Illegal Aliens Running for Their Lives and American Drug Appetites

     The books I've read recently regarding drug cartels, illegal aliens, and sex trafficking have widened my view of what is happening along the southern border of the United States that we share with Mexico. It is a large and troublesome problem. In my opinion, throwing money at it or granting "amnesty" or burning a few fields of marijuana growing in remote sections of Mexico will not even begin to solve the problem. The problem is multi-factorial.

      The popular idea of who is crossing the border illegally is a poor Mexican-- with or without a pregnant wife-- looking for farm work in Texas, Arizona, California, or perhaps Florida. Poor Mexicans who are desperate for work and wages and crossing the border illegally does not even begin to cover what is happening. Yes there are poor Mexicans doing that. But there are also Mexicans and Central Americans who get on the migrant route and attempt to cross the border illegally because they have been threatened with death by members of their local drug cartel. And there is an increasing number of people from India using the migrant trails leading up through Mexico.

     Illegal aliens pay coyotes to bring them across the border. Even so, some of the aliens die when they are scraped off of train roofs or when "criminals" shake down the illegals for their money while on the trains. Some coyotes talk or force their group of illegals into being drug mules, others hike up "what is owed" and then sell their illegals into slavery, still others kill them. And then there are the drug cartels and gang members who have certain economic stakes into the drug trade and other underground businesses being conducted in the United States. The cartels and gangs [and some percentage of coyotes] form a cross-section of individuals and groups which are prone to violence wherever they are found.

     Central American cartels have become increasingly creative when it comes to getting drugs across the border. Subs are being built in the jungles and then used to transport cocaine and other drugs that United States citizens are enamored with. Legalizing the growth and use of marijuana would take some profit away from the cartels but it would not solve the whole problem.  Americans still like cocaine, MDMA, and other drugs and are willing to pay for them. How many users of Mexican tar heroin, for example, think to themselves that they ought to switch their drug of choice because of cartel violence? I'm pretty sure that the answer is close to zero.

     I am in favor of the legalization of marijuana and for laws that permit users to grow their own pot plants. I remain against any form of amnesty for illegal aliens. My grands came over here legally from their countries of origins, learned to speak English, and were delighted to be able to work in America. They were proud to become Americans. Illegals come over here and tax the Medicare system, take jobs from citizens [even in Chicago, people complained that the illegals were taking well-paying construction jobs away from them, personal trip 2007], and produce babies which we must render aid and assistance to. 

     I'm sorry that there is so much poverty and violence in Mexico. I think it is horrid that the Mexican economy-- one that we suppose depends upon tourism-- would fold if it were not for the drug money and money sent back to Mexico from illegals working here. This should not be our problem. I am horrified that the cartels and foreign gangs are making their presence felt in American cities. I cringe when I read that the best that ICE agents can hope for is a modicum of control at the wall separating Mexico from El Norte. I don't like the idea that illegal aliens from India as well as Pakistan and other places are using the 3000 mile border with Mexico as a hopping over point.

     I don't know how we can work on educating the American public about what their use of hard drugs is delivering to the cartels in terms of profit and why they should care. I don't know what to do about illegals who come here and take advantage of Sanctuary Cities that exist here, get identity cards and drivers' licenses from states that allow that, receive tuition grants from states that allow that. I'm pretty sure that any proposed "amnesty" for illegal aliens will not fix this. 

     For every illegal that is of Mexican or Central American origin who is here to escape violence threatened by the cartels, how many illegals who used the Mexican border as their entry points are here who have connections with extremist Islamic groups? And how many illegals cross over the Canadian border? How many enter via our airports or boat docks?

     We have immigration laws on the books. Why aren't we enforcing them in a uniform manner? There should be no exceptions. If you are being persecuted by cartels, then apply for asylum either here or in some other country. If you want to work here, there are legal channels to go through. And please learn English. 

     Please do not hold up a sign in Phoenix Arizona stating that Texas is actually a part of Mexico. That battle was lost by your government. Please do not talk about what we "owe" you. No one owes anyone a living. You are not entitled to a silver spoon or to happiness because you came over here illegally. Sneaking through a tunnel from Mexico to Texas makes you a criminal. Swimming across the Rio Brave or the Rio Grande makes you a criminal. Hiding in a car or truck makes you a criminal. You are committing a criminal act.

     We have an overflow of Americans who feel entitled as it is. Americans who think that the government owes them. Americans who are not willing to work for what they want. Americans who resent us for having a thing that calls itself a car in our driveway. Americans who believe that because I have five radios, I ought to give away four of them. We do not need any more people here who feel entitled. And we certainly do not need any more terrorists here.

     To those who are here legally, determined to create a honest living, I salute you. To the rest of you, I think you should go away. We are not responsible for solving your problems. 

     Anything that is worth having is worth working for.

radical sapphoq