"Our insatiable demand for drugs fuels the illegal drug trade," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Mexican officials on Thursday during a visit to Mexico City, where she announced that the United States will dispatch 500 more federal agents to the border.
Meanwhile, the governors of Arizona and Texas were considering whether to mobilize the National Guard to combat violent Mexican drug cartels.
In a related development, high-ranking Nevada law enforcement officers recently confirmed what I've long suspected " namely, an ominous connection between Mexican drug cartels and illegal immigration in our state.
This comes at a time when some politicians are once again raising the specter of "comprehensive immigration reform" (i.e. amnesty).
Public Safety Department Investigations Chief Scott Jackson told state lawmakers that Gov. Jim Gibbons' proposed budget cuts would hinder the state's ability to crack down on drug trafficking and other criminal activity involving illegal immigrants, among others.
Jackson said his agents have already confronted armed Mexican drug cartel members in Carson City and Winnemucca. In Carson City this means Eastside Toker gang-bangers, many of whom are illegals.
And while state and local police battle armed drug traffickers, we read well-intentioned human interest stories about "undocumented residents" who only want to work and study in order to improve their lot in life.
Although I understand their desire to improve themselves, they should accomplish their laudable goals by complying with our immigration laws and learning English. That's the American Way.
Most illegal immigrants may well be fine, hard-working people who merely want to provide for their rapidly expanding families here and back home. Nevertheless, too many others are here for the wrong reasons " to engage in drug trafficking and other criminal activities that endanger the lives of law-abiding citizens.
Investigations Chief Jackson told a joint budget subcommittee that his department would lose nine positions if the governor's proposed budget cuts are approved. His department intends to apply for $2.5 million in federal economic stimulus funds in order to save these positions, but that won't happen unless the state also contributes to the funding.
"This (drug trafficking) is the greatest threat we face in this state," said Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, as he argued for additional funding for the "cow counties," where drug traffickers are growing marijuana and operating meth labs. "They need a little water and a lot of privacy," he added, "and that's what Nevada has to offer."
I hope his fellow lawmakers were listening rather than trying to ignore a serious law enforcement problem.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reports that "(Mexican) narcotics traffickers are acquiring firepower more appropriate to an army - including grenade launchers and anti-tank rockets - and the police are feeling outgunned" as border security continues to deteriorate.
Indeed, some Mexico-watchers now refer to Ciudad Juarez, across the river from El Paso, Texas, as "Baghdad on the Border." There were some 1,600 drug-related murders in Ciudad Juarez last year and more than 6,000 throughout Mexico.
Most of the weapons the drug cartels use to kill rivals and innocent civilians come from the United States, where gun laws are less restrictive. Earlier this month a prominent Arizona gun shop owner went on trial in Phoenix for selling at least 650 weapons, including AK-47 assault rifles, to "straw buyers" who passed the weapons along to drug cartel enforcers.
Former Drug Czar John Walters recently warned about weapons and drug trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border and called on Congress to fully fund the $1.4 billion Merida Plan to help Mexico combat the drug cartels.
"When Congress is recklessly stimulating and earmarking billions, slashing funding for our national security is grossly irresponsible," he wrote. Walters also reiterated his opposition to drug legalization, saying that it would strengthen the cartels and interfere with Mexico's tough anti-drug efforts.
Walters is right and I urge Congress to approve the Merida Plan without further delay.
- Guy W. Farmer, of Carson City, worked on a variety of anti-drug programs during his U.S. Foreign Service career.