Caption: Laredo Police Department officer Joe Baeza in his patrol car., Credit: Ruxandra Guidi
Image by: Ruxandra Guidi 
Laredo Police Department officer Joe Baeza in his patrol car. 

Lessons of Policing the Border

From: Ruxandra Guidi
Length: 00:04:26

In 2002, rampant border drug-related violence in Nuevo Laredo seriously changed the community in Laredo, on the U.S. side of the border. These days, Laredo is adjusting to the post-violence phase of its relationship with its Mexican counterpart. Read the full description.
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Piece Description

As the violence fueled by the drug trafficking cartels has grown along the U.S.-Mexico border, so has the fear that it could spread into American cities, as well. In the first two months of this year, almost 300 people have been killed in border communities like Ciudad Juarez -- prompting state officials in Texas to establish a border-wide emergency plan. Laredo -- and its Mexican sister-city, Nuevo Laredo -- have shown little signs of the current wave of violence. But three years ago, it was a different story.

Broadcast History

Aired once on Latino USA (05.08.09)