Drug Violence at the Border; Less Money Going to Mexico
OBAMA: As I said, President Calderon has been very courageous in taking on these drug cartels. We've got to also take some steps. Even as he is doing more to deal with the drug cartels sending drugs in the United States, we need to do more to make sure that illegal guns and cash aren't flowing back to these cartels. That's part of what is financing their operations, that is part of what's arming them. That's what makes them so dangerous.</s>WHITFIELD: The bloody turf war between Mexico's drug cartels is getting fresh attention in Washington. That was President Obama last night. Well, right now, senators are hearing about new tactics from homeland security chief Janet Napolitano. The administration is revamping the Bush approach to keep violence from spilling across the border. The plan commits $700 million. It includes hundreds of new federal agents, helicopters, high-tech cameras, and new x-ray scanners at border crossings to detect firearms.</s>JANET NAPOLITANO, U.S. SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY: First, we know that the weaponry used in this war in Mexico comes primarily, although not exclusively, through the United States. Just a few weeks ago, March 7th through 13th, we seized 997 firearms going into Mexico.</s>WHITFIELD: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in Mexico in just two hours, and drug violence tops her agenda. Foreign Affairs Correspondent Jill Dougherty is live from Mexico City. And so, Jill, who is going to be driving this conversation and who is the secretary of state actually meeting with?</s>JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, she will be meeting with the foreign secretary and then with President Calderon. But also, she'll be doing a lot of other things that try to bring the focus, let's say, more broadly than just the drug issue. But on the drug issue, there is some news, literally, as Secretary Clinton is in the plane on the way here. And that is Mexican authorities saying that they have apprehended one of 24 top drug traffickers in Mexico. He was on the most wanted list that the government put out just two days ago, offering up to $2 million for any information that would lead to the arrest. He is Hector Huerta Rios, and he is from Monterrey. Apparently, he was in charge of the Monterrey cartel operation. So, some good news coming from Mexican authorities as the secretary arrives. So drugs will be important. You've heard about the plan that Washington announced the day before the secretary arrived here. But they will also be talking about things like clean energy, the economic crisis, education, and trade. Very important -- Fred.</s>WHITFIELD: And, you know, while we're talking about the violence on the border, I wonder if the secretary is going to be asking a bit more from the government. Because there have been all kinds of conflicting reports coming from various sources, saying the government is actually complicit in some of the drug-dealing and violence that's been related to it, while others are saying that the government had simply lost control of the territory all together, and really is at a loss.</s>DOUGHERTY: I don't think you're going to hear that - the latter thing from the secretary. She is not going to say that they have lost control. I think what she will say is that President Calderon is trying very hard to get this drug violence under control. But it has been sparked, the administration, the Obama administration would admit, by - you have weapons, and you also have drug laundering money coming back over the border from the United States. And it is also fueled by consumption. And that consumption is in the United States. So what the Obama people are saying, really, and the secretary is saying, this is shared responsibility. That's the phrase they're using. And you're probably going to hear a call from both sides to do more.</s>WHITFIELD: OK, meantime, the secretary has already made her rounds quite a bit around the world. And CNN has an opinion poll that's already indicating what some Americans think about the job that she is doing. So take a look here. When asked how is Clinton handling her job, approval rating is 71 percent, disapproval 23 percent. So, I imagine she's embarking on this meeting with a high level of confidence, feeling like Americans feel like she is doing exactly what they expect of her, if not more so.</s>DOUGHERTY: Right. And that is quite significant when she has better ratings than the president does. But, you know, you have to say, her role is different. What she's doing is repairing relations. It's kind of more a good-news message that she is getting out. With the president, it's dealing with problem that are affecting the pocketbooks and livelihoods of Americans, and that really hurts. It's very painful. That said, she seems to be getting good marks from American citizens and also from abroad. She's been getting a very good reaction on the trip she has been on.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Very good. Jill Dougherty, thanks so much joining us from Mexico City. I know we'll be talking with you again throughout the day. Again two, about hours before Secretary Clinton makes her way to Mexico City. Meantime, another problem that we share with our neighbors to the south is the deepening recession. With work drying up here in the U.S., many Mexican workers can no longer afford to send money back home. Our Thelma Gutierrez reports.</s>THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A waiter, a baker, a sliding glass door maker; three men who work in the United States and send money to Mexico. Paul Baez waits on tables in Los Angeles to help support his mother who lives in the village outside of Mexico city. Jorge Salinas, a bread maker in Sun Valley, California, sends his parents in Guadalajara half of what he makes. And so does Eduardo Gutierrez (ph) of Orange County, so that his father, a goat farmer in Trejo (ph), Mexico can afford to buy medicine. But they're wiring much less cash today than they did a year ago. When Gutierrez's (ph) paycheck took a hit this summer, the money he sent home each month went from $300 to $150. EDUARDO GUTIERREZ (ph),</s>WIRES MONEY TO FAMILY IN MEXICO: I seen the recession back in the '90s, but this is worse as far as I can tell. This is really bad.</s>T. GUTIERREZ: The same for Salinas, who is now only working part time.</s>JORGE SALINAS, BAKER: Before, like 300. Right now, only like $150.</s>T. GUTIERREZ: Paul used to send more than $800 a month, until his hours were cut, along with his tips. (on camera): This year, how much are you sending?</s>PAUL BAEZ, WAITER: Like 400, 500.</s>T. GUTIERREZ: So half.</s>BAEZ: Half.</s>T. GUTIERREZ (voice-over): According to Mexico's Central Bank, remittances to Mexico are down by $1 billion since last year. Paul's mother, Juana (ph), says the money he used to send accounted for 70 percent of her income. Now, she's had cut back on food, utilities and everything else. She's not the only one. She says half of her town has been affected.</s>PAUL HINOJOSA, CHICANO STUDIES, UCLA: The drop-off in remittances for those villages and those households that depend on remittances represents an economic earthquake, much more than what their families are going to suffer in the United States. Because the role of remittances is a much bigger part of their ability to make ends meet on the Mexican side.</s>T. GUTIERREZ: Paul says when the money was flowing south, his town was booming with new business and homes. Now, it's come to a screeching halt. (on camera): And immigration experts say that could impact us here, because if things get much worse in Mexico, they say resulting poverty could drive desperate people to cross into the United States illegally. Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Los Angeles.</s>WHITFIELD: And, of course, we'll bring you more on the drug war at our back door. Next hour, I'll be joined by "Los Angeles Times" correspondent Richard Marosi right here in the NEWSROOM. Plus, CNN's Anderson Cooper is heading to the border. Be sure to catch the "AC 360" special "THE WAR NEXT DOOR" live from the Mexican border. That's tonight at 10:00 Eastern right here on CNN. For many of you, your morning ritual of coffee and the newspaper is changing as the financial crisis forces some newspapers to stop printing.