Prepare for Worst as Mexico Crumbles

Authorities believe anti-military protesters are in the pay of drug cartels

(NEWSER) - Civilian protesters suspected of being in the pay of drug traffickers have blocked Mexican bridges to the US in recent days, demanding that the military leave their cities, the Dallas Morning News reports. Officials see the demonstrations—dubbed "narco-protests"—as a worrying new development amid a wave of violence already being likened to civil war. More»

Calls funds for staffing, fence repairs an 'emergency'

(NEWSER) - With Arizona's controversial new anti-illegal-immigrant law being blamed on weak federal enforcement, Barack Obama has formally asked Nancy Pelosi for $600 million to beef up security along the US/Mexico border. The president says the request will address “urgent and essential needs” and should be considered an emergency. The money would be used to buy two security drones and hire 1,000 additional Border Patrol agents, along with more agents for ICE, the FBI and the DEA, the LA Times reports. More»

Bodies left with threatening messages from drug cartels

(NEWSER) - Mexican police have found the shot and mutilated bodies of 11 men in a stolen van with Arizona plates near the US border, Reuters reports. The arms and legs of most of the bodies had been hacked off. Threatening messages believed to be from a drug cartel were left with the corpses. Police believe the same drug gang shot at a police station with heavy-caliber weapons the previous day. More»

(NEWSER) - Mexican drug gangs are increasingly targeting Americans, kidnapping them in border towns and, even more disturbingly, US cities like Las Vegas and even Atlanta, Mary A. Fischer writes in Men’s Journal. Ironically, higher post-9/11 border security and Mexico's crackdown on drug cartels has hurt drug sales, forcing competing bands of drug dealers to turn to ransoms for money. “It’s open season on just about anyone," said a former FBI agent. More»

(NEWSER) - Arizona’s three state universities are following the State Department and attempting to dissuade students from spending spring break in Mexican border towns, a traditional pastime, because of drug-associated violence there, the AP reports. One federal official called the warning “sage advice,” noting “documented violence, attacks, killings” and gunfire in public places. “Innocent people have been caught up in that collateral damage,” he said. More»