The New Front Line

Border relations between the United States and Mexico have had a tumultuous history. The connectivity between both countries has been demonstrated by the impact border issues have on each nation. Economic disparity, U.S. dependence on cheap labor, and the scourge of drugs that infects both nations have influenced this relationship. U.S. border enforcement efforts have sought to remedy everything from the immigration crisis to terrorism. Border enforcement tactics have taken on military characteristics, including the use of military troops, equipment, and resources. This evolution toward border militarization has both focused on drug trafficking and criminalized immigration offenders. As border problems threaten U.S. national interests, further militarization of the border is logical.