In early May, I had the opportunity to cross the U.S.-Mexico border and visit Palomas, Mexico. This was my fourth border visit to either Palomas or Nogales and another chance to see what was happening in terms of economic issues, violence and immigration. Here are some observations.
Border enforcement: On Saturday morning, driving the 60 desolate miles from El Paso to Columbus, N.M., in order to cross over to Palomas, roughly half the cars I saw were Border Patrol. In fact, when I made a brief stop to take some photos, three Border Patrol cars suddenly came out of nowhere to check me out.
Given this intense surveillance, it’s hard to understand all this talk about the border being “porous” and a “sieve.”
The U.S. side: Columbus is where Pancho Villa invaded the United States in 1916. Given the extraordinary poverty of this whole area, it’s hard to know what he had in mind.
When I arrived, I saw a huge line of old cars and trucks. It turned out that some 250 people were waiting for a food delivery by a non-profit from Las Cruces called Character Kids. Fifty-seven percent of the population is below the poverty level, and median family income is only $14,318 per year, according to the 2000 census. It’s shocking that such poverty and lack of opportunity exist in America.
Palomas: Like many Mexican border towns, Palomas is hot, dusty, ugly and totally without any kind of productive industry or agriculture. A year ago, it was full of young soldiers with machine guns who looked both scary and scared. Despite their presence back then, I was told that some 200 people were either murdered or had just disappeared in 2009.
In addition, many people have left because of the violence, although no one had any idea where they might have gone. That fear is understandable; I certainly feel it when I’m in either Palomas or Nogales.
For those who remain, one bright spot is a foster home called La Casa de Amor Para Niños that was started 11 years ago by a coalition of Christian churches from Santa Fe, Deming and Silver City, New Mexico. Not only do volunteers from these churches provide the ongoing funding for the program but they also visit the second weekend of every month, bringing food and other supplies not only for La Casa but also for other impoverished residents of Palomas.
Mexico’s role: While Mexico’s president, Felipe Calderon, was traveling to Washington to meet with President Obama, these volunteers from New Mexico were trying to get their supplies through Mexican customs to La Casa. Despite the fact that they have been making this trip every month for 11 years, they still experience delays, hassles and bribery attempts.
Calderon is honest and well-intentioned, and I share his opposition to the new Arizona immigration law, but if his government can’t even perform simple tasks like maintaining an honest and efficient customs program or facilitating the delivery of food to its impoverished citizens, there is no way it can overcome the growing level of drug-related violence.
Conclusions: Of course, it’s wrong for people to cross the border illegally, but those numbers have dropped from 1.1 million apprehensions in fiscal year 2006 to 556,000 in 2009. And the Border Patrol presence that I saw was overwhelming. Isn’t the real problem, therefore, the wave of narco-related violence that appears to be out of control in Mexico and is now making its inevitable move into the United States rather than Mexicans coming across the border in search of work?
In Colorado, there is much to do. Implement the recommendations of the University of Denver’s excellent recent study on immigration. Generate leadership from Colorado’s business community on worker issues. Use Denver’s upcoming Biennial of the Americas to build real ties with Mexico and Latin America. Continue to show that marijuana usage can be effectively regulated because marijuana comprises about 50 percent of the drugs crossing the border and is, therefore, a big part of the drug-related violence. Eventual legalization could substantially cut down on that violence.
Yes, there are legitimate border issues, but we need to push aside the fear and hysteria and find rational solutions. It’s time for problem solvers, not ideologues.
Morgan Smith (morgan-smith@comcast.net) served in the Colorado House of Representatives and as the state commissioner of agriculture, and was director of the Colorado International Trade Office.
