Drug and immigration issues in the Mexico-US relationship

This thesis investigates the relationship between Mexico and the United States, specifically in terms of the impact of ongoing trends in drug smuggling and illegal immigration. The work begins with a review of the historical development process in each country, a discussion of the meaning of the border relationship, and the placement of drug trafficking and immigration issues within their current contexts. Following this introduction to the issues, drug trafficking and immigration are each explored in depth. The research effort concludes that economic motivations are at the root of problems stemming from the issues of drug trafficking and immigration, and that the traditional paradigms of the Mexico-US relationship, as well as a profusion of political finger-pointing, prohibit it from evolving into the partnership necessary for the continued development and prosperity of the two countries. Recommendations include acknowledging the historical and cultural differences at work in the countries, an admonition against US internal involvement in Mexico, and several more specific recommendations for dealing with the problems of drugs and immigration that were identified during the research.