Time - International (2019-09-02)

Time Sept. 2–9, 2019

In July, it was reported that the Trump Ad-
ministration was calling up over 2,000 more
troops to support the approximately 5,000
already on duty there. To put that in perspec-
tive, we have fewer than 1,000 troops in Syria
and only 14,000 in Afghanistan, where there
is a clear-cut need for such combat capability.
The military can help the Border Patrol with
logistical support, intelligence gathering and
construction of physical barriers. But U.S.
law generally prohibits the use of the military
in circumstances that approach actual law en-
forcement. When forces under my command
conducted counternarcotics patrols, for ex-
ample, the law- enforcement functions had to
be conducted by duly authorized personnel—
U.S. Coast Guard or Drug Enforcement Ad-
ministration (DEA) officers, typically.
If the military isn’t the answer, what
should we be doing?
Interagency co-
operation is the
first key to solv-
ing this crisis. This
should include
work not only by
the Department of
Homeland Secu-
rity but also by the
State Department
to craft diplomatic
agreements with
our neighbors;
Treasury, Com-
merce and the U.S.
Trade Representa-
tive to create economic incentives that would
help keep migrants in their own countries;
Health and Human Services to deal humanely
with the migrants crossing the border; and
the DEA to work the counternarcotics and
gang challenges that lead to much of the
migrant- driving violence. Only by harnessing
the power of an integrated government can
we create a holistic solution to the crisis.

We also need better international coopera-
tion. Mexico and the nations of Central Amer-
ica have a substantial role to play in resolving
this situation, and they can be incentivized to
do more, including possibly accepting “safe
third country” agreements—in which mi-
grants wait in other countries while the U.S.
asylum system adjudicates their cases. Mex-
ico continues to reject Trump Administration
pressure to accept such an agreement, under-
standably saying the huge backlog of cases in
U.S. courts would cause migrants to remain

inside its borders for three or more years.

Guatemala, under intense financial pressure

from the U.S., accepted one of these deals in

July, although the newly elected government

there has indicated a desire to renegotiate. All

these countries can also help by sharing intel-

ligence, deploying their police and ensuring

their border-control forces effectively crack

down on human smugglers.

The risks facing Latin American countries

are significant—the financial costs of support-

ing migrant populations are obvious, but there

is also the attendant fear of political instabil-

ity as each nation grapples with an increasing

number of newcomers living for a long time

in uncertain circumstances. The situation

in Venezuela offers a useful example: there

are currently over 4 million Venezuelans in

neighboring countries like Colombia and Bra-

zil. Mexico and Central American countries

see the difficulties

those countries are

having coping. But

it’s essential that

they act as good

partners in getting

this situation under

control.

Finally, public-

private partner-

ships can assist in

not only addressing

the humanitarian

crisis but also tack-

ling the root causes

of migration. These

have to be seeded by the U.S. government

with foreign aid and tax incentives, and the

recent decision to cut $500 million in aid to

the Northern Triangle nations of El Salvador,

Honduras and Guatemala was counterproduc-

tive. U.S. corporations and nongovernmental

organizations can help produce better condi-

tions through job creation, higher labor stan-

dards and stronger free-trade arrangements.

These strategies are far less expensive

than keeping 7,000 troops on the border or

building a huge, unnecessary wall. They will

also ultimately be more effective. The Trump

Administration’s effort to deter migrants by

creating harsh conditions at the border may

ease the flow in the short term, but any long-

term solution will require much broader co-

operation with the world to the south.

Admiral Stavridis (ret.) was the 16th Supreme

Allied Commander for NATO and is an

operating executive at the Carlyle Group

Soldiers install brackets and wire along

the border wall in November

TheView Opener

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▶ Highlights

from stories on

time.com/ideas

A lack of

urgency

We know we must

act now to reduce

the effects of climate

change, so why don’t

we? According to Bryan

Walsh, author of End

Times, one reason

has to do with how our

brains react to thoughts

of the future: “If we

view our own selves

in the future as virtual

strangers, how much

less do we care about

the lives of generations

yet to be born?”

Knowing right

from wrong

President Trump’s

remark that Jews who

vote for Democrats are

ignorant or disloyal was

foolish and dangerous,

writes Rabbi David

Wolpe, and even if you

like some of his policies

on Israel, it’s O.K. to

condemn him when he’s

wrong: “We have to be

able to hold principle

above personalities.”

Checks and

balances

Supreme Court deci-

sions like Citizens

United have allowed

for unlimited election

spending. Senator

Tom Udall proposed a

constitutional amend-

ment to change that.

“If we want to make

progress on the very

real problems Ameri-

cans face,” he writes,

“we have to create a

democracy that is fair

and open to all.”

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