{"id":38767,"date":"2012-04-09T07:08:12","date_gmt":"2012-04-09T13:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=38767"},"modified":"2012-04-10T07:43:33","modified_gmt":"2012-04-10T13:43:33","slug":"dem-cd1-candidates-talk-about-mexicos-drug-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2012\/04\/dem-cd1-candidates-talk-about-mexicos-drug-war\/","title":{"rendered":"Dem CD1 candidates talk about Mexico\u2019s drug war"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"This<\/a>

This photo shows the Ju\u00e1rez Cartel detonating a car bomb in Cuid\u00e1d Juarez, Mexico, less than a mile from the U.S. border, last year. (Department of Homeland Security photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

Reducing demand for illegal drugs in the United States, enacting comprehensive immigration reform and supporting Mexico\u2019s efforts to fight drug cartels are among the proposals the Democratic 1st Congressional District candidates shared to address the crisis created by Mexico\u2019s drug war.<\/h4>\n

This post continues a series on the\u00a0U.S. Senate<\/a>\u00a0and 1st Congressional District<\/a>\u00a0candidates\u2019 stances on various policy issues.<\/em><\/p>\n

To address the crisis created by Mexico\u2019s drug war, Eric Griego<\/a> says the United States must work to eliminate the demand for drugs at home; Michelle Lujan Grisham<\/a> agrees and says the United States must do more to keep its borders safe and help Mexico; Marty Ch\u00e1vez<\/a> says the United States needs immigration reform pledges to work to find other solutions.<\/p>\n

Griego, a Democratic candidate for New Mexico\u2019s 1st Congressional District seat in the U.S. House, said the United States must \u201cwork closely with Mexico to stop traffickers and strengthen our border,\u201d but said \u201cwe cannot effectively combat the continuing drug trafficking and violence across the border with just guns and fences.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe root cause of drug trafficking across the border into the U.S. is simple: Americans buy them, and there is much profit for drug cartels in ensuring supply,\u201d Griego said. \u201cAnd the gruesome violence in places such as Ciud\u00e1d Ju\u00e1rez will continue as long as competing cartels continue to fight each other \u2013 and the Mexican military \u2013 to control smuggling operations to meet the drug demand in the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lujan Grisham, one of two other Democrats seeking the 1st District seat, said she supports Mexico\u2019s efforts to \u201caggressively fight drug cartels and promote the rule of law,\u201d but also said the United States must do more, including reducing drug demand in America by investing in education, drug prevention and drug-treatment programs.<\/p>\n

She said the United States should also crack down on the illegal smuggling of weapons into Mexico, more aggressively encourage economic development along the border on both sides, and enact comprehensive immigration reform.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe brutal violence perpetrated by the drug cartels should be attacked on all fronts,\u201d Lujan Grisham said.<\/p>\n

Ch\u00e1vez, the third 1st District candidate, said he would work \u201cclosely with local, state and federal agencies as well as international\u00a0authorities to help end the bloodshed and find solutions to the systemic\u00a0economic and social issues that drive the violence.\u201d He also talked about immigration reform.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur immigration system is broken, and fixing it is vital to our national\u00a0and economic security,\u201d Ch\u00e1vez said. \u201cReform must be comprehensive and provide for\u00a0tough border protection and employer sanctions, be fair to American taxpayers and be practical to maximize the effectiveness in restoring\u00a0the rule of law.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ch\u00e1vez said he supports letting those undocumented immigrants who are already in the United States earn a path to citizenship \u201cby getting in the back of the immigration\u00a0line, learning English, paying taxes, passing a criminal background\u00a0check and paying fines and\/or penalties.\u201d<\/p>\n

The question<\/h3>\n

The Democratic 1st Congressional District candidates made their comments in response to a question from NMPolitics.net about Mexico\u2019s drug war. NMPolitics.net gave them no word minimum or limit, telling them to say what they had to say. The only criterion was that they not engage in personal attacks.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the question NMPolitics.net asked:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Mexico\u2019s drug war hasn\u2019t gotten as much attention in the United States as conflicts in some other foreign nations, but it\u2019s been a destabilizing force in New Mexico\u2019s neighbor \u2013 whose economy is arguably intertwined with that of the United States \u2013 and has had a tangible impact in the United States, with cartels operating in many states and some documented instances of spillover violence in Southern New Mexico and elsewhere. That\u2019s on top of the humanitarian crisis the war has created in areas of Mexico including our neighbor, Cuid\u00e1d Juarez. What policies and action do you support to address the crisis?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Their responses, published in their entirety:<\/p>\n

    \"Eric<\/a>

    Eric Griego (Courtesy photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

    Eric Griego<\/h3>\n

    \u201cFor decades, America has spent billions of dollars to provide weapons, training and intelligence services to the Mexican government to clamp down on drug cartels within their border. That does not include the billions we spend to build and maintain border fences and hire patrols to keep drugs and their traffickers out. While we must continue to work closely with Mexico to stop traffickers and strengthen our border, we cannot effectively combat the continuing drug trafficking and violence across the border with just guns and fences. We must do a better job in eliminating demand for drugs within our own border.<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe root cause of drug trafficking across the border into the U.S. is simple: Americans buy them, and there is much profit for drug cartels in ensuring supply. And the gruesome violence in places such as Ciud\u00e1d Ju\u00e1rez will continue as long as competing cartels continue to fight each other \u2013 and the Mexican military \u2013 to control smuggling operations to meet the drug demand in the U.S.<\/p>\n

    \u201cBillions of taxpayer dollars are spent each year in the U.S. on arrests and incarceration of drug users, leading to overcrowded prisons and a huge drain on budgets. And too often, these drug users return to their addiction once they are released from incarceration because their addiction is not treated in prison. The result is a costly perpetuation of drug abuse, arrest and imprisonment. That is why I believe we need to invest more in drug treatment and prevention, especially for non-violent drug crimes.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe also need to be working at the highest levels with Mexican officials to address the underlying economic and social causes of the boom in the Mexican drug trade. We should increase aid not just for interdiction and border cooperation, but for joint work on trade and economic cooperation between our two countries. Unless Mexicans have viable economic opportunities, then the illicit and underground economies will continue to thrive.<\/p>\n

    \u201cMexico must also step up and do its part. While the Mexican military\u2019s crackdown on the drug cartels appears to have had some temporary effect in reducing homicides in drug havens such as Ciud\u00e1d Ju\u00e1rez, that is not a long-term strategy. Mexico, with U.S. help, must professionalize and rebuild its civilian law enforcement forces to eliminate civil corruption, and maintain security and rebuild public confidence. Mexico must also improve economic conditions for its citizens to stop the cartels\u2019 ability to recruit local sympathizers to complicate law enforcement capabilities. Otherwise, for individuals and communities with little or no economic opportunities, the manufacture, transport and distribution of illicit drugs will remain a viable trade.<\/p>\n

    \u201cAs our neighbor and one of our largest trading partners, we cannot ask Mexico to go it alone. This is an important bilateral relationship we need to spend some real time deepening. It is truly in our mutual national interest.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    \"Michelle<\/a>

    Michelle Lujan Grisham (Courtesy photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

    Michelle Lujan Grisham<\/h3>\n

    \u201cWe have an opportunity with the upcoming presidential election in Mexico to pursue more direct engagement that promotes the interests of the United States, while encouraging popular support for reform within the country. Mexico will not be able to effectively move forward without addressing government corruption and loosening the grip of government monopolies that stifle economic growth.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI support our current foreign policy that backs Mexico\u2019s efforts to aggressively fight drug cartels and promote the rule of law. The brutal violence perpetrated by the drug cartels should be attacked on all fronts.<\/p>\n

    \u201cAt the same time, we must do more on our end to keep our borders safe and ensure that Mexico is stable and prosperous. First, we should consider a new approach to reduce the demand for drugs, which will require an investment in education, drug prevention and drug rehabilitation programs. Second, we must crack down on the illegal smuggling of guns to Mexico. Third, we need a more aggressive strategy to encourage economic development at the border \u2013 and on both sides of the border. Our labor markets are integrated, and we should take advantage of that. Finally, we need to finally address comprehensive immigration reform, which requires Congress to make it a priority. I will provide that leadership in Congress.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    \"Marty<\/a>

    Marty Ch\u00e1vez (Courtesy photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

    Marty Ch\u00e1vez<\/h3>\n

    \u201cI strongly condemn the drug-related violence that has plagued\u00a0communities on both sides of our border. In Congress, I will work\u00a0closely with local, state and federal agencies as well as international\u00a0authorities to help end the bloodshed and find solutions to the systemic economic and social issues that drive the violence.<\/p>\n

    \u201cOur immigration system is broken, and fixing it is vital to our national\u00a0and economic security. Reform must be comprehensive and provide for\u00a0tough border protection and employer sanctions, be fair to American taxpayers and be practical to maximize the effectiveness in restoring\u00a0the rule of law. It\u2019s not possible to throw a net around 13 million\u00a0people, and I support letting those already living in the United States\u00a0earn a path to citizenship by getting in the back of the immigration\u00a0line, learning English, paying taxes, passing a criminal background\u00a0check and paying fines and\/or penalties.<\/p>\n

    \u201cAmong all candidates running for Congress I am uniquely qualified to\u00a0deal with these issues on a national level.<\/p>\n

    \u201cAs a law student, I co-founded \u201cCentro de Immigracion,\u201d a national\u00a0clearinghouse of immigration writings, and as mayor of Albuquerque, I\u00a0took full advantage of our sister city relationships with both\u00a0Guadalajara and Chihuahua for exchanges in business, education, and\u00a0cultural areas.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI have also represented the United States as part of the delegation to\u00a0Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo\u2019s inauguration and participated in\u00a0trade missions to Mexico City with Mexican President Vicente Fox.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Reducing demand for illegal drugs in the United States, enacting comprehensive immigration reform and supporting Mexico\u2019s efforts to fight drug cartels are among the proposals the Democratic 1st Congressional District candidates shared to address the crisis created by Mexico\u2019s drug war.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[228,281,156,140,195,116],"class_list":["post-38767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news-and-analysis","tag-1st-congressional-district-race","tag-1st-district-policy-questions","tag-2012-election","tag-border-and-immigration","tag-mexicos-drug-war","tag-washington"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38767"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38767\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}