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No, Mr. President, Mexico Is | |
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By Michael Letts | |
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With the recent kidnapping of four Americans in Mexico and the subsequent deaths of two of them, Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador made the provably false statement that Mexico is safer than the United States. Obrador is facing increased criticism for his inability to control the cartels in his country. This has led to the U.S. State Department issue a travel advisory for many places in the country. It also urged Americans not to visit Colima state, Guerrero state, Michoacan state, Sinaloa state, Tamaulipas state, and Zacatecas state due to crime and kidnapping. While these are considered the most dangerous areas, the State Department has advisories for all but two of the country's 32 regions. Robert Almonte, a former U.S. Marshal and retired deputy chief of the El Paso Police Department, told the U.K. Daily Mail, "The bottom line is when someone makes the decision to go to Mexico for any reason, you're basically risking your life. It's just a dangerous place to be. I tell people don't go to Mexico . I am advocating a boycott of Mexico . I am telling people do not go to Mexico . Do not go to the resorts. Let's send a message to the Mexican government that they need to get a handle on this situation." However, rather than take action against the cartels, Obrador would rather take action against his critics. He recently said he was planning a campaign to urge all Hispanic Americans to vote against Republicans who have been critical of his lack of border protection. "Starting today we are going to start an information campaign for Mexicans who live and work in the United States and for all Hispanics to inform them of what we are doing in Mexico and how this initiative by the Republicans, in addition to being irresponsible, is an offense against the people of Mexico , a lack of respect for our independence, our sovereignty," Obrador said, according to Fox News . He said the goal of the campaign is to make sure not one vote from a Hispanic American is for Republicans. He called the Republican Party "interventionist, inhumane, hypocritical, and corrupt." It's understandable that he wouldn't want American tourists re-considering their visit to his country since they have a huge positive impact on the country's economy. To push back on the negative perception the cartels create of Mexico , Obrador told reporters earlier this month, " Mexico is safer than the United States. There's no problem with traveling safely around Mexico ." The problem is that statement is false. "At 28 per 100,000 people, Mexico 's murder rate was around four times higher than in the United States in 2020, according to data published by the World Bank. Homicides fell about 7% last year in Mexico , but the current government is on track to register a record total for any six-year administration," Reuters reported . Other statistics have shown that the U.S. violent crime rate is lower than Mexico 's. It's time for Obrador to step up and fight crime in his country or he will lose the tourist trade not only from the United States, but from the world, which helps shore up his economy. The Republicans aren't his enemy. The cartels are, and the sooner he realizes that, the sooner he start to take action. Michael A. Letts is the CEO and Founder of In-VestUSA , a national grassroots non-profit organization helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin for Michael Letts 919-437-0001 jerry@specialguests.com .
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