Organized Crime DisadvantageSLUDL/NAUDL 2015-16
Novice, JV, & Varsity Only
Organized Crime Disadvantage (N, JV, V)
Organized Crime Disadvantage (N, JV, V)
Glossary
Organized Crime DA (1NC Shell) (1/3)
Uniqueness Extensions
Drug Violence is Decreasing—Peace Prospects are High
Drug Violence is Decreasing—Mexico Will Stabilize
Drug Violence is Decreasing—Cartel Bosses Have Been Arrested
Link Extensions
NSA Links—Reducing NSA Surveillance Causes Drug Trafficking
Immigration Links -- Criminal Immigration Surveillance Decreases Drug Violence
War on Drugs Links
Generic Surveillance Links-Surveillance key tool to solve Organized Crime & Drug Trafficking
Impact Extensions
Drug Violence—Causes Poverty
Drug Violence—Causes Gender Violence
Drug Violence—Causes Sex/Human Trafficking
Drug Violence—Violence in Black Communities
Answers To: Cartel Caused Racial Violence is Only in Chicago
Drug Violence—Causes Economic Slowdown
Ecnomic Slowdown hurts everyone
Miscellaneous Answers to Affirmative Answers
Answers To: Other Countries Can Replace US Surveillance
Answers To: Other Agencies Fill In for NSA
Answers To: NSA is an Ineffective Agency
Answers To: Dream ACT CP Causes the Disadvantage
Answers To: All Immigration Surveillance Is Unjust/Evil
Answers To: No Illegal Immigrants are linked to Drug Cartels
Answers To: Immigration Surveillance Isn’t Effective
Answers To: War on Drugs Is a Failure
Answers To: Drug Cartels Help Mexican Economy
Glossary
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Organized Crime DisadvantageSLUDL/NAUDL 2015-16
Novice, JV, & Varsity Only
Cartel—an organization created to regulate the supply of a good
Drug Cartel—a criminal organization that primarily participates in illegal drug markets but may also engage in human smuggling, kidnapping, oil theft and other crimes. Examples include Los Zetas and the Sinaloa Cartel
Trafficking—the illegal trade of something
Drug trafficking—The illegal trade of drugs
Hegemony—political, economic, and or military dominance
Oil Shock –a fast and significant change in the oil market
Homicide – killing of one person by another
Drug War/War on Drugs – the term referring to a set of strategies Mexico and the United States currently use to fight drug cartels. These strategies tend to be militaristic, including military aid and the capture of cartel members
Enrique Peña Nieto—the current President of Mexico
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – the US agency tasked with solving drug trafficking
Counter-Narcotics—measures used to combat drug trafficking
Border Patrol – the Department of Homeland Security agency that attempts to prevent the entry of undocumented immigrants and other persons on the border
Force Multiplier – something that significantly increases the potential of an action or policy
RGV – the Rio Grande Valley, an area monitored by the Border Patrol
Insurgency—violent rebellion against government authority
Transnational – in more than one country
ISIS surveillance – in this file, ISIS surveillance refers to a surveillance system, not the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
ICE – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement , a federal agency tasked with immigration policy
SOD – Special Operations Division , a part of the Drug Enforcement Agency that does covert information gathering primarily surrounding drug trafficking
Kingpin – the leader of a crime organization
Database—a collection of information for a particular purpose
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Organized Crime Disadvantage (N, JV, V)SLUDL/NAUDL 2015-16
1NC Shell
Organized Crime DA (1NC Shell) (1/3) (N/JV/V)
1. Drug cartel violence is decreasing, but continued success is key to stop persistent, violent crimes.
Gomez, USA Today Reporter,2015 (Alan, USA Today Reporter, April 30th, After years of drug wars, murders decline in Mexico, USA Today,
Murdersin Mexico fell for a third straight year in 2014 — the most pronounced declines occurring along the U.S. border — a sign the country is slowly stabilizing aftergruesomedrug wars.¶ There were 15,649 people murdered in Mexico in 2014, a 13.8% reduction from the previous year and down from a peak of 22,480 in 2011, according to a report set to be released Thursday by the University of San Diego's Justice in Mexico Project.¶ The reductions were steeper along the U.S.-Mexican border. Five of the six Mexican states that border the USA reported a combined drop of 17.7% in the number of homicides.¶"These data really help to underscore that we're talking about a sea change in violence," said David Shirk, co-author of the report and director of the Justice in Mexico Project, a U.S.-based initiative to protect human rights south of the border. "You still have elevated levels of crime, so we still have a long way to go. But there is improvement, and we have to acknowledge that improvement and understand why it's happening so we can try to further it."¶The reduction in homicides does not mean Mexico has completely solved its security problems. Maureen Meyer, senior associate for Mexico at the Washington Office on Latin America, said Mexicans still face extremely high levels of kidnappings, extortion and other violent crimes.¶ American travelers have also been attacked. The U.S. State Department issued a warning April 13 that said U.S. citizens continue to be victims of carjackings, robberies and other violent crimes.¶ Meyer said the overall reduction in murders is an encouraging trend that allows Mexican officials time to cement improvements in the judicial system, anti-corruption programs and police practices. She said the government must "make sure that the space opened by having less violence leads to structural changes to Mexico's institutions to guarantee a strong rule of law in the future."
Organized Crime DA (1NC Shell) (2/3)
2. Surveillance is key to solve drug trafficking – keeping current levels is necessary to keep pace with crime groups’ innovation
UNAFEI, 2000 (United Nations Asia and Far East Institute,TOOLS FACILITATING THE INVESTIGATION OF ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING, Group 1 Phase 2, 119TH INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSE: REPORTS OF THE COURSE,
The use oftraditional investigative methods to combat illicit drug traffickinghas proved to be very difficult and ineffective.This state of affairs therefore calls for the use of special investigative tools such as controlled delivery, undercover operations and electronic surveillance(wiretapping, communications interception, etc.) by law enforcement agencies to effectively control illicit drug trafficking.¶ However, there is controversy surrounding the use of these techniques and thus, to a certain extent, discouragement for the law enforcement agencies to utilize them. Their abuse may affect the rule of law, may lead to infringement of human rights. There is a fear that governments may use them to oppress citizens under the guise of national interest. Their use therefore often sparks off politically sensitive debates.¶ The biggest question, therefore, is how to use these techniques consistent with the rule of law and respect of human rights. The answer to this cannot be universally obtained and this will depend on the legal system, practice and culture of each country. There is a need therefore, to strike an agreement as to what extent the privacy rights of individuals can be respected and at the same time keeping people safe from the effects of transnational organized crime.¶ The use of these techniques varies from country to country, for this reason the group had to focus on them individually. However the group has adopted the definition of controlled delivery that is contained in Article 2 of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, 2000.¶The Electronic Surveillance investigative method was the theme of a lot of discussions in the group, since every country has its own methods and devices, but one thing that all the participants are aware of is the fact that criminal investigations are becoming increasingly more difficult as criminal techniques become even more sophisticated. The challenge for criminal investigators is to keep pace with crime modus operandi; by using increasingly sophisticated investigative techniques. One of them that has been extremely successful is the electronic surveillance, including both silent video surveillance and interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications.
Organized Crime DA (1NC Shell) (3/3)
3. Drug cartel caused violence results in levels of suffering that rival those of major wars— suffering, sexual violence, and extortion all create a well-founded fear of persecution that is unjust and should be solved
Blake, JD University of Michigan Law School, 2012 (Jilian N., former Analyst for the Department of Defense and current owner of and lawyer at Blake & Wilson Immigraiton Law, Gang and Cartel Violence: A Reason To Grant Political Asylum from Mexico and Central America, Yale Journal of International Law Vol. 38,
The resulting level of violence in Mexico and Central America has been extremely high. According to U.S. military officials, the conflict in Mexico and Central America has come to rival the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan in terms of the scale of violence, spending and weapons.26 The United Nations reports that the “Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala) has the highest murder rate of any region in the world, and very high rates of other forms of violent crime.”27 In Mexico, since Calderón’s campaign began in 2006, more than 50,000 people have been killed as a result of drug-related violence.28 ¶
III. BASIS FOR PROTECTION FROM GANGS AND CARTELS UNDER U.S. LAW The prevalence of gang violence in the region has been accompanied in recent year by a steadily growing number of asylum applications in the United States.29 These applicants are individuals who resist gang demands, including young men who resist recruitment, women who are victims of sexual violence or intimidation, human rights and church activists, those who resist extortion, lawenforcement agents, gang members forced to join gangs and trying to leave, and others.30¶
These individuals fleeing persecution from gangs or drug-trafficking cartels in Mexico or Central America might claim refugee, non-refoulement, or Convention Against Torture (CAT) protection in the United States. The international legal definition of refugee is incorporated into United States law, with minor changes, in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended by the Refugee Act of 1980.31 The definition contains three core elements: (1) a well-founded fear of persecution; (2) a nexus between the persecution and a Convention ground including race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion; and (3) a lack of state protection. Additionally, Article 33(1) of the Refugee Convention codifies the principle of non-refoulement, which forbids a state from rendering a victim of persecution to her persecutor.32 States party to the Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol are under no obligation to grant asylum to refugees, however. Under Article 33(1), they are only prohibited from expelling or returning refugees to a country where they would face persecution on enumerated grounds.
1
Organized Crime Disadvantage (N, JV, V)SLUDL/NAUDL 2015-16
Uniqueness
Drug Violence is Decreasing—Peace Prospects are High
( )
( ) Prefer studies over hyperbolic narratives—even if drug violence is high, prospects for peace are better
Killelea, Founder and Chairman of the Institute for Economics & Peace, 2015
(Steve, Founder & Chairman of the Institute for Economics & Peace, Founder of the Peace Index, IT Entrepreneur, April 20th, Paving Mexico’s Path to Peace and Prosperity,
Running contrary to the global perception, Mexico’s peace has actually improved in recent years, underscored by a 30 percent reduction in the national homicide rate since 2013. This remarkable increase in peacefulness is widespread. According to the Mexico Peace Index, the last two years have seen 26 out of 32 states improving their peacefulness, with 26 recording reductions in their violent crime rate and 23 states recording reductions in their homicide rate.¶ Despite these recent achievements, Mexico remains very violent and is the least peaceful country in Central America according to the Global Peace Index. Since the start of the calamitous drug war in 2007, it has dropped 50 places on the Index to rank 138 of 162 countries. Continuing issues associated with organised crime and justice efficiency pose substantial barriers which must be overcome for Mexico to achieve truly higher levels of peace.¶ ¶ Contrasting with its current levels of violence, Mexico has one of the largest prospects of any country in the world for improving its levels of peacefulness. Positive Peace – the attitudes, institutions and structures which sustain peaceful societies – has actually improved over the last five years. As reported in the Mexico Peace Index, some Positive Peace measures such as a ‘sound business environment’ and ‘high levels of human capital’ compare very favourably to the global averages.¶ ¶ However, major challenges do remain. Corruption is the Positive Peace factor where Mexico performs most poorly, especially on measures related to corruption within the police and judiciary. Mexico has one of the highest levels of perceived police corruption in the world. In some states, 95 percent of the citizens believe that the police are corrupt. This has flow-on effects as many crimes then go unreported. This is highlighted by the fact that only ten percent of rapes are reported nationally and only three percent of extortions are reported in the more violent states. Despite these statistics, there has been some improvement in the public perception of the federal police force over the last three years, with confidence in them increasing from 18 percent to 24 percent.
Drug Violence is Decreasing—Mexico Will Stabilize
( ) Falling violence will stabilize the region, but a downward trend is not guaranteed—continued efforts are necessary
Shirk, PhD in Political Science, 2015
David A., PhD Political Science, Associate Professor, Political Science and International Relations, Director, Justice in Mexico Project, April, Drug Violence in Mexico, Justice in Mexico Project Report,
8 While still a far cry from 8,867 homicides reported by INEGI in 2007— Mexico’s historic low point—such a decline for 2014 would still be very significant, sparing roughly two thousand lives compared to 2013. SNSP, meanwhile, has reported its figures for intentional homicides in 2014, which indicate a 13.8% percent drop in 2014, Mexico’s second double digit percentage annual decrease in homicides since 2007. Once again, while homicide levels remain quite elevated according to SNSP figures, thousands of lives were spared in 2014 compared to the year before; while SNSP reported 18,146 intentional homicides for 2013, that figure fell to 15,649 for 2014.¶ Disaggregating these data by month reveals some trends that might be missed in reviewing annual totals. First, since 2007, Mexico’s homicide levels have been subject to relatively larger spikes and declines than in years past. There is also some variation within a given year, particularly at the peak of violence between 2010 and 2012, as the number of homicides documented tended to be relatively lower in the first six months of the year, while surging in the second half of the year. ¶ Of course, past trends are not necessarily a good basis for future predictions, so it is impossible to say whether the current downward trend in the number of intentional homicides will continue into 2015. Still, there does appear to be a structural shift in the violence in Mexico, as the number of homicides in certain highly conflicted parts of the country has subsided substantially. If the current downward trend continues, it is plausible that the number of homicides could even return to their historic lows within the next five to ten years. However, as reported last year, since Mexico’s violence accelerated more quickly than it has been decelerating, the number of homicides will not reach 2007 levels until well after 2020, if the current rate of decline continues. 10
Drug Violence is Decreasing—Cartel Bosses Have Been Arrested
( ) Huge successes pave the way for slowing the drug crime wave, but violence still continues making continued efforts key
VR, Reporting Agency, 2015
(Vatican Radio, Reporting Agency, April 23rd, Mexico makes progress in drug war, Vatican Radio,
(Vatican Radio) Mexico is making significant inroads into its eight year ongoing Drug War and associated crime wave, according to its President.¶ To listen to the report click below:¶ Since Enrique Peña Nieto became President of Mexico in 2012, his forces of law and order, have arrested or killed 93 of the country's 122 principal drug cartel leaders and organized crime bosses. From January to March of this year, homicides and reports of kidnappings have decreased by 27 percent and 24 percent compared to three years ago. The Mexican Congress has just passed an anti-corruption law appointing a Special Prosecutor to a newly created anti-graft court.¶ President Peña Nieto says: "These are compelling positive results and significant blows to the leadership of organized crime." He does however concede that violence continues to threaten certain parts of the country. This is mainly focused on the Northern Border with the United States.¶ More than 100,000 people have died in Mexico's Drug War.
1
Organized Crime Disadvantage (N, JV, V)SLUDL/NAUDL 2015-16
Impacts
NSA Links—Reducing NSA Surveillance Causes Drug Trafficking
NSA surveillance is necessary to reduce drug trafficking—it’s provides unique data that has been behind numerous successes
DEA, 2004
(Drug Enforcement Agency, Account Manager, from a 2004 memo, April 20th, DEA – The “Other” Warfighter,
**This was a document with top secret classification before it was leaked. Because of this, some names are omitted and marked accordingly
(U//FOUO) We are all aware that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is leading our nation's counternarcotics (CN) efforts. But many are not aware that from the start NSA has been at the forefront of Intelligence Community (IC) support to this seemingly unconventional DOD mission. The novel collection and analysis techniques NSA developed and refined against these criminal hard targets have not only resulted in major successes in the war on drugs, but they have also proven invaluable to other critical SIGINT missions, particularly counterterrorism, sometimes blurring the lines between the two missions.¶ (C) DEA has close relationships with foreign government counterparts and vetted foreign partners. The results of this team approach regularly make the headlines in the form of major drug busts and arrests. Less known is the critical supporting role that NSA continues to play in key DEA operations to disrupt the flow of narcotics to our country and thwart other, related crimes. DEA, however, recognizes the unique access and sole source information NSA provides and coordinates major cases with the S2F/ICN Product Line.¶ (C) As a result, both agencies enjoy a vibrant two-way information sharing relationship that enhances their common mission. Processes have been carefully established to exchange lead (foreign intelligence) information while protecting NSA equities. The Customer Relationships Directorate (SI), the Data Acquisition Directorate (S3), and MRSOC work with the S2F/ICN office as an integrated team to realize these mission successes.¶ (S//SI) One of those successes: Based on SCS (US-966L) intercept, S2F/ICN issued an OPS IMMEDIATE report on 30 March 2004 on the exact whereabouts of Colombian narcotics trafficker Gonzalo Hinojosa, an evasive and brutal international fugitive wanted for murder, drug trafficking, and money laundering. S2F had the foresight to include a tearline to share the actionable intelligence with Panamanian partners. With a short window for action, NSA's <text is omitted> worked through the Joint Interagency Task Force (JÏTF) - South to immediately forward the information to DEA/Panama. DEA/Panama in turn alerted the Panamanian authorities who quickly located and apprehended Hinojosa, without knowing the information came from NSA SIGINT. As Chief <text is omitted> noted, this is an excellent example of "outcome- oriented collaboration."