Countering Violence Along the United States - Mexico Border: Thinking Strategically
Abstract
The thesis of this research is: The United States (U.S.) and Mexico need to create and employ a clearly defined border security strategy to correct the shortfalls in current efforts. The U.S. has no overarching border security strategy and relies on strategic documents that could be judged as poorly written and lacking sufficient guidance to drive action along the U.S.-Mexico border. As a result, the ad hoc U.S.-Mexico border security strategy has been unsuccessful in efforts to stop the violence along the U.S. Mexico border. The author provides an analysis of the National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy (NSBCS-2009), National Drug Control Strategy - 2010 (NDCS-2010), Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Report - 2010 (QHSR-2010) and the Merida Initiative. The analysis is done by examining these strategic documents using an ends, ways, means, and risks framework. Mismatches are identified, uncertainties addressed, and lessons learned are applied. Finally, the author offers recommendations to achieve security along the U.S.-Mexico border and with in the interior of both countries. If these recommendations are implemented, The U.S. and Mexico should have a bonafide strategy to implement actual strategic change, rather than a continuing list of failures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA545728
Entities
People
- Angie Applegate
Organizations
- United States Department of Homeland Security