In 2007, 26 San Diego County residents were kidnapped and held for ransom in Tijuana, Roarito Beach and Ensenada. Some were recovered, some were hurt, and some were killed. Kidnappings are a popular tactic among organized, well finances and violent kidnapping cells. These kidnapping are sophisticated operations similar to terrorist cells. This line of business is not about terrorizing people or retaliating, it is about making money. Due to the rapid increase in crime in Mexico, U.S. citizens are warned to be cautious when vacationing or doing business. Local and federal law enforcements on both sides of the border are doing what they can to combat the problem.
The solution lies in community policing, argue Heritage’s James Carafano and David Muhlhausen. They emphasize enhanced law enforcement in border communities primarily to deter the types of crimes that are associated with illegal human trafficking along the border, not to enforce federal immigration laws. By doing so, it will make the federal government’s challenge of policing the border more manageable. Local law enforcement officers are ideal because they normally have the best intelligence on threats in their areas, are most familiar with the people and location, and are trained experts in community policing techniques.