Poll Says Americans Now: More Concerned About Cartels Than Undocumented Immigration

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat

Most Americans probably do not realize what has happened in the security along the frontera.  Recent Obama cuts have changed the template of guarding the south border, and not for the better.

In recent interviews with CBP agents, those I use for sources, agents are frustrated and fearful of what they deem a huge hit to border security.  The three agents are located in: Del Rio Texas, Laredo Texas, and Eagle Pass Texas. 

All three are directly affected by the budget cuts, all have their work week amended to part time hours. 

One agent expressed his dismay at leaving his home in Ohio to relocate at the border planning on a lifelong career.  The university graduate has proven himself in being a quality employee with 3 lofty advancements in 10 years, he is returning to Ohio. 

 The other two agents are considered outstanding employees as well and have been recognized for their work.  All three, two men and one women have university degrees.

One agent expresses his concern for the safety of the nation.  Explaining further he said “quality people will leave, standards will drop, lessor qualified people and less committed people will be hired that do not mind working 3 or 4 days per week. 

Another agent said “the border will move north and become porous, easily penetrable for those wishing to conduct criminal activity, or do harm to the nation.   

A recent poll indicates that interest in undocumented immigration is waning and concerns of Mexican drug cartels heighten.  

Interest in the Mexican drug war has been tepid in the US, primarily because information has not been readily accessible or offered to Americans.  Even today, aside from states situated along the south border, little information is published about the subject. 

That was one of Buggs’ motivating factors when he began Borderland Beat, to help fill a vast void and provide information on the Mexican drug war to those living outside Mexico.  Insight Crime, Small Wars Journal, and others have been the lifeline in providing Mexican drug war information to the English speaking world. 

Other digital publications such as Stratfor have also contributed, however the cost of subscription thwarts the majority of citizens from reading the website.

Additionally, leaders of political parties must began speaking about Mexico's drug violence in order to establish its significance.  That is yet to happen in any relevant way.

The United States presidential election is a glaring example of how establishing the drug war  as a critical issue remains to be seen. I heard Romney mention the drug war violence once, and never heard Obama speak of the issue.  So to the issue was absent in the vice presidential and presidential debates.

Congressional reports on the subject are sub par  An example is a new report  dated February, 2013 which is largely based on outdate material.  In this case it was based mostly on information from the year 2009. Three years time lapse in this drug war is an eternity.

It is now evident that more voters are taking the initiative themselves by seeking information of the drug war.  

As reported in 2012,  for the first time in four decades illegal immigration is at a net zero gain .  Meaning as many  economic migrants are leaving the United States as are making the trek to the United States.    As that is acknowledged and information of the drug war spreads it is apparent that concerns of illegal immigration and the drug war have interchanged dramatically.

 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 34% of Likely U.S. Voters are more concerned about illegal immigration. Fifty-seven percent (57%) worry more about drug violence.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) believe the U.S. military should be used along the border to protect American citizens if the drug violence continues to escalate along the Mexican border. Only 16% disagree, but another 15% are not sure.

Seventy-three percent (73%) of U.S. voters think it is at least somewhat likely that this drug violence will spill over into the United States. Twenty percent (20%) feel that’s unlikely. This includes 36% who think the violence is very likely to come here and just two percent (2%) who say it’s not at all likely.