(국제) 갱단 피해, 멕시코인 대량이주
갱단 피해, 멕시코인 대량이주
The drug war south of the border. It’s driving Mexicans north from one of the most dangerous cities on earth to one of the safest. While President Obama was signing the healthcare law today, several top administration officials flew to Mexico City for a drug summit ,led by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates. And the US team promised Mexico long term support for its war on the drug cartels. One of the front lines is the border city of Juarez. And Bill Wittker tells us, thousands are leaving there heading north to escape the violence.
Luis Aril Anzures is 29 and a successful restaurateur in El Paso, Texas. But 11 months ago, he lived across the border in Juarez, Mexico, one of the most dangerous cities on earth. One day driving home, three cars surrounded him. "People came out of the cars with AK 47s told me to get out of the car, made me kneel down on the street. I thought I was going to die." That moment soldiers drove up and saved him. That night, Luis and his family fled to El Paso, one of the safest cities in the US just 13 murders last year.
They now have a thriving new restaurant and a safe new life. "We love it here." He's part of a growing number of people fleeing north to safety across the Rio Grande. This is one of the busiest ports along the border, 23 million people cross back and forth each year. But in the past two years, as many as 80,000 people have crossed from Juarez to El Paso and not gone back. Now one of every 15 El Paso residents is believed to be a recent transplant from Juarez, the upper middle class with visas, green cards or dual citizenships.
And this is what they're fleeing. Americans Leslie Enriquez and Arthur Redelfs killed in a Juarez drive-by shooting 11 days ago, are two of 600 drug gang killings so far this year, almost 2,600 last year. Gangsters are killing to control this lucrative drug smuggling route to the US. University of Texas, El Paso professor Tony Payan is writing a book on Juarez. "The young people, the talented people, the engineers, the nurses, the doctors are simply leaving the city." Bringing an economic boost to El Paso. The last time so many affluent Mexicans fled their country was during the Mexican revolution 100 years ago. Harry? Bill Wittker in El paso tonight. Thanks.