January 14, AD2023
We Are Not Being Ethical Or Honest About the US-Mexico Border
The history of the border disputes between Mexico and the United States/Texas goes back to the 1820s. There is a lot of misunderstood history, and bad history makes for bad politics. Nevertheless, in 2024, it is clear which side of the border is sovereign Mexican territory and that Texas is on the other side and is sovereign American territory. The USA and Mexico, however, have a humanitarian crisis on their shared border, and not enough is being done to protect human lives.
One of the classes I teach is an ethical reasoning course on Poverty and Culture. I introduce my students to the principle of asking questions that test the boundaries of the arguments presented to them. One of the things that, sadly, Americans tend to refrain from doing in the current history of wars and American partisan battles is asking good questions. Part of this is that few in government or politics are willing to accept the consequences of failure. In an unethical time, there is little incentive to be the one who actually accepts blame.
Additionally, there is little reason to explore questions that may remove some of the blame from your opponent. Liable actors who are not your domestic opponents may be let off the hook because you cannot gain a domestic political advantage by attacking them. Then there is bias; you can be biased against other groups by believing them to be less capable than they really are, and as a result, you will not hold them accountable. And, of course, that suits the other people involved who do not want to be held accountable.
The recent tragic incident near Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, where migrants drowned while attempting to cross into the United States, should lead to some pointed questions. American debates on the border are ignoring the shared responsibility between Texas and Mexico, specifically concerning the migrant crisis. Americans need to examine the ethical logic surrounding the rival approaches of the U.S. Government and the State of Texas to detaining, adjudicating, and transporting illegal entrants. And, Americans need to reevaluate Mexico and its states' roles in preventing access to unsafe areas for vulnerable migrants.
Texas's approach of detaining and transporting illegal entrants to other states has been criticized as wrong and cruel. The ethical argument against this policy hinges on the principle of human dignity and the state's responsibility to protect vulnerable individuals, not use them for political grandstanding. Okay, one could see the argument that detaining and subsequently moving migrants without addressing their humanitarian needs raises questions about the ethical implications of such a policy, especially considering the risks involved in these migrations.
However, if this is true, why stand by while the vulnerable, the illegal migrants, go to Texas, where there is arguably a hostile government? If Texas is wrong, if Texas is unsafe, and if Texas is cruel, why is Mexico not held to be negligent in preventing entry into "cruel and unsafe" Texas?
