Border security issues (week 3) - Essay Example

Law Amexica’s Border Initiatives Law enforcement is the key to a functioning society (Edmonds-Poli & Shirk, 2008). Its effectiveness is vital, but when there are tensions between the police or law enforcers and the public, such effectiveness seizes to exist. In the past, under the former Mexican President, Felipe Calderon, most Mexicans supported the use of the Mexican Army to curb drug lords, traffickers and other criminal activities that the police in Mexico could not handle (Edmonds-Poli & Shirk, 2008).

As noted in the power point presentation from class, it is evidently different from the “Posse Comitatus” act that bans the Army in United States to conduct police-related activities. Of course this shows that the Mexican public had little confidence with the police handling border security issues.In the midst of all these hardships, there is hope for radical transformation on the horizon, with the onset of a new government. Under the new leadership of the new President Enrique Peña Nieto, perhaps there might be changes.

During the Mexican Election campaigns Peña Nieto ran for president on promises that he would end the drug wars and promote police reforms. Currently, it may be too early to determine whether the new administration is doing something to promote reforms in the Mexican police departments. This is because the Mexican public has lost faith in police the police in Mexico. It is no secret that the police force has committed so many atrocities and violated human rights. The expression that Rome was not created in one day plays a significant role in Mexico’s problems.

For the new administration to change this trend there is more to do than just introducing police reforms. The operational policies and procedures in police departments need to change. The training and development of officers also needs to change into a system that encourages officers who are not corrupt (Adams, 2006). Increasing reward systems in the force may also aid in promoting the officers to deliver the right services. It will promote the general police force image from a brutal force to one that is professional and fair, thereby resulting to more respect from the Mexican public.

ReferenceAdams, J. (2006). Bordering the Future: The Impact of Mexico on the United States. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood Publishing Group.Edmonds-Poli, E., & Shirk, D. (2008). Contemporary Mexican politics. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.