by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said that the United States, Mexico and Canada all rely on trade but with the increase in illegal immigration and drug and weapon trafficking, it is time for more modern and safe border security.

Today Napolitano spoke at the 2009 Border Trade Alliance International Conference and addressed not only border security issues but trade issues.

The Border Trade Alliance is a grassroots non-profit that serves as a forum for participants to address key issues affecting trade and economic development in North America.

Before heading to Mexico City with President Obama last week, Napolitano visited several American southern states to address the escalating violence in Mexico and the rise in drug and weapon trafficking among Mexico and the U.S.

Since 2006, when Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderon increased his efforts against drug cartels, more than 10,000 people have been killed in Mexico due to drug-related violence.

Because of the increase in violence at the U.S.-Mexico border, President Obama has dispatched hundreds of federal agents along with high-tech surveillance gear and drug-sniffing dogs, to the Southwest border to help Mexico in it’s fight with drug cartels.

Napolitano said that the U.S. is engaged and focused on border issues not only from a security standpoint but from a trade standpoint.

“The two go together, we cannot separate one from the other,” she said.

Napolitano said the United States is not only working to end illegal immigration, drug and weapon trafficking and unlawful trade with the Mexican government but also with the Canadian government as well.

“We don’t want to appear to go heavy on the southern border and light on the northern border. We will have a balanced approach consistent with effective security for our entire country,” she said.

Napolitano said that the U.S. needs to respect the differences between the northern and southern borders.

“There needs to be a level of parity between the two borders,” she said.

But Napolitano said that the two borders share similar concerns regarding security, trade, illegal entry, and drug smuggling.

“We need to deal with circumstances on the ground. On the southern border it means protecting against drug cartel violence in combating illegal entry…. We’ve added more personal and technology. We’ve created a southbound strategy to stop the flow of guns and bulk cash into Mexico,” she said.

Napolitano said that the U.S. is providing new technology for Canada and have added five new U.S. Customs and Border Protection Marine and air branches, and 24 integrated border enforcement teams that include Canadian law enforcement officials.

“We don’t want to damage economic security in the name of homeland security,” she said.

Napolitano also spoke about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which will require all travelers coming into the U.S. from Canada or Mexico to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship.

“These are real borders, this is a real law, and I am really charged with implementing it and I take that charge very seriously,” she said.

Although the Mexican and Canadian borders are different in climate and geography, both share a common goal to have a “modern border, an efficient border and a safe and secure border for both people and for commerce,” Napolitano said.

By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service

At the Senate Judiciary Committee on “Southern Border Violence: Homeland Security Threats, Vulnerabilities and Responsibilities,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that “incidents of transnational violence are, unfortunately, not a new phenomenon,” when looking at issues relating to the southwest border. She warned, “What is occurring in Mexico now is violence of a level that we have not seen before.”

Asked by Chairman Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) whether, as Secretary of Homeland Security, she considered Mexican drug cartel violence a real threat to the homeland security of the United States. Secretary Napolitano agreed with this statement.

In a prepared statement Mr. Ogden said, “The explosion of violence along the Southwest border is being caused by a limited number of large, sophisticated and vicious criminal organizations, not by individual drug traffickers acting in isolation.”

Mr. Ogden added that the Department for Justice aimed to “identify, disrupt and dismantle the Mexican drug cartels,” including “extensive and coordinated intelligence capabilities…prosecuting criminals responsible for the smuggling, kidnapping and violence in federal court.”

In a prepared statement Mr. Steinberg said, “drug related assassinations and kidnapping have reached unprecedented levels.”

Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) called the current situation of growing violence on the border “a sad state of affairs.”

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

“What happens on one side of the border affects the other side. Mexico and the United States are separated by a border, but both communities share a goal of helping all of our peoples,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the 13th Annual U.S. – Mexico Congressional Border Issues Conference, where panelists gathered to talk about topics such as Comprehensive Immigration Reform, drug and weapon trafficking, and the Merida Initiative. 

Among the panelists was Geraldo Rivera, host of “Geraldo at Large” on the FOX News Channel who said that instead of sending troops to the U.S./Mexican border, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) needs to start focusing on catching criminals and stop raiding processing plants where people are just there to work. “The immigration debate in this country has been so poisoned, and it’s become so racist in many ways…. We have distorted policy so that it hurts our national security. We have a totally competent law enforcement agency to deal with these criminals,” Rivera said. Speaker Nancy Pelosi agreed with Rivera saying that unnecessary ICE raids are not the American way and that they must stop.

Pelosi talked about the need for comprehensive immigration reform saying that we need it soon. “It would secure our borders, it would protect our workers, it would prohibit the exploitation of workers coming into our country, it would unite our families,” she stated. Pelosi said that she is sending Congressmen to Mexico to see how our nations can work together. President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will also be traveling to Mexico to show support. 

Rivera also expressed his support for the Dream Act, which states that undocumented young people could be eligible for a conditional path to citizenship in exchange for a mandatory two years in higher education or military service. In order for the undocumented young person to have the chance to become an American citizen, they must demonstrate good moral character to be eligible for and stay in conditional residency. Rivera said, “You want to stimulate the gross domestic product? Let’s get these Latino youngsters graduating high school…. But to take kids who are getting A’s and say they can’t get in-state tuition in college because they’re not documented, It’s preposterous, it’s un-American, it’s Anti-American…. Get Dream passed.”

Pelosi also discussed the Merida Initiative, saying that $300 million would be given to Mexico as part of the omnibus bill that was passed last week. “Every person who comes here with that determination, with that optimism, with that hope, with those family values and sense of community and spirit of faith, every person who comes here, certainly from the Hispanic community, when they come here they make America more American,” she concluded. 

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Today at the 13th Annual U.S.-Mexico Congressional Border Issues Conference Speaker Pelosi addressed the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform and how it will help the U.S. and Mexico. (01:01)

 

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The Crime and Drugs Subcommittee and Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control held a joint hearing today on “Law Enforcement Responses to Mexican Drug Cartels.”  Senator Feingold (D- Wisc.) explained the need for this topic to be brought to the attention of the government, “This problem, as we’ve heard today, has taken on increasingly troubling dimensions as the violence in Mexico and along the border has exploded over the last two years and this has had devastating consequences… We must address this crisis in a proactive and coordinated manner focusing on improving law enforcement while also supporting efforts to enhance the rule of law in Mexico.”

Kumar Kibble, Deputy Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Investigations addressed the fact that weapons coming to Mexico from the U.S. add to the problem. “Southbound weapons smuggling is a grave concern amid the growing violence along our border with Mexico.”

Senator Durbin (D- Ill.) noted that guns crossing from the U.S. into Mexico are a source for violence among drug cartels, citing a Brookings Institute study which found that 2000 guns cross the border every day. Sen. Durbin explained, “We would at least agree that if it’s hundreds or thousands, the best efforts that we’ve put in it to date are really not addressing the volume of the problem when it comes to weapons smuggling.  We have to look to additional ways to fortify our efforts and make them more effective.”

The second problem the hearing addressed was the “insatiable” drug appetite of the United States.  Approximately 35 million drug users in this country create draw and supply money to cartels across the border.  Attorney General of Arizona, Terry Goddard, stated that the U.S. must work to decrease the demand for drugs.  “The United States has put a great deal of money into interdiction but we put very little into demand reduction.  And frankly we can have a very profound effect as a country in trying to stop the apparently insatiable demand for these illegal drugs.”

The need for commitment of the U.S. government to do more in this effort was echoed by witnesses in the hearing.   Kibble stated, “Part of what fuels this violence in Mexico are the weapons and money South and we have to do more.”

While the U.S. government seeks to put into action policies to alleviate the issue of violence related to Mexican drug trafficking, there is positive news.  Anthony Placido, Assistant Administrator and Chief of Intelligence at the Drug Enforcement Administration, stated, “I’ve been closely following Mexico since about 1985 and what I can tell you in my view, the commitment and resolve of the Mexican government is unprecedented under this administration.  They are making great strides to improve the situation.”  He believes that part of the increase in violence is a sign of success, as cartels experience pressure they have never seen before, causing them to lash out against themselves and the government.

Senator Durbin references a Brookings Institute study which found 2000 guns travel from the United States into Mexico every day, fueling violence among drug cartels. He believes that additional measures must be taken to address the problem. (00:26)

 

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by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Today at a Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing titled “Money, Guns, and Drugs: Are the U.S. Inputs Fueling Violence on the U.S.-Mexico Border?”, Congressman Dan Burton (R-Ind.) stated that anybody that deals in drugs ought to be put in jail permanently or killed. (3:19)

 

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by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Today at a Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing Tom Diaz, the Senior Policy Analyst at the Violence Policy Center expressed how the United States should stop the drug and weapon trafficking with Mexico. (00:36)

 

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By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service

Eric Farnsworth, Vice-President for Council of Americas suggests Brazil and Mexico should be allowed to join the G8 at a Subcommittee meeting on the Western Hemisphere. February 4, 2009.

 

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“Mexico’s current political system is in turmoil,” said Aguayo Quesada, a professor at El Colegio de Mexico, as he began a discussion on the current state of Mexico’s politics.

Quesada outlined the challenges and problems Mexico faces, as well as some significant progress. Quesada was optimistic about the balance of power redistribution that Mexico’s internal government was
experiencing. He pointed out that the budget for the presidency had only increased marginally when compared to Mexico’s judicial and legislative branches. He said this was a clear indication that the
dominance that the president once held was now fading.

Quesada was critical of Mexican President Felipe Calderón’s decision to bar anyone from accessing the 2006 presidential ballots. In 2006, Calderón won the hotly contested election by a slim margin, and his
opposition accused him of voter fraud. Calderón and the PAN (Calderón’s party which is in control of Mexico’s legislature) have not truly embraced democracy yet, said Quesada.

Quesada was concerned about the growing difference in wealth distribution in Mexico. “Mexico has become a country of billionaires,” said Quesada. He pointed out that the number of billionaire families and individuals in Mexico have been decreasing for the past few decades, yet the wealth in each of those families have increased dramatically.

Quesada was also concerned about the growing power of drug cartels. His facts were startling: 40 percent of Mexico is now under control or under the influence of cartels, they compete against each other and with the government. 250,000 Mexican soldiers deserted last year, an
unknown number of them now work for cartels. Mexico has become a heavy consumer of drugs, not just a transporter to the United States, and corruption in the government is widespread. “Mexico has become a country of Mafias,” said Quesada, “no one represents citizens.”