As "El Chapo" Extradition Unfolds, Border Region Could See Impact

 The drug war, although, it might not affect us here in Austin as much as it has touched southern Texas cities, specifically, El Paso. It is certainly an alarming issue that concerns many Texans, right? And with “El Chapo” Guzmán's extradition, some wonder if a surge in cartel violence along the Texas-Mexico border could follow.  America's war on drugs has been a controversial issue, ever since 1971 when former President Richard Nixon, proclaimed "America's public enemy number one in the United States is drug abuse" (Sharp 1). From there on the war on drugs especially, on Mexican and Colombian drug cartels was official. The third recapture of one of the world's most wanted drug lord better known as Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, was a significant moment for the Mexican government, as well as the American govt. In the eyes of the government, it would seem that with the capture of "El Chapo," true progression was occurring, against the war on drugs, but is that really the case? (I certainly don't think so) Yet, many experts are worried that with the capture of Guzmán violence can once again hit an epidemic in Ciudad Juàrez, and it's neighboring American/Texas town of El Paso. Although, the violence in Ciudad Juarez is not nearly as bad as it was, during the years of 2008 and 2011, (A time when the Sinaloa cartel and Juárez cartel were at war for drug corridors into Texas) experts are concerned that Joaquin's powerful Sinaloa Cartel still "controls more than half of Mexico's drug trade" (Aguilar, Texas Tribune). It is a never ending battle against the war on drugs, and with the capture of one of the world's most wanted drug kingpin's things seem as if they won't be changing anytime soon either.

  Furthermore, with "El Chapo's" capture along comes many other concerns specifically to the State of Texas, considering the fact that Texas has indicted Guzman with charges of "murder, kidnapping, [drug trafficking] and conspiracy" (Aguilar Texas Tribune). The burden that the United States government along with the Texas government faces is the long extradition process that it will take for "El Chapo" to face justice in the country. It isn't a surprise why the U.S. govt would have pessimistic perspectives on the Mexican judiciary process — taking into consideration that in 2014, former Mexican Attorney General Jesús Murrillo Karaman stated that "[Guzmán] would be extradited in "300 to 400 years" (Aguilar Texas Tribune). As you can tell with Mr. Murillo's words he wasn't so cooperative with the extradition of El Chapo. 

  Sadly, the outlook for the Mexican govt wasn't so great after Mr. Guzmán escaped a Maximum prison for the third consecutive time. But, many experts, for example, "Shannon O"Neil" are now hopeful because, according to the new Mexican Attorney General Arely Gómez Gonzáles, she would fight to make the extradition of the kingpin a much more collaborative process.  All I can say is that with Arely Gómez Gonzáles in office things seem to be slowly heading in the right direction. In my perspective, the drug war is never going to end in Mexico and abroad, but it can sure be a working process and that is what I see Ms. Gómez Gonzáles fighting for.

 Ultimately, the extradition of El Chapo is certainly going to be a long process, considering that his attorneys can appeal, however, many times that they wish. But is El Chapo ever facing American justice? Possibly, he may even get extradited to Texas, or other parts of the country, because as we shall all know by now he isn't just wanted in our state. 

  The concern at the beginning of this article was the possible violence that Guzmán's capture could mean in the city of Juárez, but specifically what it can mean on the American side of the border, which was the primary concern. So far the percentages of murders in El Paso, Texas are relatively low in connections with the drug trade. Actually, early June and July of 2016, Juárez was the city that has seen an increase in drug war related murders, but although what I am about to say is doleful; the numbers of deaths aren't nearly as high as in the years of 2008-2011. Thus, in my perspective, it will certainly be nice if Mexico wasn't in such a bad state in regards to the drug violence, but as long as there is demand there will always be supply or in this case suppliers. Ultimately, could this war actually spill over to the Texas side of the border. What do you think?