By Kate Schneider
Mexico City - Mexico and the United States (click here) have signed three accords to improve bilateral customs procedures and expedite the flow of agricultural produce across their almost 2,000-mile (3,220-km)border, the two governments said on Monday.
In a joint news conference with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Mexico’s Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said the first agreement aimed to promote joint cooperation to stop illegal merchandise crossing the border.......
...Border security needs to be ramped up to halt the illicit flow of arms, Mexico’s Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete said in a subsequent joint news conference with Nielsen.
“There needs to be much more caution taken... to reduce gradually but conclusively the high levels of violence when arms enter Mexico illegally,” Navarrete added.
The neighboring nations also need to share the responsibility of attending to refugee and asylum cases, he said....
It is good to see high level talks with Mexico by the USA. Last year the deaths to crossings ratio was exceptionally high. If the deaths are related to drug cartel crossings which might be consistent year after year, the increase may be understandable. But, if these deaths are due to immigrants crossing, it is alarming.
At least four people died trying to cross the River Grande in July.
More people have died crossing the border from Mexico to the US (click here) in the first seven months of 2017 compared to the year before, even though significantly fewer people seem to be attempting the journey, according to the United Nation’s migration agency.
The number of migrant deaths tallied at the border jumped 17% from 204 in the first seven months of 2016 to 232 migrant fatalities in 2017, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.
Meanwhile, the US Border Patrol has reported that about half as many migrants were apprehended during border crossings in the first six months of 2016 compared to the first six months of 2017 – down from 267,746 people to 140,024 people.
Adam Isacson, senior associate for defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America, said the increase was shocking because of the drop in apprehensions, which indicate fewer people migrating overall. “The ratio to people dying to people trying has to be way higher than 17%,” Isacson told the Guardian....
The problems experienced in Mexico have to be solved. Crime rates are up and the tourist industry, which sustained Mexico for decades or more no longer is an attractive answer for many.
Recently, there was an American family of four found dead in their rental vacation home by what authorities believe was a gas leak. (click here)
But, the increased violence in Mexico due to organized crime accompanied by sincere poverty needs to be as much a concern for the USA as the Mexican leaders. If nothing is done to stem violence and the spread of crime, it will visit the US soon.
..."We've been told (click here) that local politicians here have put the press under pressure not to report violence in this area, because if the tourists are scared away from here, it will be an economic disaster not only for Cancun, but for Mexico."
Even when a well-known police commander, his wife and baby nephew were shot dead, in a separate incident during Dateline's visit, nobody was arrested.
'THE PROBLEM IS SPREADING'
There are fears that Cancun is on the brink of ruin and could face a similar demise as that of Acapulco, which was once one of the world's most glamorous locations but is now Mexico's murder capital.
Guru-Murthy also visited Acapulco, and just five minutes after landing was notified of a nearby crime scene with four bodies — including children.
Another night during his stay, he heard gunshots; a taxi driver had been murdered on the street outside.
Investigators in Acapulco are totally overwhelmed, often visiting 10 murder scenes a day.
Troops patrol the city's streets and beaches, extortion and murder are rife and many businesses have been forced to close. There are no foreign tourists in sight, it's simply too dangerous here....
