How have the conflicts between the Mexican government and drug cartels as well as wars between competing cartels impacted relations between the United States and Mexico? How has this crisis impacted Texas politically? Compare and contrast the "tale of two cities"-El Paso and Juarez-to illustrate the complexity of the drug wars on the United States and Mexico.

What will be an ideal response?

An ideal response will:
1. Describe the surge in drug-related violence along the Mexican side of the border.
2. Explain how these problems could spill across the border and more directly impact the United States.
3. Explain how Texas politicians such as former governor Rick Perry frequently made border security a political issue in their campaigns.
4. Explain how the drug wars have impacted Texas border cities, including El Paso, focusing on how Juarez has been at the center of much of the drug cartel violence, leading to a high rate of homicides there, while El Paso continues to show a relatively low crime rate with little violence spilling over from Juarez.