A better way

Immigration is a touchy topic especially in the United States where 
policy makers have been afraid to address the issue in any concrete 
manner. However beyond the politics the true scope of the problem 
should be seen from migrants themselves. There is no question that 
there is a crisis. Thousands of people a day attempt to get to the 
United States and there are millions of undocumented people living 
within the nation. A large cargo truck was found in Guatemala a few 
weeks back with more than 500 people crammed in the truck, they were 
mostly from Guatemala and some from El Salvador. This is sadly just
one example of the lengths people  go through to try to make it to the United States.
 Drug Cartels and  criminals are raking in for certain millions of dollars from desperate 
people who pour their savings and borrowed money into trying to pay 
human smugglers to take them over the border.

   Documentaries and movies like Sin Nombre show the perilous journeys 
that migrants undertake to try to escape their unstable homelands. 
Throughout their journey in Central America and Mexico they encounter 
corrupt officials, cartels and gangs that threaten them and take 
whatever they have. Attempts have been made to try to address 
treatment of Central American migrants by Mexican officials but little 
action has been taken. Mexico itself is fighting a war with the drug 
cartels that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and these cartels 
are working all throughout Central America. The constant state of 
conflict throughout the region feeds into the immigration and gang 
problem that is being experienced.

   A truly comprehensive strategy is the only way that all these 
issues can be addressed. The United states must work with Mexico, and 
the nations of Central America and Mexico must work with its Central 
American neighbors in issues regarding drugs, weapons and immigration 
policies. These are regionwide problems that can only be effectively addressed
in a comprehensive manner and this will certainly take a lot of will and time. There
are no easy fixes and throwing that army or police at the problem will not make it
better.