An Alternative to Running for the Border
by Cara Gourley
Boom! Crash! A fiery explosion follows a chase across the United States/Mexican Border. Lights from police cars flash across the screen as sirens blare. A jewel thief, a bank robber, or a drug lord attempts to cross into Mexico by car, by plane, or even by bus.
This scene could be from any American action movie or western.
The old myth said that once a criminal crossed into Mexico from the United States, the U.S. would not be able to venture into Mexico to retrieve him or her, or that Mexico would not seek them out. It seemed to be the ultimate end zone in a strange football game between the authorities and criminals. The Mexican border represented a haven for criminals, based on the assumption that relations between Mexico and the United States remained unstable. Mexico held onto the belief that criminals who were wanted for persecution by the U.S. needed to be punished in Mexico rather than be sent to the US where they might face the death penalty (which is illegal in Mexico).
However, the stereotype is changing. The former Mexican President, Vicente Fox, enacted a new policy towards criminals. According to Lisa Adams’ article, Mexico Hands Alleged Drug Boss to U.S., Fox declared in September of 2006 that he would extradite “all those who have pending matters with U.S. justice.” Fox extradited 63 alleged criminals in 2006, many which played important roles in drug trafficking, a serious issue which affects both sides of the border.
Felipe Calderon took office as the President of Mexico on December 1st, 2006. He promised to maintain the progress Fox began making in regard to the situation of escaped criminals, and to continue fighting organized crime. Calderon has sent troops to fight drug crime that has affected Acapulco and other areas of Mexico. On Friday, January 18, 2007, Mexico sent 14 criminals back to the United States, the largest amount of criminals extradited to the U.S. ever. According to Adams’ article, Washington viewed this action as “unprecedented.”
These actions represent a shifting attitude between Mexico and the United States. By working together, these countries are better equipped to stop organized crime. Instead of allowing escaped criminals to hide across the border, the combined force of these two nations will seek them out and hopefully create a more protected global community.
The question that clearly follows is whether or not other countries will build similar bonds. Mexico and the United States passed the first stepping-stone, and have begun paving the path to a safer world. If this progress continues, those American action movies are going to need new endings.
Adams, Lisa J. "Mexico Hands Alleged Drug Boss to U.S." Boston Globe 20 Jan. 2007.
20 Jan. 2007. <http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2007/01/20/mexico_hands_alleged_drug_boss_to_us/>.
Dell’Agnese, Elena. “The US–Mexico Border in American Movies: A Political
Geography. 2005. <http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/media/h7egpjuulm05ac159dcg/contributions/u/3/7/0/u370213771365632.pdf >.
Parra, Natalia. “Mexican Troops Target Drug Trade in Acapulco and Surrounding State.” San Diego Union Tribune. 19 Jan. 2007. 20 Jan. 2007.
<http://crossword.uniontrib.com/news/mexico/20070119-1656-mexico-drugwars.html>.
