Drugs: Why California's Prop 19 Has Latin America Irked - TIME: " (Former Columbian President, Cesar) Gaviria told TIME, 'U.S. drug policy has failed. So please, change it. Don't force us to sacrifice thousands of lives for a strategy that doesn't work simply because American politicians lack the courage to change course.'
But, while lawmakers from Mexico to Argentina to Portugal are passing more permissive drug laws, the subject remains taboo in the U.S. Congress." Oct. 31, 2010
The MexicoBlog of the CIP Americas Program monitors and analyzes international press on Mexico with a focus on the US-backed War on Drugs in Mexico and the struggle in Mexico to strengthen the rule of law, justice and protection of human rights. Relevant political developments in both countries are also covered.
Nov 1, 2010
Legalization: 5 Expert Takes on How U.S. Marijuana Legalization Would Affect Mexico - The Atlantic
It's remarkable - and sad - that not one of five "experts" will talk about drug legalization in any more than an oblique way.
Whack-a-mole: The Drug War: Towards a 'Plan Central America'
Since the U.S.'s "whack-a-mole" strategy has worked so well in Columbia and Mexico, now it's expanding it throughout Central America!
The Drug War: Towards a 'Plan Central America' | North American Congress on Latin America: "On September 17 President Barack Obama named five Central American nations as major hubs for drug transportation from South America. All five of these countries have been a part of the so-called Merida Initiative, the U.S. anti-drug aid package to the region since 2008. Though the bulk of the Merida Initiative’s military, police, and technical aid go to Mexico, $248 million has been allocated thus far to Central America to be used for counter-narcotic technology and training.
Obama’s announcement confirms this expansion of the U.S. drug war into Central America, an area in which Washington has historically wielded tremendous power. Critics say that U.S. intentions may follow a broader geopolitical strategy, one that includes the arrival of U.S. troops into some parts of the region." Oct. 28, 2010
The Drug War: Towards a 'Plan Central America' | North American Congress on Latin America: "On September 17 President Barack Obama named five Central American nations as major hubs for drug transportation from South America. All five of these countries have been a part of the so-called Merida Initiative, the U.S. anti-drug aid package to the region since 2008. Though the bulk of the Merida Initiative’s military, police, and technical aid go to Mexico, $248 million has been allocated thus far to Central America to be used for counter-narcotic technology and training.
Obama’s announcement confirms this expansion of the U.S. drug war into Central America, an area in which Washington has historically wielded tremendous power. Critics say that U.S. intentions may follow a broader geopolitical strategy, one that includes the arrival of U.S. troops into some parts of the region." Oct. 28, 2010
Viva Mexico!: An Insider's Guide to Mexico City: Magnifico Chaos - WSJ.com
A different perspective: the pleasures of Mexico City
Whack-a-mole: ATF May Hurt Its Efforts by Withholding Key Data on U.S. Firearms into Mexico - Mexico Institute
Since the AFT has been doing such a good job (see Department of Justice inspector general's report) "whacking moles," it isn't going to talk about it any more!
ATF May Hurt Its Efforts by Withholding Key Data on U.S. Firearms into Mexico - Mexico Institute: "In a couple of interviews with journalists earlier this month, the Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Kenneth Melson, said he would not release data on the total percent of U.S.-origin firearms recovered in Mexico in the last few years.
According to the Washington Post, Melson said “Let me tell you we are not going to be using percentages like that anymore, because these percentages have been misused, misinterpreted, for political agendas on both sides of the gun issue.” Unfortunately, by withholding this key data, ATF may hurt its efforts to tackle U.S. firearms trafficking to Mexico." Nov. 1, 2010, Mexico Institute
ATF May Hurt Its Efforts by Withholding Key Data on U.S. Firearms into Mexico - Mexico Institute: "In a couple of interviews with journalists earlier this month, the Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Kenneth Melson, said he would not release data on the total percent of U.S.-origin firearms recovered in Mexico in the last few years.
According to the Washington Post, Melson said “Let me tell you we are not going to be using percentages like that anymore, because these percentages have been misused, misinterpreted, for political agendas on both sides of the gun issue.” Unfortunately, by withholding this key data, ATF may hurt its efforts to tackle U.S. firearms trafficking to Mexico." Nov. 1, 2010, Mexico Institute
Immigration Reality: California and immigration: We're moving on - latimes.com
California and immigration: We're moving on - latimes.com: "Most Californians have put their immigrant-bashing ways behind them; we're moving on.
(T)he most important explanation is that what mostly fueled anti-immigrant sentiment in the 1990s is what fuels it now: not economic fear but another deep-seated fear, that of newcomers and the long-term cultural change they may bring. That unease was rampant — and stoked by exaggerated immigrant-bashing — in the 1990s in California, but in 2010, hard times or not, it has died down. ...
(O)ver time, we learned everything didn't change. Californians survived the much-hyped demographic shift, and we're beginning to get used to our new reality. In other words, whites got to know their new neighbors. And, despite real tensions caused by illegal immigration, familiarity didn't breed contempt. ...
For all our political and economic woes, it's good to know we're still ahead of the curve on a positive social trend. How long before the rest of the country catches on?" Nov. 1, 2010
(T)he most important explanation is that what mostly fueled anti-immigrant sentiment in the 1990s is what fuels it now: not economic fear but another deep-seated fear, that of newcomers and the long-term cultural change they may bring. That unease was rampant — and stoked by exaggerated immigrant-bashing — in the 1990s in California, but in 2010, hard times or not, it has died down. ...
(O)ver time, we learned everything didn't change. Californians survived the much-hyped demographic shift, and we're beginning to get used to our new reality. In other words, whites got to know their new neighbors. And, despite real tensions caused by illegal immigration, familiarity didn't breed contempt. ...
For all our political and economic woes, it's good to know we're still ahead of the curve on a positive social trend. How long before the rest of the country catches on?" Nov. 1, 2010
Immigration Crackdown: Warnings Abound In Enforcing Immigration Job Rules : NPR
Warnings Abound In Enforcing Immigration Job Rules : NPR: "'The I-9 system is deeply flawed,' said Daniel Costas, an immigration policy analyst at Economic Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank. It 'relies on employer eyesight for the verification of government identification and documents ... If this is how the system is going to work, then it's a big waste of time and money.'
The system is meant to thwart illegal immigrants from working in the U.S., where about 7.8 million illegal immigrants have jobs, according to a 2009 report by the Pew Hispanic Center.But at its foundation is a law that requires a promise that employers check their workers' eligibility to work. Those forms are never submitted to the government. Employers must simply keep them on hand in case the government decides to audit the business and do a check of its workers' immigration status. All employers are required to keep the forms — no matter the size of the business." Nov. 1, 2010
The system is meant to thwart illegal immigrants from working in the U.S., where about 7.8 million illegal immigrants have jobs, according to a 2009 report by the Pew Hispanic Center.But at its foundation is a law that requires a promise that employers check their workers' eligibility to work. Those forms are never submitted to the government. Employers must simply keep them on hand in case the government decides to audit the business and do a check of its workers' immigration status. All employers are required to keep the forms — no matter the size of the business." Nov. 1, 2010
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