A former special agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms told a House committee that the agency had, in fact, allowed firearms bought in the United States to be transported to Mexico, in the hope that “we could further the investigation” against Mexican drug cartels. …
Abstract: Over the past 10 years, traversing the U.S.–Mexico border illegally has become increasingly dangerous for would-be immigrants. Illegal immigrants face kidnapping, murder, and rape at the hands of violent drug cartels and ever more ruthless human smugglers. Crossing treacherous desert areas exposes the…
When Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon meets President Obama in Washington on March 3, the atmosphere will be tense. Even White House media management cannot camouflage gathering tensions in the U.S.–Mexican relationship. Mexico’s bloody battle with drug cartels and criminal violence dominates media headlines and fuels growing uncertainty…
When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with her Mexican counterpart in Guanajuato, Mexico, on January 24, the high-level encounter will focus on topics of great importance to the U.S. and Mexico. Topping the agenda will be Mexico’s deadly narco-conflict. Last year was a somber one for Mexico, one in…
Ray Walser discusses Mexican drug violence on CSPAN's Washington Journal. …
Ray Walser discusses recent fatalities to Mexican drug cartels. …
Although U.S. officials cannot confirm reports of the arrest Jamel Nasr recently in Tijuana, they should acknowledge that the reports are consistent with increasing concern that Hezbollah is seeking an operational base in the Americas. Nasr was no ordinary tourist or would-be immigrant. He is a made member of the…
Executive Summary On April 20, 2010, the explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in a massive, continuing release of underground oil. Washington must develop a comprehensive response to the crisis that mitigates damage,…
Mexican President Felipe Calderón is in Washington for a two day state visit from May 19-20. He and President Obama have a lot to talk about, ranging from reaffirming a shared commitment to the North American Free Trade Agreement to the vital need for both countries to emphasize competitiveness, technological…
Mexican President Felipe Calderón’s visit to Washington on May 19–20 highlights the complex nature of America’s critical relationship with its southern neighbor. President Obama will honor Calderón with a lavish state dinner, and the Mexican leader will address the U.S. Congress. The visit will set the tone for…
Abstract: Mexican drug cartels virtually rule large parts of Mexico, with violence and murder spilling across the U.S. border. In 2009, the death toll reached a high of more than 9,000. While…
Testimony before the Committee on the Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, of the United States House of Representatives December 07, 2009 My name is Ray Walser. I am a Senior Policy Analyst at The Heritage…
Delivered July 30, 2007 immigration has become the most controversial, complex, and sensitive subject we face today. It directly affects our economy, our culture, and our future. To ensure that any action we take on immigration policy is in our national interest, we need to approach the subject with reason and facts.…
Abstract: Conventional wisdom holds that offshore oil and gas production harms the surrounding environment. This blanket "wisdom" ignores the fact that the largest source of marine hydrocarbon pollution is offshore natural oil seepage. It also ignores the fact that offshore oil production has lowered…
Felipe Calderón, who began his single sexenio (six-year term) as President of Mexico in December 2006, has made significant progress in the fight against narcotrafficking, but Mexicans are still waiting to see whether his government will successfully challenge the private- and public-sector monopolies and duopolies that dominate huge portions…
Washington, November 19, 2009- Three Heritage Foundation scholars have been tabbed to serve as international observers for the Nov. 29 presidential election in Honduras. All three speak fluent Spanish. The three Heritage representatives are: Ray Walser, Heritage's senior policy analyst for Latin America.…
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The Obama Administration has claimed that the southern border is secure because apprehension rates for illegal border...…
Katie Pavlich’s new book, “Fast and Furious,” assembles the devastating evidence that implicates the Obama...…
Are Hispanics really a monolithically liberal voting bloc? The left would have you think so, but the reality is more...…
Last fall the U.S. government’s Energy Information Administration reported a 40 percent decline in oil and natural gas...…
As gas prices continue to climb, approaching a nationwide average of nearly $4, lawmakers in Washington turned their...…
This week, the White House dispatched its peripatetic Vice President Joe Biden south to Mexico and Honduras. Biden...…
As we continue demanding increased accountability to improve the struggling U.S. educational system, a new documentary...…
In a historic first, Josefina Vazquez Mota was chosen on Sunday to be the presidential candidate for Mexico’s National...…
More than 15 months after the Obama administration lifted its ban on offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, oil and...…
According to information obtained by a liberal environmentalist group, the White House deliberately misled the public...…
Senior Policy Analyst