DNL 2°5/ The US-Mexico Border

I/ The world’s most crossed border, with significant economic importance
II/ A border affected by crime and danger
III/ Trump’s current policies increasing tensions

Conclu US MEX (2)Download

Documents

Migrants walk along train tracks in Sonora state, Mexico, on January 13, 2017. Hundreds of Central American and Mexican migrants try to cross the US border daily.

A Border Patrol agent keeps watch at the US- Mexico border at San Ysidro, California, in April 2017.

A metal fence stands between Sonoyta, Mexico, and the Arizona desert.

Word box

U.S.–Mexico border : 3,000 km boundary from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean.
Maquiladora : Factory in Mexico assembling goods for export, mainly electronics, cars, and textiles.
NAFTA / USMCA : Trade agreements between U.S., Mexico, and Canada (NAFTA 1994 → USMCA 2020).
Twin cities : Cities on both sides of the border with strong economic and social connections (e.g., San Diego–Tijuana).
Migration : Movement of people across the border for work, education, or safety.
Remittances : Money sent by migrants from the U.S. to support families in Mexico.
Cartels : Criminal organizations controlling drug trafficking and exploiting migrants (e.g., Sinaloa, Jalisco New Generation).
Drug trafficking : Illegal trade of drugs like heroin, cocaine, meth, and fentanyl across the border.
Migrant dangers : Risks migrants face, such as dehydration, extreme heat, dangerous rivers, and mountains.
Migrant detention centers : Facilities holding migrants; often criticized for overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited healthcare.
Border wall / barriers : Physical fences and walls built to control unauthorized crossings.
National Defense Zones : Areas where the U.S. military has special powers to intercept and detain people (2025).
Border security technology : Tools like drones, autonomous surveillance, and robotic “security dogs” to monitor the border.
Humanitarian concerns : Issues like family separations, asylum requests, and safe treatment of migrants.
Cross-border economy : Economic and social links between the U.S. and Mexico, including trade, labor, and culture.