Mexican drug cartels battling for strategic routes to the U.S. border have responded to the Mexican government’s interference by murdering police officers and instigating nationwide violence.

While the violence and protests could cause delays at the border, it is unlikely U.S. citizens will be harmed.

Although the U.S. Department of State has issued a travel advisory warning, Mexican drug cartels should realize that putting any American citizens in danger will likely lead to U.S. intervention.

Mexico’s drug problem is a long and well documented one, and it is doubtful circumstances will change by the time spring break occurs. There are many things the U.S. could do, however, to help Mexico snuff out its drug industry — or at least diminish its importance in Mexican society.

One of the major reasons people resort to underground, illegal activities for income such as drug trafficking is because they see no other way out of their condition. The Mexican government also has failed in one of the greatest principles of government in the past ­— to provide for its people.

Mexico’s social welfare system is strained and cannot support the amount of people who need it, but drug cartels are overflowing with money and can offer Mexican citizens the necessities and luxuries its government can’t.

Consequently, when the leaders of various drug cartels decide to run for public office, they already have a dedicated constituency that continues to contribute to the government corruption that allows drug lords to go untouched by the law.

The best way to halt illegal industries and boost the standard of living in developing countries is to strengthen the quality of education. Mexico is a developing nation with poor education standards, so earning a college degree is not an ingrained idea for Mexican youth as it is in America.

The U.S. could help alter the Mexican psyche by tying foreign aid provisions to improving academic standards, which could mean setting desired standardized test scores, increasing technology use in the classroom and the percentage of students going to a place of higher learning. If certain requirements are not met, Mexico would not be eligible for aid.

Ultimately, U.S. vacationers or those traveling there as part of the Alternative Spring Break Program will not likely see the effects of Mexico’s drug problem.

Over time, however, Mexico’s drug problem will become even more visible in the U.S.