Organized Crime and the Mexican Border The U.S.–Mexico border’s disorder—2.5 million encounters annually, overstretched resources—extends beyond families seeking better lives. Organized crime thrives in this chaos, leveraging the system’s gaps. Trafficking in persons, drug smuggling, and rare but real terrorism threats exploit the same porous border as migrants, blending into the fray with lethal precision. […]
Politicians across parties pledge to “close” the U.S.–Mexico border, but its 1,954 miles of deserts, rivers, and mountains defy simple solutions. It is not a line to lock; it is a system designed to bend rather than break. Natural features challenge crossings, yet they fall short of sealing the border. What does this terrain truly
Accurate terminology clarifies the complex dynamics of U.S. border activity. These definitions are derived from authoritative sources, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), current to April 7, 2025. Data reflects Fiscal Year 2024 (October 2023–September 2024) unless noted. Apprehensions Definition: The act of detaining individuals attempting illegal
Section 1: Introduction Introduction This analysis examines whether Donald Trump’s behavior and actions from 2018 to April 3, 2025, exhibit characteristics consistent with authoritarianism—a governance style defined by centralized power, suppression of opposition, and erosion of democratic norms. Spanning his first term as President of the United States (January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021)
Introduction “We’re being invaded.” “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime.” “We will deport them all.” These were not fringe soundbites, but core tenets of Donald Trump’s immigration platform across both presidential campaigns—rhetoric unmatched in intensity by predecessors. Yet despite targeting 15–20 million undocumented individuals, his policies from 2018 to April 4, 2025, sustained a labor-dependent
Introduction This analysis uncovers a recurring U.S. tariff pattern: duties raise consumer prices, passing ~80% of costs within 3–9 months and 100% over 5–10 years, masked by distractions that emerge as prices are noticed and escalate until the tariff’s role fades. Eight events from 1828–2025 show this, with Trump’s 2018–2025 actions amplifying it into a
