Looking at it from one human to another, you really can't get be upset at a guy that will come over here and bust his ass all day for little to no pay. Essentially it's a man doing what he has to in order to provide for his family, just like the rest of us. (And that "doing what he has to do" doesn't refer to crime, that's what low life's use as an excuse not to work.)

I think where the problem lies on the political and national level is the fact that the money he makes is being sent back to Mexico to help provide for his family instead of being put back into the American economy. Is it stealing? Yea if you want to be REALLY technical, to an extent it is.

I usually know my shit on the international level, but I haven't been able to put my finger on why we haven't established a better relationship with Mexico. In essence, why haven't we formed a coalition between the Mexican and US Army in an effort to put a halt to the cartel's violence and control. Let's face it, half the times the Cartel guys are on the same fighting level or better equipped than the Mexican Military, so these skirmishes that would take our army three hours are drawn out over days.

It seems that any rational politician can sit down one on one and say "Hey your citizens are migrating to my country via en mass exodus. How do we solve this problem before you lose your entire working class and are left with criminals?"

I understand the military aspect of it on our side and the fact that our enlisted ranks have grown exponentially over the past decade with soldiers of Hispanic descent, so some would be hesitant about invading or occupying the very country they or their parents once grew up in. Is corruption really that bad in Mexico, on its national level, that the US wouldn't be able to trust them fighting side by side American Infantry?

And I know, I know, before someone says it, our agencies are already working hand in hand including CIA and DEA with the Special Operations Community, but these guys mostly raid the areas where the drugs are massed produced. If a concentrated effort was made on transit routes (Throughout Mexico before it came close to reaching the border), manufacturing points, and known training facilities, then you can't tell me we couldn't put a huge dent into the cartel's operations.

Call me crazy but it seems like looking out for Mexico would be a higher priority for American security since these guys are basically on our underbelly. If we fixed Mexico's drug problems, then we could work on Mexico's economy, then we could work on Mexico's security. And by working on all of these things only serves to better American interests.

If you look geographically, we are pretty much immune to land invasion except through Central America. You build up Mexico as a nation and become its strongest ally (While keeping taps to make sure they aren't stronger than us), then you effectively eliminate any chance of a full out land assault on America in the centuries to follow (Except by Airborne Invasion, which an invading army would still need a jump off point for its Air Force to transport military personnel.

I know half of you think I'm bat shit crazy because the last time a foreign army stepped foot on our soil was probably the English in 1812, but it's reassurance at the least if we help out Mexico. It effectively secures the southern border for the foreseeable future, not only against an opposing force, but also terrorist factions that can pretty much cross the border at will. It's not about you and me its so your kids and grand kids do not have to worry about China or Russia becoming a superpower and making moves against the interest of the US once we are dead and gone. It's future planning, something we don't seem to focus on nowadays.