A New Dynamic in the Western Hemisphere Security Environment: Mexican Zetas and Other Private Armies

http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=940

Examines how the creation of professional private nonstate military organizations have mixed with crime and violence to form a security threat to Mexico and the U.S. From the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College.

Dealing with Political Ferment in Latin America

http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=943

Subtitled: The Populist Revival, the Emergence of the Center, and Implications for U.S. Policy. Latin American concerns over poverty, political corruption, and citizen insecurity have led to dynamic competition between two different forms of governance: radical populism as seen in the Chavez and Morales regimes and moderate, centrist regimes in Chile, Brazil, and Mexico. Proposes a strategy for U.S. policy to support the moderate regimes. From the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College.

The Economics of Agricultural and Wildlife Smuggling

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR81/ERR81.pdf

Reports that agricultural and wildlife smuggling primarily include luxury goods, ethnic foods, and specialty goods, such as traditional medicines. Most smuggled agricultural goods originate in Mexico and China. From the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

U.S.- Mexico Defense Relations: An Incompatible Interface

http://www.ndu.edu/inss/Strforum/SF243/SF243.pdf

Examines the history of tension between the U.S. and Mexican armies and calls for a review of potential areas of common interest to promote cooperation. From the Institute for National Strategic Studies of the National Defense University

Substance Use Treatment Need and Receipt Among Hispanics

http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k9/164/Hispanics.htm

Reports that an annual average of 8.3% or 2.6 million Hispanics were in need of alcohol treatment in the past year and 3.4% or 1.1 million were in need of treatment for illicit drug use. Among Hispanics the need for alcohol treatment was highest among Mexicans and the need for drug treatment was highest among Puerto Ricans. From the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Firearms Trafficking: U.S. Efforts to Combat Arms Trafficking to Mexico …

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09709.pdf

87% of firearms seized by Mexican authorities from drug traffickers in the last 5 years originated in the U.S. This report examines the types and sources of these firearms, key challenges confronting U.S. government efforts to combat illicit sales of firearms from gun shops and gun shows in southwest border states, and efforts at collaboration with Mexican authorities to stop gun trafficking. From the Government Accountability Office

National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy

http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/swb_counternarcotics_strategy09/swb_counternarcotics_strategy09.pdf

Updates the 2007 Southwest Border strategy by combining efforts to combat in inbound flow of illegal drugs from Mexico with efforts to stop the outbound flow of illegal cash and weapons to the drug cartels. From the Department of Homeland Security

Mexico's Drug-Related Violence

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40582.pdf

Examines the causes behind the escalation of violence relating to drug-trafficking in Mexico, provides an overview of Mexican counterdrug efforts, identifies the major drug-trafficking organizations, and the objectives and implementation of the Merida Initiative as a response to the violence in Mexico, From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists.

Mexico's Narco-Insurgency and U.S. Counterdrug Policy

http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/download.cfm?q=918

Examines the problems behind the drug wars in Mexico and the effectiveness of the U.S. Merida Initiative program, a multiyear counterdrug program designed to help the Mexican government in its fight against the drug cartels. From the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College

Naturalizations in the United States: 2008

http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/natz_fr_2008.pdf

Reports that a record number of persons, 1,046, 539, were naturalized as U.S. citizens in 2008. The leading countries of birth of the new citizens were Mexico, India and the Philippines. Offers seven statistical tables with details on country of birth, current state of residence, and other demographic details of the new citizens. From the Office of Immigration Statistics of the Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Legal Permanent Residents: 2008

http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/lpr_fr_2008.pdf

Reports that a total of 1,107, 126 persons became legal permanent residents of the United States in 2008. The leading country of births of new permanent residents were Mexico (17%), China (7%), and India (6%). Includes 8 statistical tables with details on category of admission, country of birth, and current state of residence. From the Office of Immigration Statistics of the Department of Homeland Security.

More Entries

BlogCFC was created by Raymond Camden. This blog is running version 5.5.1.