The Economist - January 29th, 2005

Letters
Jan 27th 2005
From Economist.com
The Economist, 25 St James's Street, London SW1A 1HG
FAX: 020 7839 2968 E-MAIL: letters@economist.com
Border issues
SIR – Mexico and the United States share the most dynamic border in the world (“Dangerous
desert, breached border”, January 8th). Over the past two years, both governments have reached
an unprecedented level of co-operation on border issues. In 2002, a border alliance was put in
place in order to achieve an appropriate balance between shared security concerns and the
efficient flow of goods and people. Today, there are more and better controls over what happens
on the border.
As you mention, smuggler organisations pose a threat to societies on both sides. Conscious of this,
the Mexican government has acted firmly to contain and eradicate this problem. During the past
year alone, 120 smuggler organisations were dismantled and 1,140 criminals were apprehended.
Contrary to what your unnamed sources said, Mexico and the United States have developed a
successful strategy against all criminal organisations on the border and this has been publicly
recognised by the United States' authorities. Border security is vitally important for both countries.
The Mexican government is committed to ensuring that migration into the United States is legal,
safe, orderly and respects fundamental rights.
Gerónimo Gutiérrez Fernández
Under-secretary for
North America
Mexico City
SIR – You note that “smuggling gangs could serve as a conduit for terrorists”. Each month,
literally hundreds of illegal immigrants are apprehended near Fort Huachuca, the United States
Army's centre for intelligence training and communication-systems design. Terrorists potentially
have an open gate to a facility that is key to our national defence. To us local citizens witnessing
all these invaders, “homeland security” is a farce and a delusion.
Charles Eldon
Sierra Vista, Arizona
SIR – A simple way to reduce illegal migration would be to enforce existing laws against employing
undocumented workers. The cost of policing would then shift from taxpayers to fines on
employers. This would quickly deplete the supply of jobs and stem the flow of migrants. The
current de facto policy in effect provides government subsidies in the form of tax and Social
Security payment waivers to industries employing millions of illegals.
Matthias Blume