Puerto Rico has 3.7 million residents, a storied capital, more than 300 miles of stunning coastline, an average temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit -- and, in 2011, a homicide rate more than five times that of the mainland U.S. and higher than that of Mexico.
It badly needs federal help to curb this drug-fueled
violence. But so far, the U.S. government is treating Puerto Ricans as if they
were second-class citizens.
Geography is partly to blame for Puerto Rico’s plight. If
Mexico had the misfortune to be, in the late Mexican dictator Porfirio Diaz’s
words, “so far from God, so close to the United States,” Puerto Rico’s bad luck
is to be so close to South America and to the southern U.S. It is an
ideal transshipment point for illegal narcotics in the Americas. And with open
ocean between it and Africa and Europe, it’s a good point of departure for
illicit shipments to those two continents.
As the U.S. and Mexico have cracked down on the drug
trade, traffic has shifted to the Caribbean. The National Drug Intelligence
Center reports that cocaine seizures along sea routes between Puerto
Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands more than tripled between 2009 and 2010.
Plenty of the stuff is still getting through: The price of cocaine in the area
dropped by roughly one-third between 2008 and 2010, suggesting there is no lack
of supply. Upward of 80 percent of what arrives by plane or boat goes on to the
eastern United States. From 2010 to 2011, seizures of illegal
cash by customs agents rose by 68 percent; seizures of such money by the Drug
Enforcement Agency more than doubled.
Other factors have helped to fuel the trade. Puerto Rico’s
economy has done poorly since even before the recession, making the gains of
the drug trade, and the solace that its products offer, even more attractive.
The island’s unemployment rate of 14.7 percent and poverty rate of 45
percent are higher than those of any U.S. state. Moreover, Puerto Rico’s
17,000-member police force, the second largest in the U.S. after that
of New York City, has been roiled by charges of civil rights
violations and corruption. In October 2010, the Federal Bureau of
Investigationarrested 61 officers after the largest police corruption
investigation in the agency’s history.
Ironically, the spike in violence was triggered by the
arrests in 2009 and 2010 of two of the island’s leading drug lords -- arrests
that set off a bloody turf war. More than half of the 1,117 homicides in 2011
-- that’s about one person killed every eight hours or so -- are believed to
have been drug- related. “If we were talking about Jacksonville,” said
Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida at a hearing in December,
“people would be screaming.”
Many Puerto Ricans have been
screaming. Washington needs to listen and respond. Currently, Puerto
Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands together receive less than $100
million a year in direct federal funding for anti-drug efforts.
That’s a small fraction of the $2 billion-plus that the
U.S. government has dedicated to fighting drug trafficking on the U.S. border
with Mexico. Right now, for example, the Coast Guard has no fixed-wing
surveillance aircraft stationed in Puerto Rico, nor does it have the ability to
simultaneously patrol Puerto Rico’s east and west coasts. Although the DEA and
Customs andBorder Protection have increased their staffing, they are not
yet equipped to tackle challenges like significantly expanding inspections of
container traffic to and from San Juan, the fifth busiest port on the U.S.
eastern seaboard.
The Caribbean Border Initiative proposed by Pedro
Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s non-votingrepresentative to Congress, seeks to
replicate the Southwest Border Initiative that the Obama
administration introduced in 2009, increasing resources for multiple agencies
and promoting a more integrated approach. We hope that the Office of National
Drug Control Policy will support it, not least for the positive signal that it
will send to Puerto Rico’s residents.
Public confidence would also benefit if the federal
government, through a consent decree and a court-appointed monitor, took a
strong role in the reform of Puerto Rico’s police department.
Finally, to fight money laundering and promote
development, the island’s government should do more to encourage its residents
to use banks. Despite efforts to get people to use direct deposit for paychecks
and create individual development accounts that match savers’ deposits, a third
or more of Puerto Rico’s population is “unbanked,” versus 7.7 percent
in the rest of the U.S. Their cash-only transactions help to enable the
island’s burgeoning black economy.
On the margins of the margins, the poorest Puerto Ricans
are the ones who bear the brunt of drug violence. They deserve the fullest
protections the U.S. can provide.
fecha |
Título |
14/12/2022| |
|
20/10/2022| |
|
30/09/2022| |
|
25/05/2022| |
|
28/12/2021| |
|
26/08/2020| |
|
27/06/2020| |
|
01/06/2020| |
|
29/02/2020| |
|
11/12/2018| |
|
06/11/2018| |
|
05/11/2018| |
|
15/10/2018| |
|
17/09/2018| |
|
10/09/2018| |
|
08/09/2018| |
|
05/09/2018| |
|
09/06/2018| |
|
08/06/2018| |
|
31/05/2018| |
|
31/05/2018| |
|
28/05/2018| |
|
18/08/2017| |
|
20/06/2017| |
|
09/05/2017| |
|
08/05/2017| |
|
08/05/2017| |
|
07/05/2017| |
|
28/04/2017| |
|
25/07/2016| |
|
24/07/2016| |
|
16/07/2016| |
|
10/07/2016| |
|
09/07/2016| |
|
11/06/2016| |
|
29/04/2016| |
|
09/04/2016| |
|
04/12/2015| |
|
13/09/2015| |
|
11/05/2015| |
|
30/03/2015| |
|
17/12/2014| |
|
17/12/2014| |
|
25/11/2014| |
|
22/11/2014| |
|
17/11/2014| |
|
16/11/2014| |
|
16/11/2014| |
|
24/10/2014| |
|
23/10/2014| |
|
19/03/2014| |
|
30/12/2013| |
|
27/12/2013| |
|
02/11/2013| |
|
27/10/2013| |
|
27/10/2013| |
|
19/10/2013| |
|
14/10/2013| |
|
12/10/2013| |
|
23/09/2013| |
|
23/09/2013| |
|
22/09/2013| |
|
22/09/2013| |
|
16/09/2013| |
|
16/09/2013| |
|
25/08/2013| |
|
22/08/2013| |
|
17/08/2013| |
|
15/08/2013| |
|
29/07/2013| |
|
24/07/2013| |
|
20/07/2013| |
|
12/07/2013| |
|
05/03/2013| |
|
30/12/2012| |
|
06/11/2012| |
|
13/09/2012| |
|
08/09/2012| |
|
31/08/2012| |
|
29/08/2012| |
|
08/08/2012| |
|
07/08/2012| |
|
06/08/2012| |
|
05/08/2012| |
|
05/08/2012| |
|
01/08/2012| |
|
01/08/2012| |
|
31/07/2012| |
|
31/07/2012| |
|
30/07/2012| |
|
30/07/2012| |
|
30/07/2012| |
|
29/07/2012| |
|
29/07/2012| |
|
29/07/2012| |
|
26/07/2012| |
|
25/07/2012| |
|
25/07/2012| |
|
25/07/2012| |
|
23/07/2012| |
|
23/07/2012| |
|
22/07/2012| |
|
19/07/2012| |
|
10/07/2012| |
|
10/07/2012| |
|
09/07/2012| |
|
07/07/2012| |
|
06/07/2012| |
|
02/07/2012| |
|
02/07/2012| |
|
01/07/2012| |
|
28/06/2012| |
|
26/06/2012| |
|
26/06/2012| |
|
25/06/2012| |
|
18/06/2012| |
|
16/06/2012| |
|
09/06/2012| |
|
24/05/2012| |
|
18/05/2012| |
|
02/05/2012| |
|
29/04/2012| |
|
26/04/2012| |
|
21/04/2012| |
|
26/03/2012| |
|
25/03/2012| |
|
25/03/2012| |
|
20/03/2012| |
|
20/03/2012| |
|
19/03/2012| |
|
19/03/2012| |
|
19/03/2012| |
|
19/03/2012| |
|
12/03/2012| |
|
12/03/2012| |
|
11/03/2012| |
|
11/03/2012| |
|
11/03/2012| |
|
11/03/2012| |
|
06/03/2012| |
|
06/03/2012| |
|
26/02/2012| |
|
26/02/2012| |
|
26/02/2012| |
|
26/02/2012| |
|
26/02/2012| |
|
26/02/2012| |
|
25/02/2012| |
|
25/02/2012| |
|
25/02/2012| |
|
22/02/2012| |
|
22/02/2012| |
|
22/02/2012| |
|
21/02/2012| |
|
21/02/2012| |
|
21/02/2012| |
|
24/10/2011| |
|
23/10/2011| |
|
22/10/2011| |
|
21/10/2011| |
|
16/10/2011| |
|
29/09/2011| |
|
29/09/2011| |
|
28/09/2011| |
|
26/09/2011| |
|
07/09/2011| |
|
07/09/2011| |
|
05/09/2011| |
|
05/09/2011| |
|
03/09/2011| |
|
03/09/2011| |
|
30/08/2011| |
|
30/08/2011| |
|
30/08/2011| |
|
30/08/2011| |
|
16/08/2011| |
|
16/08/2011| |
|
10/08/2011| |
|
01/08/2011| |
|
31/07/2011| |
|
24/07/2011| |
|
20/07/2011| |
|
20/07/2011| |
|
17/07/2011| |
|
17/07/2011| |
|
12/07/2011| |
|
12/07/2011| |
|
11/07/2011| |
|
11/07/2011| |
|
11/07/2011| |
|
11/07/2011| |
|
11/07/2011| |
|
04/07/2011| |
|
04/07/2011| |
|
02/07/2011| |
|
02/07/2011| |
|
02/07/2011| |
|
02/07/2011| |
|
02/07/2011| |
|
02/07/2011| |
|
19/06/2011| |
|
19/06/2011| |
|
19/05/2011| |
|
19/05/2011| |
|
16/05/2011| |
|
16/05/2011| |
|
10/05/2011| |
|
10/05/2011| |
|
09/05/2011| |
|
09/05/2011| |
|
09/05/2011| |
|
09/05/2011| |
|
08/05/2011| |
|
08/05/2011| |
|
29/04/2011| |
|
29/04/2011| |
|
21/04/2011| |
|
21/04/2011| |
|
16/04/2011| |
|
13/04/2011| |
|
13/04/2011| |
|
13/04/2011| |
|
12/04/2011| |
|
11/04/2011| |
|
10/04/2011| |
|
09/04/2011| |
|
07/04/2011| |
|
03/04/2011| |
|
31/03/2011| |
|
23/03/2011| |
|
19/03/2011| |
|
26/02/2011| |
|
23/02/2011| |
|
23/02/2011| |
|
21/02/2011| |
|
21/02/2011| |
|
21/02/2011| |
|
18/02/2011| |
|
10/02/2011| |
|
30/01/2011| |
|
30/01/2011| |
|
29/01/2011| |
|
23/01/2011| |
|
21/01/2011| |
|
17/01/2011| |
|
16/01/2011| |
|
12/01/2011| |
|
12/01/2011| |
|
06/01/2011| |
|
04/01/2011| |
|
03/01/2011| |
|
02/01/2011| |
|
31/12/2010| |
|
29/12/2010| |
|
28/12/2010| |
|
26/12/2010| |
|
26/12/2010| |
|
19/12/2010| |
|
18/12/2010| |
|
13/12/2010| |
|
07/12/2010| |
|
19/11/2010| |
|
17/11/2010| |
|
17/11/2010| |
|
31/10/2010| |
|
26/10/2010| |
|
25/10/2010| |
|
24/10/2010| |
|
19/10/2010| |
|
04/10/2010| |
|
30/09/2010| |
|
30/09/2010| |
|
19/09/2010| |
|
17/09/2010| |
|
13/09/2010| |
|
13/08/2010| |
|
11/08/2010| |
|
11/08/2010| |
|
07/08/2010| |
|
02/08/2010| |
|
01/08/2010| |
|
01/08/2010| |
|
01/08/2010| |
|
30/07/2010| |
|
30/07/2010| |
|
30/07/2010| |
|
22/07/2010| |
|
18/07/2010| |
|
16/07/2010| |
|
11/07/2010| |
|
11/07/2010| |
|
11/07/2010| |
|
09/07/2010| |
|
08/07/2010| |
|
07/07/2010| |
|
01/07/2010| |
|
29/06/2010| |
|
23/06/2010| |
|
22/06/2010| |
|
20/06/2010| |
|
20/06/2010| |
|
20/06/2010| |
|
19/06/2010| |
|
17/06/2010| |
|
16/06/2010| |
|
15/06/2010| |
|
14/06/2010| |
|
13/06/2010| |
|
05/06/2010| |
|
03/06/2010| |
|
02/06/2010| |
|
26/05/2010| |
|
15/05/2010| |
|
15/05/2010| |
|
13/05/2010| |
|
13/05/2010| |
|
12/05/2010| |
|
06/05/2010| |
|
03/05/2010| |
|
02/05/2010| |
|
30/04/2010| |
|
24/04/2010| |
|
24/04/2010| |
|
07/04/2010| |
|
06/04/2010| |
|
05/04/2010| |
|
03/04/2010| |
|
25/03/2010| |
|
24/03/2010| |
|
18/03/2010| |
|
04/03/2010| |
|
21/02/2010| |
|
16/02/2010| |
|
16/02/2010| |
|
22/01/2010| |
|
22/01/2010| |
|
21/01/2010| |
|
15/01/2010| |
|
14/01/2010| |
|
14/01/2010| |
|
13/01/2010| |
|
12/01/2010| |
|
28/12/2009| |
|
21/12/2009| |
|
19/12/2009| |
|
08/12/2009| |
|
08/12/2009| |
|
01/12/2009| |
|
01/12/2009| |
|
27/11/2009| |
|
27/11/2009| |
|
22/11/2009| |
|
22/11/2009| |
|
08/11/2009| |
|
16/10/2009| |
|
13/09/2009| |
|
28/08/2009| |
|
27/08/2009| |
|
26/08/2009| |
|
17/08/2009| |
|
16/08/2009| |
|
14/08/2009| |
|
14/08/2009| |
|
14/08/2009| |
|
14/08/2009| |
|
12/08/2009| |
|
12/08/2009| |
|
09/08/2009| |
|
09/08/2009| |
|
08/08/2009| |
|
08/08/2009| |
|
08/08/2009| |
|
08/08/2009| |
|
07/08/2009| |
|
07/08/2009| |
|
24/07/2009| |
|
24/07/2009| |
|
23/07/2009| |
|
23/07/2009| |
|
21/07/2009| |
|
21/07/2009| |
|
17/07/2009| |
|
17/07/2009| |
|
17/07/2009| |
|
17/07/2009| |
|
17/07/2009| |
|
03/04/2009| |
|
01/04/2009| |
|
31/03/2009| |
|
31/03/2009| |
|
27/03/2009| |
|
27/03/2009| |
|
26/03/2009| |
|
17/03/2009| |
|
17/03/2009| |
|
15/03/2009| |
|
15/03/2009| |
|
14/03/2009| |
|
14/03/2009| |
|
14/03/2009| |
|
14/03/2009| |
|
08/03/2009| |
|
08/03/2009| |
|