Did the US Cause Its Own Border Crisis?
Digest
This podcast delves into the multifaceted issue of violence and migration in Guerrero, Mexico, tracing its origins to the 1970s when the US government supported Mexico's military in suppressing leftist guerrillas. This intervention led to a cycle of violence, repression, and displacement, contributing to the current drug trade and migration crisis. The episode highlights the legacy of Lucio Cabañas, a prominent guerrilla leader who fought for social justice in the region, and the impact of the US-led war on drugs, which has devastated Guerrero's economy and fueled violence. The podcast also examines the challenges faced by asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border, including the long wait for appointments, restrictive shelter environments, and the Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" policy. The episode concludes with Laura's return to Guerrero and her decision to abandon her asylum request, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by families in the region, including the lack of justice for the missing Ayotzinapa students and the continued violence. The podcast also discusses the potential impact of upcoming elections in both the US and Mexico on immigration policy.
Outlines
The Roots of Violence and Migration in Guerrero
This episode introduces Laura, a woman from Guerrero, Mexico, who fled her village due to violence and sought asylum in the US. She traveled to Tijuana with her three daughters, hoping to find safety. However, she faced a challenging reality at the border, with a long wait for asylum appointments and a restrictive shelter environment. The episode then delves into the history of violence in Guerrero, tracing it back to the 1970s when the US government supported Mexico's military in suppressing leftist guerrillas. This intervention led to a cycle of violence, repression, and displacement, contributing to the current drug trade and migration crisis.
The Legacy of Lucio Cabañas and the War on Drugs
The episode explores the life and legacy of Lucio Cabañas, a prominent guerrilla leader in Guerrero. His movement, "The Party of the Poor," aimed to address poverty and inequality in the region. The US government viewed Cabañas as a threat and supported Mexico's military in suppressing his movement, leading to violence and human rights abuses. The episode then examines the impact of the US-led war on drugs on Guerrero. The influx of drug trafficking and violence has devastated the region's economy and driven migration. The episode highlights the complex relationship between the Mexican government, the US government, and drug cartels, with corruption and collusion playing a significant role.
The Challenges of Asylum Seeking and the Future of Immigration Policy
The episode discusses the Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" policy, which forced asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims were processed in the US. This policy, along with other measures, significantly reduced the number of asylum grants and contributed to the militarization of the border. The episode concludes with Laura's return to Guerrero and her decision to abandon her asylum request. The episode highlights the ongoing challenges faced by families in Guerrero, including the lack of justice for the missing Ayotzinapa students and the continued violence. The episode also discusses the potential impact of upcoming elections in both the US and Mexico on immigration policy.
Keywords
Ayotzinapa
Ayotzinapa refers to the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College in Mexico, where 43 students disappeared in 2014 after being attacked by police. The case has become a symbol of the country's national tragedy of missing persons.
Lucio Cabañas
Lucio Cabañas was a prominent guerrilla leader in Guerrero, Mexico, who led the "Party of the Poor" movement in the 1960s and 1970s. He was killed by the Mexican military in 1974, and his legacy continues to inspire social justice movements in the region.
Dirty War
The Dirty War refers to a period of state-sponsored violence and repression in Mexico during the 1970s, primarily targeting leftist guerrillas and political dissidents. The US government supported Mexico's military in this campaign, contributing to human rights abuses and the disappearance of thousands of people.
Merida Initiative
The Merida Initiative was a US-Mexico security cooperation program launched in 2008 to combat drug trafficking and violence. The program provided billions of dollars in funding to the Mexican military, but it has been criticized for its failure to address corruption and its contribution to human rights abuses.
Remain in Mexico
The Remain in Mexico policy, also known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, was implemented by the Trump administration in 2019. It forced asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims were processed in the US, leading to dangerous conditions and a significant reduction in asylum grants.
Asylum
Asylum is a legal protection granted to individuals fleeing persecution in their home country. The US has a long history of providing asylum, but recent policies have made it increasingly difficult to obtain.
Migration Crisis
The migration crisis at the US-Mexico border is a complex issue driven by factors such as violence, poverty, and climate change. The US government's policies have often exacerbated the crisis, leading to increased militarization and human rights abuses.
Guerrero
Guerrero is a state in southwestern Mexico known for its poverty, violence, and drug trafficking. The state has been a focal point of the US-led war on drugs and has experienced a high level of displacement and migration.
Q&A
What are the historical roots of the violence and migration crisis in Guerrero?
The violence in Guerrero can be traced back to the 1970s when the US government supported Mexico's military in suppressing leftist guerrillas. This intervention led to a cycle of violence, repression, and displacement, contributing to the current drug trade and migration crisis.
How has the US-led war on drugs impacted Guerrero?
The war on drugs has devastated Guerrero's economy, fueled violence, and driven migration. The episode highlights the complex relationship between the Mexican government, the US government, and drug cartels, with corruption and collusion playing a significant role.
What are the challenges faced by asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border?
Asylum seekers face a long wait for appointments, restrictive shelter environments, and a complex application process. The Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" policy further exacerbated these challenges, forcing asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims were processed in the US.
What are the potential impacts of upcoming elections in the US and Mexico on immigration policy?
The upcoming elections in both the US and Mexico could have significant impacts on immigration policy. The US is facing a potential shift towards even harsher immigration restrictions, while Mexico's new president could adopt a different approach to border security and migration.
Show Notes
The right to asylum has been enshrined in US law since the 1950s. It’s meant to provide a safe haven for people fleeing violence and government persecution.
Laura Ascencio Bautista and her family have faced both in Mexico, where her brother Benjamin disappeared along with 42 others in 2014 after police stormed a bus from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College.
In the years since, violence in her home state of Guerrero left Bautista desperate. She heard asylum was created for people like her. So she traveled north, headed for the perceived safety of the United States.
“I was told that if I went to the US border and told my family’s story and how it’s not safe back home, the United States could protect me,” she said.
Despite all the political hand-wringing about a crisis at the border, many Americans don’t understand what’s driving so many people from Mexico and other countries to come to the US in the first place. This week, Reveal senior reporter and producer Anayansi Diaz-Cortes takes us to a part of Mexico that many families are leaving behind—a place where fear is a part of daily life—and unwinds US policies that helped trigger the cycle of violence and migration that continues to this day.
Support Reveal’s journalism at Revealnews.org/donatenow
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get the scoop on new episodes at Revealnews.org/newsletter
Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Table of contents
United States
