Violence on the U.S./Mexico border continues to escalate as Mexican cartels and drug-trafficking organizations fight for control of smuggling routes. Throughout the last 5-to-8 years, many tactics have been employed on the border with no real long-term effects. One of the reasons for the lack of success, in my opinion, is the lack of stability and continuity. The government can’t continue to employ a tactic and then within 2-to-4 months, abandon the idea.
One of the more recent controversial tactics was the deployment of National Guard troops on the border. The National Guard was requested by many small towns in Texas and Arizona that are dealing with this “hidden” issue on a daily basis. Many of the police chiefs and mayors all but begged the Federal Government for help. National Guard troops were then sent to the border.
However, early this year those troops were slowly pulled from the border because the Federal Government stated “it has hurt recruiting efforts for the National Guard and threatened to strain diplomatic relations with Mexico,” according to this news article. Now, I would ask each of you reading this blog to comment on this statement [scroll all the way to the bottom of the page]:
Are recruiting efforts for the National Guard and our diplomatic relations so important that it overshadows our national security?
Below are some statics that were captured during the guard deployment on the border, these statics were a result of approximately 1,200 National Guard troops.
National Guard troops helped apprehend 17,887 illegal immigrants and seize 56,342 pounds of marijuana, which was 5.9% of all apprehensions and 2.6% of marijuana seizures during that time.
The State Department followed up by stating: “Further use of National Guard troops could create a perception of a militarized U.S. border with Mexico.”
If the government of Mexico can’t understand we are “militarizing” our border against the cartels and drug trafficking organizations NOT against the Mexican government, then that’s just “too bad!” We have an obligation to protect our national security and the U.S. citizens living on the border. Texas law enforcement has deployed armed gun boats in areas where the border is covered by water. I’m not sure what the difference is between a Texas Police gun boat and a National Guard gun boat, other than mere perception.
Not only has the violence affected U.S. citizens, but the extreme cost of fighting this “unknown war” has caused many of the smaller municipal governments to go bankrupt and close down. Is this really the answer, to continue letting villages and towns die as they try to combat these known threats? What is the solution? I would enjoy your comments and thoughts on this subject.
Be sure to stay tuned. I will be adding to this blog, frequently posting news articles as incidents occur along the border as well as responses from the federal government.
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