The effects of narco-terrorism on domestic policy and migration

Abstract

Recent claims by the website Politifact have stated that migration from Mexico into the United States has reached ‘net zero1’. The purpose of this study is to understand the changes in domestic policy in Mexico and the United States as a result of narco-terrorism that have had an impact on this phenomenon. In this study research will detail the history of migration between Mexico and the United States as well as cartel violence, domestic policy, and economic factors that may contribute to the event of “net zero migration”. In particular, I argue that the increases in spending in the Mexican government to bolster employment to help combat cartel recruitment has resulted in an outflow of migrants from the United States causing the net migration rate to drop. This study will show the correlation between migration patterns, changes in domestic policy in Mexico, and violence as a result of the ongoing drug cartel war in Mexico.