Example Of Stopping Illegal Immigration AND Drug Trafficking Into The United States Essay

Illegal immigration and drug trafficking are currently two of the most pervasive problems in the United States. These ongoing issues primarily come from two main causes: the lure of opportunity, and the commonly known perception of the U.S. as one of the greatest consumer nations in the global community.
The United States is commonly known as the ‘land of opportunity’, which understandably acts as a lure for illegal immigrants to leave poor home countries and try their hand at the possibility for greater opportunities in the U.S. Many immigrants travel to the United States with the intention of building better lives, and following the glamorous dream laid out before them in such popular works as West Side Story or the Godfather Part II. These works and many like them detail a new life in America, away from the harsh realities of many immigrants’ countries of origin.
Although illegal immigration and drug trafficking have some coinciding causes and results, discussing both subjects together does not do either one justice. Yet, one of the common features that is very relevant is that of a ‘cartel’. A cartel is a small (or medium) group of individuals and usually suppliers – of both immigrants and drugs – who run the booming market in both industries. These groups collude with one another to maximize profit, given the limited supply of services and goods each provides. They dictate price and conditions of supply. As such, they are usually above socio-economic market changes. In short, they prey upon the weak.
The implication of a colluding cartel in two widely varying issues is straightforward: defeating both is, and will continue to be, difficult, if these cartels persist. Dealing with these pervasive networks protected by many individuals in order to completely eradicate the problems means that every facet of this network must be prosecuted. However, barring the cartel issue, it is vital to examine each problem, of its own accord.
Illegal immigrants to the United States come from around the globe, but mainly from Central or Latin America, due to the promises of potential prosperity, happiness, and wealth. However, the problem with these immigrants is not just the increase in numbers, but the issue of repetitive criminal offenses. Individuals who have already been charged and deported with illegal entry cases continually return and commit the same crime, in hopes of eventually gaining entry into the country. In fact, according to FoxNews, in the years 2008 to 2011, there were a total of 26,000 out of 160,000 immigrants that were re-arrested for the same crimes (Gemma, n.d). This shows that the issues confronting U.S. immigration are not just people trafficking, but also an increased likelihood of crime in areas with a significant immigrant population.
One of the most notorious cases of illegal immigration is that of the ‘Snakehead Queen’. The Snakehead Queen is an illegal immigrant who started her own human smuggling business a few years after she entered into the United States. After being arrested for human smuggling, she began working as an informant for the U.S. government. However, at the same time she was assisting the U.S. government, she was continuing her human smuggling business at the time, as well. Eventually, this notorious criminal was captured in 2003, with the help of Hong Kong officials, when she tried to hide in their country (FBI.gov, 2006). Obviously, human smuggling and illegal immigration may come from outside the U.S., but in some cases – as with the ‘Snakehead Queen’ – it is a problem that may inadvertently come within, as well. It is clear that disrupting this practice is no longer solely a responsibility of those guarding the border.
Conversely however, drug trafficking mostly occurs around from the Southwest border of the U.S. The El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) drug seizure data showed that most of the foreign-source marijuana, cocaine, Mexican-source heroin, and methamphetamine available in the U.S. are smuggled into the country across the Southwest border, because it has a huge volume of goods and people crossing every day (Perkins & Placido, 2010).
In particular, drug smuggling is extremely difficult to stop, because the substances being smuggle are so highly addictive. These substances are in very high demand, because people literally crave it. With such a constant demand comes constant income, which is the main driving force in the strength of this industry. Because there is a great deal of much money to bribe and manipulate authorities into permitting the smuggling of these goods, the issue continues to be a pervasive problem. Although the situation might seem virtually hopeless, the government is taking measures to address this issue by working with the Mexican government into defeating the different syndicates smuggling these drugs. Fortunately, from 2007 to 2009 there has been a 72 percent increase in the price of cocaine. (Gemma). Although it seems this price increase is merely inflation, it is truly an indicator of the effectiveness of a joint effort by two governments to permanently stop drug smuggling.
Illegal immigration and drug trafficking are prevalent because they are both supported by a network that is maintained by various individuals. Because these individuals are part of a vast network located in an underground community, it is nearly impossible to identify the actual extent of the network, both geographically and population. Regardless, the answer is clear that with both issues, there is an ongoing need for extensive government intervention in all involved countries.
Although the United States is most affected, all involved countries’ governments must increase their efforts to subdue and contain these costly issues. Once the governments combine their efforts and stop these two insidious issues at their sources, the respective countries might have a more realistic chance at providing better jobs and opportunities for their own citizens, without the need to travel so far and under such dangerous conditions to get to the United States.

References

FBI.gov. (2006). The case of the snakehead queen. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2006/march/sisterping_031706 on 02 April 2015
Gemma, P. (n.d). Illegal alien crime and violence by the numbers: We’re all victims. Retrieved from http://www.constitutionparty.com/illegal-alien-crime-and-violence-by-the-numbers-were-all-victims/#_ftn1.
Perkins, K., & Placido, L. (2010). U.S. senate caucus on international narcotics control Washington, D.C. Testimony. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/news/testimony/drug-trafficking-violence-in-mexico-implications-for-the-united-states on