Mexican violence leaves 1 soldier, 20 others dead

It is always pretty disturbing to see a story like this one. How drugs and the trade of drugs can lead to such violence and death for those involved. It may sound cliche but it is not only the drug traders that are getting killed in these situations; it is all of the families that are losing husbands, sons and daughters. The tragic aspect of the drug trade is not what I want to focus on, what I want to talk about is the potential effect that this can have on the United States and our subsequent relations with Mexico.
When you look at where this violence took place you may think to yourself, boy that is awfully close to the United States border. This took place in Juarez, Mexico and if you look at the link I attached with this story you can see that it is just a stones throw from San Antonio, Texas. Is it a coincidence that this violence took place in this area of Mexico and not in some other section of the country? I don't think so.
Since this is taking place between rival drug gangs near the US border I assume that some of the drugs that these gangs are in possession of are ultimately intended to be smuggled into our country. The amount of violence that takes place on a continual basis based on the drug trade in this area is simply astounding. Last year at one point in a town near Juarez two consecutive police chiefs were murdered in their attempt to crack down on the drug trading taking place. The majority of the police force then quit in fear of their lives and in an emergency effort the Mexican militarily had to step in to restore order.
If this kind of drug trafficking violence can take place so close to our borders then what is stopping these people from sneaking over our borders and bringing the violence with them? This can't be a small or inexpensive amount of drugs either as it appears that they are worth risking human lives over the products being smuggled. Regardless of your feelings of whether or not drugs should be legal you have to see the risk of violence that takes place in the trade of these drugs. One thing I am glad for is the fact that the US has one of the best anti-drug forces in the world, the DEA, to make sure violent wars like this are kept to a minimum.