I’ve written previously on the surge of drug violence in Mexico, especially along its border with the United States in cities like Juarez City. This week the latest atrocity occurred, this time on employees of the U.S. Government. Three people were gunned down in Juarez City, one of which was a pregnant woman and federal employee of the United States.
The Administration issued the standard boilerplate statement about being “saddened and outraged” over these murders. The president also vowed to “work tirelessly to bring their killers to justice.”
I wish these weren’t hollow clichés. Work tirelessly. Saddened and outraged. Bring to justice. We’ve heard it all before; it’s the standard response.
However, if this Administration were truly outraged and truly planned on working to bring justice to the border violence, it is doing so in an odd way: Practically the entire border security infrastructure of this Administration is leaderless.
More than a year into this Administration’s tenure, the President has failed to install permanent leadership at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Other than U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, there is absolutely no federal law enforcement leadership in place to deal with border violence, criminal and terrorist activity. What does that say about this Administration’s priorities that it can’t even bother to put people in place?
As for addressing drug violence in Juarez? As for “working tirelessly” to bring the killers to justice? Please. Let’s skip working tirelessly and start with something as simple as at least nominating somebody to run the DEA.
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Spiegal Matada
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Spiegel Matada