With 21,000 agents and 700 miles of fencing, the US Border Patrol plays a big role in securing the border our nation shares with Mexico. The border control efforts did not take-off until after 9/11, when the Department of Homeland Security focused some of its resources on Border Control. A government witness named “Victoria,” a former member of the Sinaloa Cartel’s enforcer group “Gente Nueva” under the “Javelin” subgroup whose job was to execute individuals in rival groups, testified that the the Border Patrol was supplying weapons to the Sinaloa Cartel.
In January 2012, the Mexican government issued the death toll for drug-related killings as 47,515 people. The guns supplied by the Border Patrol are aiding the Sinaloa Cartel to fight off rivals like the Los Zetas and Beltran Leyva Organization. How far should the United States turn its head until this Drug War winds up in our own backyard? Many accuse the Obama administration of allowing guns to enter Mexico; promoting other gang related violence. Mr. Enrique Peña Nieto, Mexico’s President, did not emphasize stopping drug shipments or capturing drug kingpins. He suggested that while Mexico should continue to work with the United States government against organized crime, it should not “subordinate to the strategies of other countries”. By turning a blind on on thiese crimes, we are not helping secure our border.
Americans should not fear immigration but fear the drugs that are associated with the Sinaloa Cartel. Mr. Calderon, Mexico’s previous President, states that Mexico has failed in its attempts to stop cartels governing a state within a state; by levying taxes, putting roadblocks in place and implementing their gang’s rules of perverse codes of behavior the cartels have become the new authority . The Border Patrol providing the Sinaloa Cartel with guns has led to the Sinaloa Cartel taking the turf of Mexico’s west desert while simultaneously building up their drug territory all the way to the United States border.
Sources:
Alden, Edward. “Immigration and Border Control.” Cato. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cj32n1/cj32n1-8.pdf>.
Farago, Robert. “More Evidence That Feds Armed the Sinaloas. On Purpose.” The Truth About Guns. N.p., 10 Nov. 2012. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.
Maung, David. “Mexican Drug Trafficking (Mexico’s Drug War).” Mexican Drug Trafficking (Mexico’s Drug War). N.p., 09 Oct. 2012. Web. 06 Dec. 2012. <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/mexico/drug_trafficking/index.html>.
Taylor, Jared. “Fast And Furious: Mother Of U.S. Federal Agent Claims Gun From Botched Operation Killed Son.” HUFF POST. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/30/fast-and-furious_n_1639315.html>.
Student Researchers: Carson White and Michael Downs
Faculty Instructor: Kevin Howley
Evaluator: Bret O’Bannon, Political Science Department, DePauw University