With the drop in value of the Mexican peso, the United States' neighbor to the south has found itself in deep economic trouble.

The U.S. government must give Mexico economic aid to help it get its economy back on track. If Mexico is ever to become a democracy it needs the help of an already fiscally established country, such as the United States.

The $40 billion in aid to Mexico will not only rescue the debt-ridden country but will also reduce the great influx of immigrants into this country. Experts believe that if the Mexican economy does not get turned around, there could be 430,000 illegal Mexican immigrants crossing the border into Texas and California this year.

Those immigrants will strain the already tense environment regarding both illegal and legal immigrants in this country. Also, the cost of foreign aid to Mexico will be far less than the cost of providing health care and schooling for the tide of immigrants.

The United States will also benefit by helping Mexico because the aid will decrease the chances of economical decline in our country. The North American Free Trade Agreement has inexorably linked the fiscal futures of the United States and Mexico. The factors affecting one economy will have a strong impact on the other.

The $40 billion will also bolster the United States' economy by creating new trading partners in Mexico for U.S. companies. Also, when Mexicans are able to purchase U.S. goods, our economy will benefit by having that many more consumers.

The interconnectedness of the United States and Mexico means that we can no longer ignore the plight of our southern neighbors.