A Failed State?

Perhaps the primary responsibility a government has is to protect its citizens. If a government is incapable of performing this most basic function, then arguably it is a failed state. Which brings us to Mexico.

The drug cartels are now burning out Mexican citizens - torching entire towns - to strengthen their grasp on lucrative drug smuggling corridors leading to the U.S. Not only is the Mexican government incapable of protecting its citizens from the cartel scum, it doesn't even try to stem the flood of illegal immigrants from Mexico to the U.S. In fact, the Mexican side of the border economy depends on the flow of drugs and people heading across the border.

"Before arriving at La Sierrita, a migrant looking to cross this section of the border must pass through Altar, also in Sonora state. Once a sleepy agricultural outpost, Altar has reorganized its economy around human smuggling. Rows of stores sell backpacks, canned goods and electrolyte-infused soft drinks, while headhunters slip up behind the shoppers, whispering that they can arrange for a competent guide and a safe journey into the U.S."[link here]

So what can be done to help protect the border. Well, basic economics is a good place to start. Increase the risks, or decrease the rewards, and illegal activities will decline. In Mexico's case, however, this is being done by the cartels, not the government.

"Arrests in the Tucson border area were down by nearly a third between October and April, according to U.S. border officials. The Mexican government reports a 25% dip in its emigration rate. The recession is largely to blame, but analysts in the U.S. say the lack of jobs offers an incomplete explanation for why immigration in the region is apparently dropping. Mexico's drug cartels have become a more formidable presence here, taxing the coyotes and threatening their human cargo as they make their way to the border." [same link]

In fact, the cartels are now muscling in on the coyotes, expanding their smuggling operations to include humans as well as drugs.

"As drug smuggling groups find their profits pinched by tighter border enforcement, they have moved into human smuggling, according to U.S. law enforcement officials. And with good reason: The average migrant pays about $1,300 to $1,800 to be smuggled past the bolstered Border Patrol as well as fences, surveillance towers and other new security measures. What once was a wildcat operation with marginal profits has become big business." [one more time]

Indeed, the smuggling business has evolved into kidnapping. Phoenix, AZ, my wife's home town, has become the kidnapping capital of the country. I'm not sure how much attention our federales pay to this, since it's mainly illegal immigrants who are affected.

"Over the last several years, immigrant and drug smugglers have snatched their rivals, associates or their family members as a way to collect unpaid debt for lost trafficking loads, make quick money from crews flush with cash or as retaliation for earlier abductions.

Ransoms range from $30,000 to $1 million and sometimes include demands for large drug loads.

A few kidnapping victims are killed, and others face a range of abuse, such as having their legs burned with clothing irons, their arms tied to the ceiling or their fingers broken with bricks."

In the absence of any U.S. federal action, Arizona officials have decided enough is enough.

"Arizona lawmakers passed a controversial immigration bill on Monday requiring police in the state that borders Mexico to determine if people are in the United States illegally...

The law requires state and local police to determine the status of people if there is "reasonable suspicion" that they are illegal immigrants and to arrest people who are unable to provide documentation proving they are in the country legally."

Bottom line - economic forces are driving both illegal drugs and illegal immigrants from Mexico to the U.S. Mexico can't do anything to rein in the cartels. The U.S. federal government is unwilling to take the necessary steps to protect the border. It's ironic that the two entities taking steps to discourage illegal immigration are the Mexican drug cartels and the Arizona state government.

Since both countries lack the political will to do anything about this, at least at the national level, we must turn to economic countermeasures - increase the cost, and decrease the rewards. Some modest suggestions:

• more physical barriers, at least along heavily traveled smuggling roues
• greater law enforcement presence
• increased surveillance - aerial drones, ground sensors, etc.
• prison time instead of deportation for illegals
• serious punishment for businesses that hire illegal aliens
• elimination of the "anchor baby" citizenship provision

And what about amnesty, you ask? I'll address that in depth at some point in the future, but for now you'll just have to settle for this:

"According to this new bill that's tied up in the Senate, illegal immigrants who can prove they've been here for two years would be allowed to stay. So follow the logic here. If you can prove you broke the current law for two years, you've protected under the new law." --Jay Leno

Update: Will other states follow Arizona's lead in taking action against illegal immigrants? Stay tuned...