Smith: Controlling the Border

You can’t blame Mexico’s newly elected President, Claudia Sheinbaum for struggling to avoid Donald Trump’s 25 percent tariff. This tariff would devastate Mexico’s economy as well as driving up costs for us Americans. But 10,000 soldiers? Is this the answer?

The concern is legitimate. We have to stem the flow of drugs into the US. But the vast majority come in large trucks that are crossing through our ports of entry, not via migrants. Members of Congress like Gabe Vasquez in New Mexico’s Second District and Xochitl Torres Small before him ( 2019–2021) have advocated for technology that could screen these trucks quickly enough so that there wouldn’t be enormous and costly delays. Two billion dollars for this technology was included in the Senate bill that Trump had killed last summer. I assume that Congress will quickly reintroduce this bill; time is of the essence.

As for using the Mexican military, that has been tried with little success. Two problems. First, the military checkpoints have been fixed in place so that, if you are a smuggler, you find an alternative route.

Second, for several years, Sheinbaum’s predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) had soldiers posted in places like the boundary between Anapra, Mexico and Sunland Park, New Mexico. I had the opportunity to speak with them many times and they always assured me that no migrants were getting across the boundary into the United States. At the same time, US Border Patrol agents on the US would tell me that the Mexican soldiers did a great job during daytime but 50-100 migrants would cross the wall in that area at night.

The Mexican soldiers are now there sporadically but they have failed. This small Anapra community has changed from an area for impoverished families to a cartel hideout.

A Mexican soldier at Anapra border wall, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juárez. (Photo: Morgan Smith)

What could work besides the large truck technology?

More Border Patrol agents. This is a far better solution than either Mexican or US soldiers and I’m sure that the Congress will soon appropriate the necessary funds. There is a timing issue; some 50% of current agents will be eligible for retirement in the next four years. There is also a testing issue – the oppressive lie detector tests that screen out too many good applicants.

More technology, especially surveillance towers. Border Patrol agents claim that the new towers in the area south of Marfa have dramatically reduced the number of illegal crossings. More towers are being installed in the Sunland Park area.

A functioning judicial system in Mexico. The Attorney General Alliance has an excellent training program for Mexican prosecutors but it is just a drop in the bucket.

A migrant from Ecuador hands over his documents to Border Patrol agents. (Photo: Morgan Smith)

On a positive note, I crossed the border at Santa Teresa on January 31 and two US agents stopped me and asked if I had weapons in the car. This is the first time that has happened in hundreds of crossings and maybe a sign that we’re getting serious about stopping the flow of weapons into Mexico. After all, why are Mexican cartels so powerful? Because they get weapons from us. Sheinbaum raised this issue in her response to Trump. She also raised the issue of our voracious thirst for drugs. That is something we have to deal with, not Mexico.

Sheinbaum has also suggested the creation of a joint task force to work on these issues during this thirty day grace period. There are simple answers both countries can agree on.

The drug problem is bi-national and there are responsibilities on both sides, Cooperation is needed, not blunt force.

A coyote crosses the border wall at Sunland Park. (Photo: Morgan Smith)

Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by New Mexico-based writer Morgan Smith. Smith travels to the border at least monthly to document conditions there and can be reached at Morgan-smith@comcast.net.

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