Abuse of migrants in the form of extortion, rape, theft, assault, kidnapping and murder is becoming more prominent near the U.S.-Mexico border. The ongoing war on drugs is thought by officials to be the primary cause for such violence.
Mexican drug cartels – namely Los Zetas, a dominant criminal organization – have been accused of extortion and mass killings of migrant workers en route to the border. The United States is taking action to put an end to the war on drugs and weaken drug cartels by stepping up law enforcement units at the border. FBI agents were sent to work alongside Mexican authorities to investigate the deaths of three Americans that were thought to be linked to Mexican drug cartels, as well.
The U.S.-Mexico border conflict – specifically the issues of violence toward migrants and the war on drugs – is an ongoing issue that has not been addressed by the mainstream media to the extent it needs to be in order for real change and reform to take place.
Sources:
“This Week at War: A Conflict Without a Name” Feb. 18, 2011,
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/02/18/this_week_at_war_a_fight_without_a_name
“Virtual Warfare Escalates on U.S.-Mexico Border,” Feb. 7, 2011
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=37311
“Migrants – Victims of Crime, Not Criminals” Feb. 1, 2011
http://ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=54320
“A Letter From Mexico: The Invisibles” Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/NWS21/006/en/686d921b-3642-4a37-a57b-a58d50a75dca/nws210062010en.pdf%3E
“The Stories You Missed in 2010: Tribal Drug Warfare,” Dec. 2010
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/11/29/the_stories_you_missed_in_2010?page=0,7
“Drug cartel suspected in massacre of 72 migrants,” Aug. 25, 2010
http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/americas/mexico/7044.html
“Mexico’s Felipe Calderon vows to defeat violent gangs,” May 20, 2010,
http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/americas/mexico/6714.html
“Creating New Soldiers in Mexico’s Drug War,” May 17, 2010
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/05/17/creating_new_soldiers_in_mexico_s_drug_war
“US sends FBI agents to investigate Mexico killings,” May 16, 2010,
http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/americas/mexico/6715.html
“Central America Raises Its Violence in Defence of Its Migrants,” Feb. 2, 2010
http://ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=54328
Student Researchers:
Ashley Shufelt, Tiffany Hyman, Derek Zeller, Sara Gromek and Gabrielle Lustrinelli (Niagara University)
Faculty Evaluator: Brian Martin Murphy (Niagara University)