Whatever one thinks of the migrants, the drug cartels and corruption are a root cause ..and America is complicit. The so called war on drugs, just say no and other silly ideas haven’t worked..look at legalizing and decriminalizing drug usage and possession in America...and stop endorsing corrupt regimes in South America
A striking opening sentence, and one might also fairly say that Mexico is an ongoing crime scene given the astonishing numbers of deaths and disappearances over the past 15 years, about equal to 5+ times American deaths in the Vietnam war. One can also point to the unending demand for illicit drugs within the U.S., nearly all of which cross the southern border; and underlying that, the perplexing unhappiness of Americans, per Google search - CNN 2/2022 American happiness hits record lows; Discover Mag. 2/2021 Why are Americans Getting Unhappier; Harvard U. 9/2022 Why are young people so miserable?; USA Today 6/2022 Covid leaves 4 in 10 people unhappy; CNBC 8/2022 Job unhappiness is at a staggering all-time high. No one has any idea how to alleviate this problem. And then there’s the 1951 Refugee Convention, now out of date, enacted at a time when the world population was less than one third of today’s number, and when we had never heard of global warming; suggesting that large movements of peoples will only increase. If the southern border is actually closed, a formidable task, what will happen? If the policy - that they should be refused at the border out of hand - went into effect, how many of those people will be able simply to turn around and start the long walk home? More likely they will stay put, on the Mexican side, with insufficient funds and energy to leave. If a swarm of 135,000 people is already there, this will soon constitute a humanitarian crisis, not of the United States’ making but for sure the accusatory eyes of the world will be fixed on us. I do not envy those charged with the responsibility of resolving this.
"1951... world population was less than one third of what it is now..." Gulp. In my lifetime, TRIPLED? During a time when we also developed the most effective, cheap and convenient birth control methods? And made abortion safe (if illegal again)?
Yes, all in a single lifetime, but now it seems populations are starting to shrink, as predicted: when people move off the land and into cities, then extra farmhands are no longer needed, women in particular become better educated which seems a key driver in decisions to have fewer children, children die less often but need expensive education, so populations shrink, e.g. Japan, S Korea, Russia, most European countries, and of course China due to its enforced one-child policy that has now inverted its population pyramid with disastrous consequences unfolding over the next several years. It's hard to fathom all this.
Excellent newsletter Diane. It makes me furious to see America suffer like this from asylum-seekers who are gaming the system. The Democrats better get serious about illegal immigration or they will be booted out of office. And Canada too must act. I remember when Stephen Harper was PM he introduced visa requirements for Mexico. Trudeau was indignant and dropped it as soon as he came into office. Now we see that open entry is being abused.
It really is sad to see such a wonderful country go down the toilet due to corruption. They could prosper significantly just on their 'climate' that attracts people like flies. Mexico is undeniably not a safe place - not sure how that can be turned around without a lot of bloodshed. Money rules the world.
Why is the "Nueva Generacion " cartel not on the map? Has there been a name change - it was alive and deadly when I was working in Guadalajara State a few years ago although the main base was apparently in Jalisco.
I can’t comment on the geopolitical aspects of your piece Dianne but you have misunderstood some aspects relating to the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. First the US is not a signatory (although it has ratified the 1967 Protocol and seemingly domestically legislated most elements of the 1951 Convention). Second, the international law obligation under the Convention is not to ‘refoule’ (return) genuine refugees to persecution. There is no right to a claim process. Obviously, however, signatories put in place process to ‘declare’ refugee status (or not) in accordance with the Convention’s definition of a ‘refugee’ in order that they not fail in their non-refoulement (and other substantive) obligation(s) to genuine refugees. Third, nothing in the 1951 Convention disqualifies protection because a refugee could have availed themselves of protection in a different country. Any ongoing availability of such protection may, however, affect their status as a refugee and may affect how the receiving country deals with them. Fourth Article 1F of the Convention excludes from protection those who have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, serious non political crimes, and acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the UN. Accordingly, all of the criminal and security threat elements you identify would appear to be excluded from coverage. The point to all this, is 1. folk having a tendency to ‘blame’ migration problems on the 1951 Convention, and bring it into disrepute accordingly, when, in reality, the real issues (and responses) lie elsewhere and 2. much of what you assert may be true but is most likely the application of US domestic law and does not derive from the 1951 Convention, to which the US is not a party. I would also disagree with your characterisation of the border as a crime scene and not a humanitarian crises. It is in fact the brazen face of international human trafficking and smuggling and modern day slavery. It is both a humanitarian crises AND a crime scene. Thank you for you articles which are on point and highly engaging.
trudeau does nothing because he wants the immigrant vote.....this is a game the liiberals have played for years...legalizing pot was not a brilliant move either ....police call this a gateway drug as users move on to more potent drugs .....drugs fuel crime.....this is lost on trudeau ....as is so much else
Excellent review Diane! Your assessment of dithering Trudeau government is bang on! Talk! Talk! But no Walk! Walk!
Whatever one thinks of the migrants, the drug cartels and corruption are a root cause ..and America is complicit. The so called war on drugs, just say no and other silly ideas haven’t worked..look at legalizing and decriminalizing drug usage and possession in America...and stop endorsing corrupt regimes in South America
A striking opening sentence, and one might also fairly say that Mexico is an ongoing crime scene given the astonishing numbers of deaths and disappearances over the past 15 years, about equal to 5+ times American deaths in the Vietnam war. One can also point to the unending demand for illicit drugs within the U.S., nearly all of which cross the southern border; and underlying that, the perplexing unhappiness of Americans, per Google search - CNN 2/2022 American happiness hits record lows; Discover Mag. 2/2021 Why are Americans Getting Unhappier; Harvard U. 9/2022 Why are young people so miserable?; USA Today 6/2022 Covid leaves 4 in 10 people unhappy; CNBC 8/2022 Job unhappiness is at a staggering all-time high. No one has any idea how to alleviate this problem. And then there’s the 1951 Refugee Convention, now out of date, enacted at a time when the world population was less than one third of today’s number, and when we had never heard of global warming; suggesting that large movements of peoples will only increase. If the southern border is actually closed, a formidable task, what will happen? If the policy - that they should be refused at the border out of hand - went into effect, how many of those people will be able simply to turn around and start the long walk home? More likely they will stay put, on the Mexican side, with insufficient funds and energy to leave. If a swarm of 135,000 people is already there, this will soon constitute a humanitarian crisis, not of the United States’ making but for sure the accusatory eyes of the world will be fixed on us. I do not envy those charged with the responsibility of resolving this.
"1951... world population was less than one third of what it is now..." Gulp. In my lifetime, TRIPLED? During a time when we also developed the most effective, cheap and convenient birth control methods? And made abortion safe (if illegal again)?
Yes, all in a single lifetime, but now it seems populations are starting to shrink, as predicted: when people move off the land and into cities, then extra farmhands are no longer needed, women in particular become better educated which seems a key driver in decisions to have fewer children, children die less often but need expensive education, so populations shrink, e.g. Japan, S Korea, Russia, most European countries, and of course China due to its enforced one-child policy that has now inverted its population pyramid with disastrous consequences unfolding over the next several years. It's hard to fathom all this.
Excellent newsletter Diane. It makes me furious to see America suffer like this from asylum-seekers who are gaming the system. The Democrats better get serious about illegal immigration or they will be booted out of office. And Canada too must act. I remember when Stephen Harper was PM he introduced visa requirements for Mexico. Trudeau was indignant and dropped it as soon as he came into office. Now we see that open entry is being abused.
Excellent.
It really is sad to see such a wonderful country go down the toilet due to corruption. They could prosper significantly just on their 'climate' that attracts people like flies. Mexico is undeniably not a safe place - not sure how that can be turned around without a lot of bloodshed. Money rules the world.
Why is the "Nueva Generacion " cartel not on the map? Has there been a name change - it was alive and deadly when I was working in Guadalajara State a few years ago although the main base was apparently in Jalisco.
They rebranded I guess
I can’t comment on the geopolitical aspects of your piece Dianne but you have misunderstood some aspects relating to the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. First the US is not a signatory (although it has ratified the 1967 Protocol and seemingly domestically legislated most elements of the 1951 Convention). Second, the international law obligation under the Convention is not to ‘refoule’ (return) genuine refugees to persecution. There is no right to a claim process. Obviously, however, signatories put in place process to ‘declare’ refugee status (or not) in accordance with the Convention’s definition of a ‘refugee’ in order that they not fail in their non-refoulement (and other substantive) obligation(s) to genuine refugees. Third, nothing in the 1951 Convention disqualifies protection because a refugee could have availed themselves of protection in a different country. Any ongoing availability of such protection may, however, affect their status as a refugee and may affect how the receiving country deals with them. Fourth Article 1F of the Convention excludes from protection those who have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, serious non political crimes, and acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the UN. Accordingly, all of the criminal and security threat elements you identify would appear to be excluded from coverage. The point to all this, is 1. folk having a tendency to ‘blame’ migration problems on the 1951 Convention, and bring it into disrepute accordingly, when, in reality, the real issues (and responses) lie elsewhere and 2. much of what you assert may be true but is most likely the application of US domestic law and does not derive from the 1951 Convention, to which the US is not a party. I would also disagree with your characterisation of the border as a crime scene and not a humanitarian crises. It is in fact the brazen face of international human trafficking and smuggling and modern day slavery. It is both a humanitarian crises AND a crime scene. Thank you for you articles which are on point and highly engaging.
trudeau does nothing because he wants the immigrant vote.....this is a game the liiberals have played for years...legalizing pot was not a brilliant move either ....police call this a gateway drug as users move on to more potent drugs .....drugs fuel crime.....this is lost on trudeau ....as is so much else
Thank you, excellent reporting. Why can't the US use the Canada, US and Mexico agreement as a bargaining chip? They must clean up their act or else.