Commentary by Matthew Casey

On the Border with Mexico, KFOXTV.com reporter Angeeneh Adamain reports on the cartel violence in Juarez, Chihuahua which sits directly across the border from El Paso, Texas. She writes, “Those protecting our borders tell KFOX while the violence in Juarez is tragic, it is contained. ‘It is not spilling over, but we realize the fact that bullets don’t know boundaries. We do have communication with government. It is business as usual. Our agents are always vigilant. Right now the level of violence does concern us across the border and it keeps everyone on their toes,’ said Ramiro Cordero, a spokesman for CBP Border Patrol El Paso Sector.”

Oh well that is good news. At least the violence Adamain describes as the “bloodiest weekend in Juarez history” is “contained” on the other side of the Rio Grande. What an outrage! Two of the largest domestic problems in the United States, drug use and immigration, can be attributed to the existence of the cartels in Mexico. Yet, when they essentially take over the largest city on the border, which combined with El Paso provides more manufacturing jobs than Detroit, MI, “it is business as usual?”

The military power and political influence of the cartels are also key variables in the equation that brings “illegal” or “undocumented” immigrants to the United States from Mexico. Young Mexicans contemplating their bleak future basically have three options: Work in a Maquiladora and live in extreme poverty, join the cartel and embark on a life of crime, or “break in” to the United States.

Anti-illegal immigrant organizations often ask why immigrants do not return to their own country and work to make it a better place….. To these folks, I ask, if you were a Mexican citizen, would you walk into Juarez City Hall demanding political and economic reform? No doubt that if you are brave enough to do so, you would not live to tell anyone about it.

Mexico must eradicate these cartels in order to become economically and politically strong enough to provide better opportunities to its citizens who choose to leave home for the United States. We, in turn, must play a central role in the eradication effort. After all, for 40 years, the United States has spent massive amounts of money on the “War on Drugs.” If the cartels are allowed to stay in business, we will never see a return on our investment.

So, instead of declaring a situation where innocent people are being murdered in the streets “contained” maybe it is time to tell Mexican President Felipe Calderon to “put up or shut up.” Maybe it is time to stop trying to thwart these organizations efforts with an overmatched and under funded police force. And, maybe it is time to dispatch Black Hawk Helicopters to the border with a mission of taking out the warring cartels. After all, if we do not do something soon, it will certainly be “business as usual” on the border where countless numbers of immigrants will continue to stream across.

What do you think? Post a comment, join the discussion and let your voice be heard!