demand. The arrival of millions of undocumented aliens in the US increases supply which results in a falling of wages. I think you might have noticed the stagnant middle class incomes and the falling lower class incomes when indexed against inflation. That's caused by undocumented workers, at least in part.
Good for American business, they get their houses, lawns, what have you...produced cheap. Bad for the American people, unless you want to live in a house with six other working males and have your family stay in a third world country living on ten dollars a day, which is how the illegals pull it off.
Bottom line, we can't compete. We don't have an impoverished third world country to send our families too, we are from here and have to pay US costs to raise and feed our children.
The simple minded tripe I read in this newspaper will one day result in a third American revolution if anyone were so foolish as to pay attention to it, you, the author, most of the pro illegal posters don't know squat about why they are here, who it benefits and who it hurts so I think it would be best if you all just kept your ill informed opinions to yourselves, especially that simple minded goofball that writes this crap for a living.

Posted by: Anonymous | July 4, 2008 10:39 PM

I have noticed one common thread in the posts from both sides- They both blame EVERYTHING on the opposing side. No disagreement is one sided, there plenty of blame to go around, SO MOVE ON(clever phrase I invented) and quit acting like a bunch of mind numb Dem/Repub Robots.

Posted by: MarxBro | July 4, 2008 10:11 PM

Excellent artice!!!

The U.S. was settled by illegal immigrants. Nobody in the Mayflower came with visas issued by the people who lived in North America at that time. The same happened to the Irish, the Italians, the Chinese and many others who came later. And, of course, none of the black men and women captured in Africa and sold in the U.S. as slaves had U.S. visas either.

Europeans first occupied the land of the Delawares and Mohicans. Later, the land of the Sioux and the Cherokees. And then, the land of the Mexicans.

The following places have Spanish names because they were founded by Spanish-speaking people:

- San Francisco
- Sacramento
- Los Angeles
- San Diego
- Colorado
- Nevada
- Las Vegas
- Reno
- San Antonio
- El Paso
- Santa Fe
- Florida

Moreover, there is a whole state with the name of NEW MEXICO. Someone should explain those xenophobes out there that Spanish-speaking people have been all over this place for at least as long as the English-speaking guys.

Posted by: berrymonster | July 4, 2008 9:36 PM

Yeah... fear... ignorance... hate... It's truly remarkable just how twisted the brain and heart becomes... and yeah, it's sickening to see how afraid they can be of the brown people... How very, very sad...

Like the good person from Laredo, I, too lived by Mexico, which was in the Douglas, AZ. area - and I also felt a deep fellowship towards the people of the Borderland frontier - and for our neighbors to the south... I've experienced enough to know that this fellowship will last my lifetime - for which I am indeed grateful for...

It's tragic how these racists and bigots are compelled to expand the growth of their tumors, in order to spread the cancer, perverting reality and the history - in order to fit their preconceptions and agendas, so full of hate - the close kin to fear.. And my GOD!, all those denials and half-baked lies..!! - Well, we are in the end-days of a kind, I suppose...

I remember having supper at a Mexican restaurant and bar just on the U.S. side of the Borderline - and noticing a painting over an open doorway in the lounge area, that of a local artist rendition of the Mexican eagle handing over in her talons, a plastic bag of white powder to the U.S. bald eagle, which, in turn, was handing over a cache of guns in trade... It shouted volumes, this painting..!

So, maybe we should be removing the log from our own eye - while we go around condemning others about the mote in theirs...

Posted by: Sundogger | July 4, 2008 8:34 PM

Que divertido, Sr. Alan. Se me parezce idiota. Que broma.

One of the joys of writing subtle political satire is that at least part of the audience will recognize that what you have written as satire and will try to understand the deeper meaning. Unfortunately, there will be a few that just will not get it. Rather than admit that they don't understand or go to the intellectual effort of generating a strong counter argument, they fire off a personal attack as a diversionary tactic.

My previous comments can be taken on several levels. The most basic is this guy must be joking. To think that Mexico would attack the US, who is much more powerful and hasn't done anything bad enough to provoke an attack is crazy. Once more, building a wall to stop such an attack is stupid. A wall could be destroyed in minutes so why bother.

In case you haven't figured it out, I really don't think the Mexican Army will be knocking on the doors of Los Alamos or Toole Army Depot, but that leads me to the next level of analysis. Do they have justification for such a move? The answer is "only if they use our own behavior and moral reasoning as their model." The truth is, it was our leadership who invented the suspicion of possessing a class of weapons that we find threatening as adequate justification for invading another country. Since there is good reason to believe that we possess more WMD than any other country in the world, our neighbor has more justification to invade us then we had justification to invade Iraq or Iran.

On the third level, my point is, if we are the most powerful nation on earth, we are we acting like frightened children? Nations that are afraid of their neighbors build walls and send troops to the borders. Nations that are afraid are the first to deny others their rights and freedoms. Leadership that is afraid thinks it is OK to invade other countries that have not attacked them.

So my fellow Americans, why are we so afraid?

Posted by: Brain Scientist | July 4, 2008 7:37 PM

If twenty million people overseas were displaced because of a corporate free trade deal (NAFTA), the media would call it a humanitarian crisis and the activist community would lobby Congress and make documentaries to alert the whole world to the devastating effects of free trade agreements.

When it happens on our own doorstep, the displaced people are demonized and called "aliens" and the activists are silent. Meanwhile we have immigrant children from Mexico and Central America picking crops in California, the biggest farm state in America and the fifth largest economy in the world.

Posted by: Susan | July 4, 2008 5:22 PM

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT, I AM DEEPLY WORRIED ABOUT THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF THE USA. THATÂ´S WHY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCEPT THE ELECTION OF BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA AS AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT! AS A MATTER OF FACT, I CANÂ´T UNDERSTAND WHY THE AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES WANT TO BLACKMALE THE AMERICAN SOCIETY AND WANT TO JEOPARDIZE THE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY THROUGH THE ELECTION OF A JEREMIAHÂ´S WRIGHT FELLOW.

IT IS NEVER RIGHT TO ELECT A JEREMIAHÂ´S WRIGHT CANDIDATE. WHAT THE AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN REALLY MEANS TO THE WORLD? I AM SURE YOU KNOW THE ANSWER (OR AT LEAST GUESS IT)! YOU WILL SURELY FEEL SORRY AND DISAPPOINTED FOR THE INCOMING EVENTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN THE USA NOW.

HOW COME WE DIDNÂ´T REALIZE YET THAT AN AFRICAN AMERICAN CANÂ´T BE AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT? HOW COME WE ALLOW AN AFRICAN AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE TO BECOME AN AMERICAN ELIGIBLE AND QUALIFIED PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE? ARE WE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMERICAN FUTUREÂ´S ROLE IN THE WORLD? ARE WE REALLY AWARE THAT THE ELECTION OF BARACK OBAMA WOULD BE A POLITICAL DISASTER NOT ONLY FOR THE USA BUT ALSO FOR THE WORLD?

AS A MATTER OF FACT, OBAMA IS JUST DRIVEN BY THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SELFISH HIDDEN INTERESTS WHILE MISS HILLARY CLINTON AND MR. JOHN MCCAIN REMAIN AS THE ONLY RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY CANDIDATES WHO DESERVE TO REPRESENT AND TO STAND UP FOR THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD!

THE THREE MOST CONCERNING PROBLEMS FACED BY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY NOW ARE EXACTLY THE SAME THREE MAIN ISSUES TO BE TACKLED BY THE NEXT AMERICAN PRESIDENT. HE WILL NEED TO COPE WITH THESE PROBLEMS AND TO SOLVE THEM IN THE SHORTEST TERM IN ORDER TO STAND UP FOR THE AMERICAN POLITICAL, MILITARY AND COMMERCIAL GROUND IN THE WORLD! THESE PROBLEMS ARE:

1) THE NATOÂ´S FINAL COALITION VICTORY AGAINST THE MUSLIM TERRORISM NETWORK IN THE WORLD; ISLAMIC REMAINING ENEMIES WILL HAVE TO BE KEPT UNDER SEVERE AND TOUGH CONTROL BY NATOÂ´S MILITARY FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN, IN IRAQ AND IN THE STRATEGIC MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND OF CYPRUS;

2) A NEW AMERICAN IMMIGRATION POLICY IN ORDER TO STOP THE ILLEGAL REMITTANCE OF AMERICAN GOODS AND MONEY ABROAD PERFORMED AS AN OUTRAGEOUS ABUSE BY LATIN AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS, IN ORDER TO PUNISH AND TO BANISH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND IN ORDER TO PREVENT FURTHER IMMIGRANTS FROM COMING TO THE USA;
3) THE GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF THE NAFTA AS THE ONLY LEGITIMATE AMERICAN TRADE AGREEMENT. BY THE WAY, MERCOSUR REPRESENTS THE LATIN AMERICAN LEFTIST CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE MERCOSUR MEMBERS ARE UNITED WITH VENEZUELA, WITH CUBA, WITH BOLIVIA, WITH ECUADOR JUST TO CHALLENGE THE AMERICAN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, TO THREAT THE AMERICAN COMMERCIAL INTERESTS AND TO REPLACE THE NAFTA BY MERCOSUR AS IF MERCOSUR COULD BE RECOGNIZED AS AN AMERICAN RELIABLE, QUALIFIED AND LEGITIMATE TRADE AGREEMENT! THATÂ´S WHY CASTRO, CHÃVEZ, MORALES, CORREA AND LULA WILL REMAIN ARROGANT, DEFIANT AND REVENGEFUL AGAINST THE AMERICAN LEGITIMATE LEADERSHIP IN THE WORLD. THATÂ´S WHY THE POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL KEY TO WIN THIS COMMERCIAL BATTLE IN AMERICA IS THE NAFTAÂ´S GROWTH AND EXPANSION THROUGH AN AMERICAN / MEXICAN TOUGH, SEVERE AND DEMANDING POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL ALLIANCE AGAINST MERCOSURÂ´S CONSPIRACY.
THE NAFTA HAS TO BE A STRONG AND POWERFUL COMMERCIAL ALLIANCE IN ORDER TO STAND UP FOR THE AMERICAN COMMERCIAL INTERESTS AT THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (W.T.O.)!
DEAR PRESIDENT, I MAKE A STRONG APPEAL FOR EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN; AS FAR AS WE ALREADY KNOW WE ALL NEED TO GET RID OF ISLAMIC TERRORISTS, TO GET FREE FROM LATIN AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS AND TO GET AWAY WITH OBAMA!

PLEASE, LETÂ´S JOIN THE SAME COMMON EFFORT ON KEEPING THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND THE AMERICAN ECONOMY IN THE RIGHT FAST TRACK NOW! WE NEED TO FIGHT TOGETHER IN ORDER TO REMAIN UNITED ON STANDING UP FOR THE AMERICAN LEGITIMATE LEADERSHIP IN THE WORLD! OTHERWISE IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO REACT AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE TROUBLED BY AN UNBEARABLE GOVERNMENT FROM NOW ON!

DOES BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA STAND FOR CHANGE? YES, SURE BUT CHANGE FOR WORSE!!! AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE AMERICAN ELECTION PROCESS IS NOT LEGITIMATE BECAUSE THE CANDIDATE OBAMA IS NOT EITHER QUALIFIED OR ELIGIBLE TO BECOME AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT! WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO CHANGE IS THE AMERICAN ELECTION PROCESS THAT ALLOWS SOMEONE LIKE HIM TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NATION IN THE WORLD.

Posted by: Francesco Campelo | July 4, 2008 4:03 PM

Interesting stuff. Americans have a long tradition of blaming some foreign/immigrant group for their own social problems. Chinese, Irish, Japanese, and of course we always have had blacks and Native Americans to kick around. Anyone remember that people of German origin were "detained" during WW I?

The increase in immigration from Mexico, which is partly in response to a shortage of labor due to drop in births in 70's and 80's, partly due to an increase in demand for low paid jobs in a booming economy, compounded by lax immigration enforcement, has left the population perfectly positioned to absorb the abuse we typically reserve for people who look different.

Especially when we are facing a complex set of social problems that the average person does not understand. We can always blame the Chinese.

Even if most of this picture is very complex, Americans should be honest enough to grasp one true thing. Mexico is growing and importing drugs to the U.S. because Americans want them. Mexico does not have a big problem of drug use. U.S. complete failure to stop, or even control, this demand is driving this business. The Mexican government and people would love this to stop. It is corrupting their lives. We need to get over the idea that Mexico is corrupting us, and Americans are innocent victims here. Time to take some responsibility.

Posted by: tucsonan | July 4, 2008 3:56 PM

One should ALWAYS fear a corrupt country whose greatest exports are her citizens.

Posted by: Tupac Goldstein | July 4, 2008 3:33 PM

16 Killed Since Monday in ***** Police Shot at by Snipers 7/2/2008

The news of increased numbers of Mexican military has not impacted violence by
gunmen linked to drug trafficking cartels. 16 more murders have been linked to the ever
increasing cartel violence. Also reported is a possible change to attacks on police,
Yesterday, two ***** Policemen were fired upon by sniper fire. Most attacks
on police in Juarez have been up close and very public. Gunmen may be adjusting
operations due to the increased numbers of police and military on patrol.
Executions in ******
Gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles executed three men as they were traveling in a vehicle
in ******. The three victims were known for the "shady" business dealings.
The victims were: *****, ***** , and *****, aka "******".
A woman in a Texas vehicle was executed in *****.

Gunmen armed with 9mm weapons executed a woman as she was traveling in an
Explorer with Texas license plates. The victim was shot in front of a "*****" on ***** and ***** in Juarez, *****, Mexico. This is the fourth case involving the execution of a woman by organized crime in a month.

Tortured Victim found in ******
Authorities found a person who had been tortured and wrapped in material in *****,
******, Mexico. The body was found on ******, near "******" at a place known as "******". The victim was still alive and was taken to the hospital.

Three ****** Officers Wounded During Shootout in ******
*********.com.mx reports that at least three ****** Police officers were
wounded during a shootout with gunmen yesterday afternoon in the ******
community of the ****** municipality. As of press time, it was unknown
how the group of gunmen was affected by the exchange of gunfire. Officials had not
released much information regarding the incident, including the names of the wounded
officers.
Drug cartels have made ***** the deadliest city in Mexico. But they also operate just
across the border, in ******, Texas -- one of the safest cities in the U.S.
Statements from the article:
â€¢ In the less than six months of 2008, there have been more than 500 killings in
******
â€¢******* mayor plans to fire a significant portion of the force over corruption
allegations
â€¢ police officers have started picketing in the streets, saying they don't have the
resources they need to do their jobs
â€¢ At the **** police station in *****, there are three working police cars
â€¢ Earlier this year, one of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels posted a hit list
threatening to kill 22 **** police officers
â€¢ In 2008, 18 officers -- some who were on the list, some who weren't -- have
been assassinated
â€¢ ****** says the real problem in the Police Department right now is corruption

The Mexican Military Regularly Enters This Country On Behalf of Drug Dealers

This past January, the Department of Homeland Security reported that since 1996, there
had been 278 known incursions by the Mexican military into the United States. They are
often seen providing armed escort to drug smugglers.

Posted by: Anonymous | July 4, 2008 2:54 PM

As a business person representing the United States in Mexico, I believe this article is very honest and well stated.
Sadly, many of the negative comments regarding this article are examples of very ignorant American's who surley don't speak a second language or have not traveled beyond the US borders. Shame of them.

Posted by: Saddened | July 4, 2008 2:45 PM

Mexican Cartel Activity Report

July 1, 2008
Media Sources:
"La Emperatriz" Identified as Money Launderer for the Sinaloa Cartel
According to cronica.com.mex Mexican and U.S. authorities have identified CÃ¡zares
Blanca Margarita Salazar, aka La Emperatriz (Spanish translation: The Empress), as a
major financial operation of a cell drug that works for the Sinaloa Cartel, Commanded by
Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. In a press conference, U.S. officials explained that the
financial network is led by Blanca CÃ¡zares Margarita Salazar, who is the sister of Victor
Emilio CÃ¡zares Salazar, (currently a wanted in the US for distribution of narcotics). The
CÃ¡zares organization and its extensive money laundering act as "screens" for the drug
trafficker Ismael Garcia and Victor Emilio CÃ¡zares Salazar, leaders of the Sinaloa cartel.

Mexican media source El Pueblo reports that 1,400 more Mexican soldiers arrived in the
State of Chihuahua today. The majority of the troops will patrol in the vicinity of Ciudad
Juarez, combating cartel related violence.
South Texas Man Murdered in Mexico
Media sources in South Texas are reporting Police are investigating after a man was
reportedly kidnapped and murdered while in Mexico. 25 year old Ramiro Torres
Hernandez was last seen, going into Reynosa to visit family, but he never returned.
His body was later found in the trunk of his car, in a remote field between Reynosa and
Rio Bravo. Witnesses say two men approached him outside a store, and forced him to
drive away. Mexican police say it appears to be a copy-cat crime. "these people tried to
imitate a cartel killing, but wrapping his head with bandages and beating him up, but we
have evidence this was planned out".

Posted by: Anonymous | July 4, 2008 2:39 PM

Mexican Cartel Activity Report

June 30, 2008

A Fresh Wave Exodus from Mexico: Migrants or Refugees?

Pressured by violence and insecurity, a new wave of Mexican professionals is quietly
making its way across the border to the United States in search of a better life. Reflecting
a variety of career goals as well as personal aspirations, the new immigrant wave
illustrates how the deteriorating public safety situation in cities like Ciudad Juarez is
fueling capital flight and brain drain. In Ciudad Juarez, legal sources report that business
for assisting people in obtaining US immigration visas rose between 50-80 percent in the
first six months of 2008 in comparison to the same period in 2007. Especially in demand
are the E-2 Investor, F-1 Student and TN NAFTA Work visas, said Ciudad Juarez
attorney Jennifer Gutierrez. Small business owners, professionals, hair stylists, and
students rank high in the list of people trying to obtain the visas, Gutierrez said.

Attacks by cartel gunmen continue in Chihuahua

On 6/28/2008 4 reported killed in Chihuahua over the last 24 hours by Cartel gunmen.
Mexican media source elpueblo.com also reports that attacks on women and children are
increasing. The women and children are not primary targets but are usually relatives or in
the company of those targeted by gunmen.

Mexico sees surge in killing spree

Six people including a police officer were killed Saturday in central and northern Mexico,
bringing to nine the law enforcement death toll in the country in 48 hours, officials said.
Mexicanpolice examine a crimescene in Novolato, Sinaloa State, Mexico. Five victims were found.

Drug gunmen kill six

Drug hit men shot dead six Mexican policemen on patrol in the marijuana-producing
state of Sinaloa, the latest in a growing stream of attacks on police, the local Attorney
General's Office said Friday. A group of armed men blocked a busy road in Sinaloa's
state capital, Culiacan, Thursday night and shot at the police with automatic weapons
from two vehicles, a spokesman for the state attorney general said.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20080629-9999-1n29mexweek.html

Mexican drug ring in Colorado Springs busted

A Mexican drug ring operating in Colorado Springs has been busted. A year-long
investigation, called "Operation White Horse" resulted in 27 arrests, and took almost 80
pounds of methamphetamine and cocaine off the streets. The El Paso/Teller District
Attorney says the ring has links to the Mexican Mafia. Several local agencies were
involved in the busts, which happened in four different phases over the year. They say
they've made a dent in the drug trafficking problem but there's still a lot of work to do.

Mexican Cartel Activity Report

"This Mexican drug cartel has ties to the Mexican Mafia and circulated the drugs through
Phoenix, Tucson and into Colorado Springs," Newsome said during a press conference
Friday. The D-A says 25 of the 27 arrested were illegal immigrants, including four
arrested Wednesday. They were the last to be arrested in the sting. It happened in a house
on the East Side of the Springs. Neighbors were suspicious when they moved in a month
ago. Now, those neighbors are scared and don't want to be identified.
http://www.koaa.com/aaaa_top_stories/x471792789/Mexican-drug-ring-in-Colorado-
Springs-busted

Posted by: LPS | July 4, 2008 2:36 PM

@ "Facts, please"

Those numbers can be misleading...http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur-crime-murders

Looks like the US as a whole beats Mexico hands down.

Posted by: M RULES | July 4, 2008 2:23 PM

Senor Martinez:

If you think all the murders that takes place in mexico is ok, then I can understand why you think Mexico is a good neighbor.
If you think so many kidnappings in Mexico are acceptable, then I can understand why you think Mexico is a good neighbor.
If you think all the police corruption in Mexico is ok, then I can understand why you think Mexico is a good neighbor.
If you think the way the Mexican political system really takes advantage of the Mexican people is acceptable, than I can understand why you think Mexico is a good neighbor.
If you think all the crime that illegals bring into the USA from Mexico is ok, then I can understand why you think Mexico is a good neighbor.
I ask you this Andres: if you lived in a house next door to a house that had people in it who did all the things I mentioned above to you, would you really think they are a good neighbor?
Please become part of the solution and not part of the problem: ignorance.
I say this with all due respect because I know a lot of good people in Mexico.

Posted by: Aaron | July 4, 2008 2:36 AM
_______________________________________

WHAT?!? I think you might have been better off to tell AndrÃ©s to shut up.

Posted by: M RULES | July 4, 2008 2:13 PM

Brain Scientist is clearly Brain Dead.

Posted by: Alan | July 4, 2008 1:58 PM

"But when I travel in Mexico these days, I am struck by how much goodwill there is toward the United States, certainly compared to 20 years ago..."

Yeah, 20 years ago the U.S. seems to have had about 1/2 to 1/3 as many illegal Mexican aliens as today. Now it seems as if most relatively young, working class Mexicans are here now.

Mexicans' goodwill towards the U.S. is likely directed toward their siblings, sons, daughters, cousins, and friends who stole their way here and now send tax-free $$$ back to them.

As to whether any of their goodwill extends to American citizens or long-term legal U.S. residents - your guess is as good as mine.

Posted by: Patriote Americano | July 4, 2008 1:58 PM

Clearly, the answer to the question of why the United States should be afraid of Mexico, can be expressed in three letters; WMD. Since our own president set the precedent that any country that is afraid of another country's real or imagined weapons of mass destruction is justified in invading that country and since Mexico is the closest country to our biggest cashes of WMD, then it seems logical that we could see Mexican troops massing at the boarder with battle plans to take over Los Alamos and the Toole Army Depot. Maybe it is a good thing that we are building a wall along our southern border. It would give our "Republican Guards" a little time to slow their advance.

Posted by: Brain Scientist | July 4, 2008 1:32 PM

Boo! Hoo! Poor Mexicans. Here is something to consider. The poor Mexican who just comes to work because he has no money. Really? How much did he pay to enter America and how many more times did he pay the same or higher sum when caught and deported? Poor? I don't think so! Could you come up with $1500 to $2000 to be smuggled across the border tomorrow? Where does he get the money to live in America without a job? How does he communicate since he can't speak English? Last summer more than fifty were deported from my area where roofers are out of work and damn sure want too work. By the way that's the Northern border. Give me a break, I'm sick of the whining about the poor Mexicans and the too hell with America attitude.

Posted by: jmb | July 4, 2008 12:30 PM

@ Juan Valdez:

That's funny, your numbers don't match those I found elsewhere. For example, http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_percap-crime-murders-per-capita (Mexico with .13 murders per 1,000 people, US with .04). Care to cite your sources?

Posted by: Facts, please. | July 4, 2008 12:28 PM

It is all too noticeable that whenever these type articles are written, they always claim the U.S. invaded them yet conveniently leave out the true facts of history that describe what really happened.

I offer a condensed version for illumination:

In 1519, the native civilizations of Mesoamerica were invaded by Spain, marking the end of the Aztec Empire and giving rise to the Viceroyalty of New Spain in 1535. It became the first and largest provider of resources for the Spanish Empire and the most populous of all Spanish colonies.

On September 16, 1810, independence from Spain was declared and became the catalyst for a long war that ended in 1821 which led to independence and creation of the ephemeral First Mexican Empire based on the conquered territories. The area of the current Mexican republic as well as the present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, parts of Colorado and Wyoming, and all current Central American countries except for Panama and Belize. Later, the Central American states separated, forming the Federal Republic of Central America. In 1824, a republican constitution was drafted creating the United Mexican States.

The first four decades after the creation of the country were marked by a constant strife. General Antonio LÃ³pez de Santa Anna was a strong influence in Mexican politics, a centralist and a two-time dictator. In 1836, he approved the Siete Leyes, a radical amendment to the constitution that essentially suspended the Constitution of 1824, civil war spread across the country, and three new governments declared independence; the Republic of Texas, the Republic of the Rio Grande (recognized by the United Kingdom) and the Republic of YucatÃ¡n. Only Texas was able to defeat Santa Anna, and later the annexation of Texas by the United States created a border dispute that would cause the Mexican-American War. Santa Anna played a big role in trying to muster Mexican forces but this war resulted in the resolute defeat of Mexico and as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848), Mexico lost one third of its surface area due to civil war with Texas, and later war with the United States.

In the 1860s the country again underwent a military occupation, this time by France, which established the Habsburg Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria on the Mexican throne as Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico with support from the Catholic clergy and the conservative Mexicans. This Second Mexican Empire was victorious for only a few years, when the previous president of the Republic, the Zapotec Indian Benito JuÃ¡rez, managed to restore the republic in 1867.

The Mexican Revolution of 1910, resulted in an elected president who was overthrown and murdered in a coup d'Ã©tat in 1913. A new civil war erupted. The constitutional army led by Venustiano Carranza, managed to bring an end to the war, and radically amended the 1857 Constitution to include many of the social premises and demands of the revolutionaries into what was eventually called the 1917 Constitution.

The nationalization of the oil industry into PEMEX during 1938 was a popular move, but sparked a diplomatic crisis with those countries whose citizens had lost businesses.

In the 1970s there was extreme dissatisfaction with the administration. While the prices of oil were at historically high records and interest rates were low, Mexico made impressive investments in the state-owned oil company, with the intention of revitalizing the economy, but overborrowing and mismanagement of oil revenues led to inflation and exacerbated the crisis of 1982. That year, oil prices plunged, interest rates soared, and the government defaulted on its debt President de la Madrid resorted to currency devaluations which in turn sparked inflation.

So in summary:

Before Mexico was Mexico it was invaded by Spain. After independence, civil war resulted in Mexican citizens in three areas declaring independence from Mexico, one of which was the larger territory of Texas, in which the Mexican citizens won their independence via conflict. The U.S. annexed the independent territory of Texas at the request and with the consent of the citizens of Texas. Mexico later attacked and invaded the U.S. in an attempt to regain Texas and lost, ending the war with the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. They allowed themselves to be taken over by France in modern times. Mexico has suffered numerous revolutions, and assassinations with several constitutions and reformed governments. They stole companies owned and built by foreign investors with Mexico's permission without compensation. They mismanaged huge natural resources and wrecked their own economy defaulting on billions in foreign loans and ruined their economy. They still have a fragile government, rife with corruption and an uncertain future except for the repeated foreign investment that keeps them afloat. Throughout it all, a long succession of elite leaders who raped and pillaged the people for their own profit have ruled Mexico much of the time creating a county of rich and poor with no middle class.

And the U.S. is supposed to feel guilty? While I admire their repeated attempts to achieve true freedom and independence, I hardly think the U.S. is the root, the cause or should be the savior of all that plagues Mexico and it's citizens. No doubt we could help them more, if only they would help themselves first.

Posted by: Dale | July 4, 2008 12:21 PM

I think the reason our government fears Mexico is in one word OIL. we get a lot of our oil from Mexico and Canada (much more than from middle east!). So what ever they want they can get. The other problem is the scary violence on the border (that has slipped the border). we have our own trouble with violence with out the need to import it. And drugs is our problem that is causing that violence. but the debilitation that the drugs would cause to us, exceeds all the costs we incur fighting it. If the way to judge whether its worth the fight, is how successful we are, then we would have to apply that same logic to murder and
robbery. since we have eliminated those either!

Posted by: dw | July 4, 2008 12:18 PM

Thanks AndrÃ©s MartÃnez for the wonderful analysis in "America, don't be afraid of MÃ©xico". It is interesting to read several hates and ignorant posts here as a response to this article. He makes 3 very clear points: the US invasion ( I soundly refuse to call it the "american" invasion), the drug problem and NAFTA. In the first case, this invasion was the result of an invented lie by the northern country in order to satisfy its expansionist drive. In the second place, the drug problem is an event that results from the logic of "offer and demand" (business bloom when there is a demand for the product). This problem is so pervasive that school-age children have no problem in finding drugs easily available, therefore producing the drug-addict next generation. And in the third place, NAFTA was never a deal that benefitted Mexican society. It was evident what country was going to result benefitted with this treaty given the poor technological and scientific develpment of Mexico. Investing in science and technology has never been a priority for politicians. We still depend on developed countries' technological advances to modernize (a snail-paced rythm) our lives as mexicans. So I want to thank Andres again for the magnificent written work he presented in this column.

Posted by: mz rmr | July 4, 2008 11:58 AM

"There may be many grievances, but there is nary a grudge."

But of course, successful parasites do not kill the host, they continue to feed on him. And why should a parasitic nation hold a grudge? As for Americans, we have plenty of anger.

Posted by: spiker | July 4, 2008 11:41 AM

More ultra liberal clap trap about poor Mexico.One wonders where the shame is of a nation that must export it's own people in order to gain remmittances a multi billion $ income for this third world nation.Crime?Ask the family members of the thousands of victims annually who were robbed,beaten,raped or murdered by illegal aliens some of whom have been deported numerous times only to return and commit new crimes.Do legal cicitens commit the same crimes?Sure but illegals shouldn't be here in the first place to commmit these crimes.

Republicans anti-illegal immigration?Check out conservative democrats on this also there's quite a number of them in congress who represent blue collar democratic districts who are also anti-illegal immigration.Illegal immigration lowers wages especially for the working poor.It isn't disputable.The congressional budget office estimated last yrs amnesty bill would have lowered iullegal immigration by just 25% so even after the amnesty the illegals would keep coming only now they'd be driving down the wages of the newly legalized people.

Far too many people profiting from open borders to ever have a secure border.

Posted by: PTN | July 4, 2008 11:11 AM

Recently, I spent five weeks in Morelia, captial of the northern state of Michoacan. I met many Mexicans who had returned to Mexico, after working in the US. Mexico is their home. They have family there. They identify themselves with Mexico. They made money in the US, came back home to live and work. They prefer Mexico to the US. Don't think that every Mexican wants to live out his life in the US.

Posted by: Dan Gleason | July 4, 2008 11:03 AM

PLEASE remove Jon M's post!!

And thank you for your wonderful article. I live in MÃ©rida, Mexico, and could not agree more. Not all of Mexico is crime-ridden! In 10 years, I have not been robbed or burgled. (Such incidents were annual events for me when I left the USA.) The people here are welcoming and particularly patient. And guess what? I have not witnessed or read about a single case of "road rage" since arriving here! We here need better USA cooperation, and less USA consumption of drugs! And please, quit exporting the guns. Then, the Northern Mexico crime wave might be solved.

Posted by: alinde | July 4, 2008 10:51 AM

Stumped,

It's not that the United States is afraid of Mexico.

What we are afraid of are the loss of jobs, eroding payrolls, and the loss of our own American culture and identity, which at one time involved the assimilation of all cultures that made the American culture stronger.

Unfortunately, what we've become are several individual factions of the rest of the world inside the United States, which will eventually tear our country apart.

I hope you enjoyed your trip to Mexico City though.

Posted by: Hello | July 4, 2008 10:47 AM

It is the richer elements of the U.S. who love cheap Mexican labor. And the poorer who fear this competition. I think the digust of the mass of the American people with mass illegal immigration is based on this disconnect. Nothing will be done as long as employers and middle-class working women looking for cheap child care get what they want. If there were a guest worker program, it would act to raise the pay and benefits of Mexican workders. The powers that be do not want that! So don't hold your breath. The real rulers of the country like things just as they are, thank you very much.

Posted by: M. A. George | July 4, 2008 10:06 AM

"Why do the people of Mexico allow their government to treat them so badly? Why don't they take their government back from the corrupt officials, so they don't have to leave their families to go north?"

Well, we know how that can happen. Canada was kind enough to accept Americans after LBJ sent 1/2 million of our teenagers, who didn't even have the right to vote or drink, to Vietnam, just because they couldn't afford to be in college or have babies.

Alex is right. The problem is there's no culture of good governance, not that isolated individuals haven't tried to buck a bad system, but do they get rewarded with election in Mexico?

We're headed in the same direction. The GOP has declared war on health care reform, environmental regulation,, taxation of the wealthy, peace, science, and government itself. Nonissues like patriotism, military records, years in govt., folksiness, religious posturing now sway elections in America, too.

Posted by: jhbyer | July 4, 2008 10:01 AM

my brother was working an event at the baltimore convention center, towards the end of the event there was tons of food left over and servers that had not eaten anything all day. The workers in the kitchen choose to throw out the food instead of feeding the servers...in fact they made a point of it...the workers in the kitchean were black and the servers were latinos...still think obama supports the latinos over the interests of the blacks?

Posted by: Dwight | July 4, 2008 9:54 AM

Mr. Martinez's comments are right on target. America's drug thirst, America's selling of illegal weapons to Mexico, and our almighty love of the dollar: these are our (negative) influences on life south of the border. Right now I do not travel to the border cities near me because of the unchecked violence but in years past I have found, generally speaking, more friendliness and courtesies than I find north of the border. Hypocrisy reigns in the U.S.A., particularly among the GOP. Don't you imagine little Georgie and his siblings had their house cleaned and their meals cooked in Midland, TX by Mexicans? Don't you imagine John and Cindy McCain have had yards kept and pools cleaned by Mexicans in Arizona? The U.S. has for decades enjoyed the cheap labor of Mexicans, legal or illegal.

Posted by: Violet, southern NM | July 4, 2008 9:42 AM

I lived in Laredo, Texas on the border with Mexico for six years and am very happy to have such a great nation so close. They work hard, have strong families and are decent people. I like them. When the population of the USA ages, we will need some help from Mexico and when we can, we should return the assistance. They could use a better infrastructure and we can appreciate the value of guest workers.

Posted by: Gary E. Masters | July 4, 2008 9:30 AM

Martinez pretty well nails it. The biggest fear white Republicans have of Mexico is fear of their own American democracy. One day, when there are enough LEGAL AMERICAN LATINO US CITIZENS, they will be in the majority and have political power.

In Mexico's Constitution, foreign born citizens can't hold any elected office. Too bad American founding fathers didn't think of that, too. Maybe then all the racism that pops out of these posts when anyone mentions Mexico would be less.

Latinos need to think about their inherent cultural distrust of people with darker skin this Presidential election. McCain represents more of the same neocon policies toward Latin America and voting for him because he's more "guero" is like Latinos voting for Schwarzenegger because they though it was "padre" to have the Terminator as their Governor in California.

Posted by: Roy | July 4, 2008 8:57 AM

The Mexican people do have greivances that have not been addressed.Unfortunately they focus their anger on Yankee Doodle instead of the corrupt small group of wealthy that have owned everything and passed the power and money down for generations. The elite in Mexico keep the people in check by continuing to tell the poor undeducated that their lands were stolen ( they LOST the war and in the case of Texas the Mexican government was even paid money). Even the present President of Mexico makes lovely speeches telling his "people north of the border" of his concern for them all the while handing them maps and telling them how to break into our country and avoid deportation. The gangs and criminals come here break our laws and then run for the border to have this corrupt government shelter them. The aid needs to stop, the wall need to go up and troops need to be put on the border- the entire border. When they can no longer use the US as a dumping ground for their angry poor all hell will break lose in that country, and it should.

Posted by: Tax paying citizen | July 4, 2008 8:47 AM

What a bunch of racists. May the twist in your panties gather up your Klan robes and choke you to death.

Some Mexicans come here because of the Porsche-driving Republican who owns the factory down the road (and drives home to his fancy house on the other side of town each night). This jerk is too cheap to hire legal U.S. citizens, so he pays day laborers with fake papers because he can make them work for $5.15 an hour and they won't complain about 12-hour shifts. If you want Mexico's poor to stop crossing the border, get rid of the Republican @s who bribe them to come, yet go unpunished. SUPPLY AND DEMAND, as the GOP's catechism goes!!!

Posted by: kc64 | July 4, 2008 8:38 AM

It is kind of sad that this author knows so little about the problem, but Americans do have a reason to fear Mexico and Mexicans. Our Politicians don't seem to care what is done to our citizens by the Mexicans, and this nightmare just keeps on going.

This is well referenced essay on the problem. The author should shuck the 'fear' comments, and find out what it is Americans want Congress to deal with.

The Dark Side Of Illegal Immigration
Facts, Figures And Statistics On Illegal Immigration
http://www.usillegalaliens.com/

Posted by: Joel E. Wischkaemper | July 4, 2008 7:49 AM

@ Aaron;

25,000 murders annually in the USA , a country of about 300 million people.

4,000 murders in Mexico in the last 18 months, a country of about 100 million.

DO THE MATH!

Posted by: Juan Valdez | July 4, 2008 4:50 AM

With our citizens fighting and dying in wars oceans away, it might make sense not to fear our American neighbors.

The rest of the world has their EU, their ASEAN, their AU, we have America.

Posted by: Nym | July 4, 2008 3:12 AM

I think the article should be about how did people who think mexico is such a good neighbor get so brainwashed??????
My theory is that country pride is all those poor people have left since their government has screwed them out of everything else.
Talk about being in denial!

Posted by: Martin | July 4, 2008 2:51 AM

Part of the problem for mexico is that they cannot get any real leadership there. Their president is a joke. Can't they find a real president. I can't stand President Bush but he is MUCH better than that clown mexico has. I am thinking the people of mexico were drinking too much tequila on election day when the vote took place.

Posted by: Alex | July 4, 2008 2:44 AM

Senor Martinez:

Posted by: Aaron | July 4, 2008 2:36 AM

I don't understand the question either. The writer's response makes sense, but I'm not sure it addresses the ambiguous question. Is the question why are people afraid to vacation in Mexico? Is it why are people in the US afraid of Mexicans here? Understanding the question is as important as the answer.

Posted by: Reading | July 4, 2008 2:31 AM

Why do the people of Mexico allow their government to treat them so badly?
Why don't the people of Mexico take their country back from their corrupt officials so that they don't have to leave their families and go north?
Why does Mexico mistreat the illegal immigrants coming from south of Mexico so badly and then complain to the usa that not letting mexicans come into the usa illegally is racists?
Why is Mexico such a backwards nation?
FINALLY: why would some people want Mexico to have the state of California back? Don't those people realize that will just make it farther for illegals to go before they try to sneak into the usa via nevada or oregon?

Posted by: Marco | July 4, 2008 2:26 AM

My family is from Monterrey, Mexico and they now live in San Diego, CA and they refuse to go home to any part of Mexico because of what a terrible corrupt nation it is. Yes, a lot of the people are good people, however, one can just look at all the crime that is in Mexico and that comes from Mexico and it is reasonable for any rational individual to understand why Mexico is a country to fear.

Posted by: Alan | July 4, 2008 2:20 AM

Frankly, I don't understand the question. A lot of Americans are afraid to visit Mexico, because of the crime and the fact that police can't be trusted, we're told. But the question implies our govt is afraid of Mexico, which begs the question, afraid of what? Why is Dave Walker afraid to be specific.

Posted by: jhbyer | July 4, 2008 1:33 AM

This column was clearly written by a mexican. It was terrible.

Posted by: Jon | July 4, 2008 1:28 AM

The only fear I have of Mexico is that it may be recreated in what was lately my country. And as you point out, the reasons for this are largely of our own making.

Posted by: Bill Mosby | July 4, 2008 12:54 AM

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