Mexico

Question 1

“Hispanic Challenge”

Answer 1

Conservative view on migration from Latin America, mostly Mexico and the challenge of demography in the US
5 factors:
1. Contiguity - Huge legal and illegal migration, hispanos are 20% of US citizens, high fertility rate, if the trend continues by 2050 Hispanos might be 1/4 of all US citizens
2. Illegality - Attempt to create stricer policy, immigration is persisten, Mexican used to be majority of all illegal migrants but currently less then 50% (but still most important from LA ), debate over wall
3. Regional concentration - Each LA nation is concentrated somwehere Mexicans southern part of US, Portoricans and Dominicans New York, Cubans in Miami. Large concentration prevents assimilation, no real pressure to learn English.
4. Persistance -
5. Historical presence - Part of the US territory used to be Mexican, Mexico lost in mid 19th century. Current situation is rather “reconquista”, Mexicans have their “historical right”

Question 2

Internal Migration in Mexico

Answer 2

• Move from the poor south to the richer North
• Jobs in “maquiladoras”
• Inadequate checks for labor law, inadequate conditions

Question 3

Remittances

Answer 3

• Money is flowing from US to Mexico in estimated to 25 billion USD each year
• For some central American countries remittances are even more important

Question 4

Drugs in US-Mexico Relations

Answer 4

• Mexican drug cartels are some of the strongest DTOs in the world
• One of the reasons is strong corruption and long reign of PRI
• Tijuana, Sinaloa, Gulf Cartel, La Familia, Las Zeta, Jalisco New Generation
• Cocaine from Colombia, marijuana, heroin and amphetamins produced locally
• Constitute a real threat to the state
• Estimated income between 15-50 billions USD annualy
• “Baloon effect”

Question 5

War Against Drugs in Mexico

Answer 5

• Started in 2006 against Felipe Calderon
• Reaction to the strong connections between DTOs and the state
• Between 2006 and 2012 - 60,000 to 100,000 deaths
• Defeated La Familia - “El Mas Loco” - Moreno killed
• Dissolution of the large cartels into small groups - fight for power

Question 6

Los Zetas

Answer 6

• Many members were former members of special forces of Colombian army
• For some time they were part of the Gulf Cartel, then went on their own
• Very aggressive attitude
• Now the government was able to weaken them, most of the leaders either dead or arrested

Question 7

AMLO

Answer 7

*Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
* National Regenertion Movement - MORENA
* Elected Mexican president in Jun 2018
* Majority in both chambers
* Anti-establishment
* Very socially oriented
*Indigenous rights according to San Andres Agreement
* Problems with security continue

Question 8

Trump and Mexico

Answer 8

• The Wall - “impenterable, physical, tall, powerful, beautiful, southern border wall”
• Estimated price between 15-25 billions USD
• Mexican president cancelled his meeting
• Who is going to pay for it?
• Only 6% of mexicans can have positive view of Trump, image of US has decreased
• NAFTA renegotiation - USMCA
• Relations between him and Amlo?
• Agreements with Central American countries over migration

Question 9

Biden and Mexico

Answer 9

• Better relations
• Bidern wants to support Central American countries
• Large increase in migration from both Mexico and Central America - No. 1 topic