The other side of the wall
President Trump’s stand on immigration from Mexico continues to be a major issue. This article addresses one question: Is there a relationship between Mexican immigration and crime?
Donald Trump has consistently claimed Mexican immigration is creating major crime problems in the United States. In one speech, he said, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. …They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with them. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
Ignoring some of Donald’s inaccurate clichés, his assertions were challenged by the pro-immigration media. An article by the Washington Post states: “Data on immigrants and crime are incomplete, but a range of studies show there is no evidence immigrants commit more crimes than native-born Americans.”
Who is to be believed? The Washington Post quote is one example of why people are confused about this issue. The Post states data are not complete, then cites these incomplete studies to support its statements.
At the risk of letting facts get in the way of predisposed ideology, the facts are that many Americans have witnessed the brutality of The Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, which is dominated by men of Mexican descent. It has more than 10,000 members and operates in at least 40 U.S. states. Some of its member sects use the motto, “Kill, rape, and control.”
MS-13 is not the only Latino criminal organization. As another example, the Latin Kings have between 20,000 and 35,000 members. Many of them are not immigrants but second or third generation American citizens.
To make sure we are clear about this problem: These gangs thrive on peddling illegal drugs to American citizens. Our habits fuel their depravity.
President Trump is correct when he speaks about crime coming across our southern border under the tutelage of illegal drugs. With these drugs come extortion, bribes, blackmail, pay-offs, torture, rape, and murder.
However, as said above: This drug trade is funded by American citizens who are addicted to narcotics. We ourselves are undermining our own citizenry.
Here is another quote from the Washington Post about this issue: “Trump’s repeated statements about immigrants and crime underscore a common public perception that crime is correlated with immigration, especially illegal immigration. But that is a misperception; no solid data support it, and the data that do exist negate it. Trump can defend himself all he wants, but the facts just are not there.”
Try citing these statements to victims’ families of these killers. Try explaining that the victims’ deaths came about from a small part of this immigrant population. “The facts just are not there.” If you’re in the line of fire, they indeed are there.
The victims of gang mayhem might be tempted to say, “Donald, your wall should have been built earlier.” Then what? Humans living behind this wall — or any wall — will still breed malcontents and killers.
Until America solves its drug addiction problem and the associated lethal side-effects of murder, rape, and extortion, a wall between Mexico and the United States will have limited effects.
We citizens should welcome immigration, but we should contest the practice of massive immigration. I emphasize the word massive. Here’s what it means: The sudden influx of thousands of people does not give the immigrants a chance to meld into America’s cultural melting pot, or America’s citizens time to adjust to their presence. It leads to balkanization, a recipe for alienation, resentment, and separatism.
Bulk immigration encourages the immigrants to create their own “country” within the country of America. It encourages the creation of ethnic gangs. It leads the average American to fear the America he or she knows is being replaced by a foreign body.
It is a tragic drama filled with irony. After all, America is a land of immigrants. Its ability to receive, welcome, and nurture newcomers has long been the backbone of this country’s spirit and success.
Nonetheless, President Trump’s assertion that Mexican (better stated: Latino) drug cartels are wrecking havoc on America is correct. But Donald’s wall fill not fix this problem. We citizens must fix it. As that famous quote from the cartoon Pogo character of the 1950s goes: “We has seen the enemy, and they is us.”
- • •
Uyless Black’s younger years were spent on a ranch in southeast New Mexico. During these times, he worked with many Mexican immigrants. He never encountered a Mexican with any intention of selling drugs. His labors with these men focused on picking cotton, shearing sheep, and branding cattle. The only drugs involved were those to help heal branding, dehorning, and castration wounds.