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Mexico and the 112th Congress [January 29, 2013]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Although security issues have recently dominated the U.S. relationship with Mexico, analysts predict that bilateral relations may shift toward economic matters now that President Enrique Peña Nieto has taken office. Peña Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) defeated leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Josefina Vázquez Mota of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) in Mexico's July 1, 2012 presidential election. As a result, the PRI, which controlled Mexico from 1929 to 2000, retook the presidency on December 1, 2012. Some analysts have raised concerns regarding the PRI's return to power, but President Peña Nieto has pledged to govern democratically and to forge cross-party alliances. The outgoing PAN government of Felipe Calderón pursued an aggressive anticrime strategy and increased security cooperation with the United States. Those efforts helped Mexico arrest or kill record numbers of drug kingpins, but 60,000 people may have died as a result of organized crimerelated violence during the Calderón Administration. Mexico's ongoing security challenges overshadowed some of the Calderón government's achievements, including its successful economic stewardship during and after the global financial crisis."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2013-01-29
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Mexico: Issues for Congress [September 24, 2012]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Although security issues have recently dominated the U.S. relationship with Mexico, analysts predict that bilateral relations may shift toward economic matters once President-elect Enrique Peña Nieto takes office. Peña Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) defeated leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Josefina Vázquez Mota of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) in Mexico's July 1, 2012, presidential election. As a result, the PRI, which controlled Mexico from 1929 to 2000, will retake the presidency on December 1, 2012. Some analysts have raised concerns regarding the PRI's corrupt past and impending return to power, but President-elect Peña Nieto has pledged to govern democratically and to forge cross-party alliances. The outgoing PAN government of Felipe Calderón has pursued an aggressive anticrime strategy and increased security cooperation with the United States. These efforts have helped Mexico arrest or kill record numbers of drug kingpins, but more than 55,000 people have died as a result of organized crime-related violence since December 2006. Mexico's ongoing security challenges have overshadowed some of the Calderón government's achievements, including its successful economic stewardship during the global financial crisis and expansion of healthcare coverage."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2012-09-24
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Mexico: Issues for Congress [February 15, 2012]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship. As neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the United States and Mexico have extensive economic linkages." In the past few years, drug trafficking, organized crime, immigration, and border security are the issues that have dominated the relationship between the two countries. The United States has provided over $1.9 billion in training and equipment to President Calderon's government, which has also employed aggressive anticrime efforts. "The Calderon administration has arrested record numbers of drug kingpins, but the brazen violence committed by warring criminal groups […] has led to an increasing criticism of its security strategy. According to Mexican government data, organized crime-related violence claimed more than 47,500 lives in Mexico between December 2006 and September 2011." The issues of security and the economy are likely to be the most important concerns "in the July 1, 2012 presidential, legislative, and state elections." President Calderon's National Action Party (PAN) may lose to the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Due to the relationship between the United States and Mexico, "Congress has maintained an active interest in Mexico with counternarcotics, border security, and trade issues dominating the agenda." Congressional funding will most likely continue, and Congress may begin to monitor "how organized crime and government efforts to suppress it are affecting human rights and democracy in Mexico."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2012-02-15
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Mexico: Issues for Congress [September 2, 2011]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship. As neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the United States and Mexico have extensive economic linkages, with bilateral trade valued at almost $400 billion in 2010. In recent years, security issues have dominated the bilateral relationship, and the United States is providing more than $1.6 billion worth of training and equipment to Mexico through the Mérida Initiative to support efforts against drug trafficking and organized crime. Immigration and border security have also returned to the forefront of the bilateral agenda since Arizona became the first state to enact a strict law against illegal immigration in April 2010."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2011-09-02
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Mexico: Issues for Congress [June 9, 2011]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship. As neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the United States and Mexico have extensive economic linkages. In recent years, security issues have dominated U.S.- Mexican relations, as the United States has supported Mexican President Felipe Calderón's campaign against organized crime through the Mérida Initiative, an assistance package first funded in FY2008. Immigration and border security have also returned to the forefront of the bilateral agenda since Arizona enacted a strict law against illegal immigration in April 2010. In response to concerns about border security, President Obama deployed 1,200 National Guard troops to support law enforcement efforts along the U.S.-Mexico border in July 2010. […] Congress has appropriated more than $1.5 billion in assistance for Mexico under the Mérida Initiative and expressed concern about the slow delivery of that assistance. In August 2010, Congress approved $600 million in supplemental funds for border security (P.L. 111-230). The 112th Congress is likely to maintain a keen interest in how implementation of the Mérida Initiative and related border security initiatives are proceeding. Congress may consider proposals for comprehensive immigration reform or initiatives aimed at resolving discrete migration or border security issues. On the trade front, Congress is likely to maintain interest in how the Obama Administration moves to resolve ongoing disputes related to trucking and tuna with Mexico and facilitate commerce along the U.S.-Mexico border."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2011-06-09
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [February 15, 2011]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship, with extensive economic linkages as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In recent years, security issues have dominated U.S.-Mexican relations, as the United States has supported Mexican President Felipe Calderón's campaign against drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) through bilateral security cooperation initiatives including the Mérida Initiative, an anti-crime and counterdrug assistance package first funded in FY2008. Immigration and border security have also returned to the forefront of the bilateral agenda since Arizona enacted a controversial state law against illegal immigration (S.B. 1070) on April 23, 2010. In response to rising concerns about border security, President Obama deployed 1,200 National Guard troops to support law enforcement efforts along the U.S.-Mexico border and the 111th Congress approved $600 million in supplemental funds for border security (P.L. 111-230). [...] Congress has maintained an active interest in Mexico with counternarcotics, border, and trade issues dominating the agenda. Congress has appropriated some $1.5 billion in assistance for Mexico under the Mérida Initiative and expressed concern about the slow delivery of that assistance. The 112th Congress is likely to maintain a keen interest in how implementation of the Mérida Initiative and related border security initiatives are proceeding, particularly now that National Guard troops are on the Southwest border. Congress may also consider proposals for comprehensive immigration reform. On the trade front, Congress is likely to maintain interest in how the Obama Administration moves to resolve ongoing disputes related to trucking and tuna with Mexico, facilitate commerce along the U.S.-Mexico border, and deepen cooperation under NAFTA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2011-02-15
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [September 2, 2010]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship, with extensive economic linkages as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In recent years, security issues have dominated U.S.-Mexican relations, as the United States has supported Mexican President Felipe Calderón's campaign against drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) through bilateral security cooperation initiatives including the Mérida Initiative, an anti-crime and counterdrug assistance package first funded in FY2008. Immigration and border security have also returned to the forefront of the bilateral agenda since Arizona enacted a controversial state law against illegal immigration (S.B. 1070) on April 23, 2010. In late July 2010, a federal judge blocked large parts of S.B. 1070 from taking effect pending the results of a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit challenging its constitutionality. In response to rising concerns about border security, President Obama has deployed 1,200 National Guard troops to support law enforcement efforts along the U.S.-Mexico border and Congress has approved $600 million in supplemental funds for border security (P.L. 111-230). Now in the fourth year of his six-year term, President Calderón of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) is focused on restarting the Mexican economy, which contracted by 7% in 2009 (largely as a result of the U.S. recession), and combating drug traffickers and organized criminal groups. Although the Calderón Administration has arrested several top drug kingpins, the persistent and increasingly brazen violence committed by the DTOs has led to significant criticism of Calderón's anti-drug strategy."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2010-09-02
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [June 3, 2010]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship, with extensive economic linkages as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). U.S.-Mexican relations are characterized by strong commercial and cultural ties and cooperation on a range of bilateral and international issues. In recent years, security issues have dominated the bilateral agenda, as the United States has supported Mexican President Felipe Calderón's campaign against drug trafficking organizations (DTOs). Immigration and border security have also returned to the forefront of the bilateral agenda since Arizona enacted a controversial state law against illegal immigration (SB 1070) on April 23, 2010, a measure opposed by President Barack Obama. On May 25, 2010, in response to rising state and local concerns about border security, President Obama authorized sending up to 1,200 National Guard troops to support law enforcement efforts along the U.S.-Mexico border. […]The 111th Congress has maintained an active interest in Mexico with counternarcotics, border, and trade issues dominating the agenda. To date, Congress has appropriated some $1.3 billion in assistance for Mexico under the Mérida Initiative, an anti-crime and counterdrug package first funded in FY2008. The Senate-passed version of, H.R. 4899, the FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations measure, would provide $175 million in additional assistance for Mérida-related programs in Mexico. The House is reportedly considering inserting additional funds for justice sectors programs in Mexico and for border security into its version of the supplemental measure. The Obama Administration asked for $346.6 million in assistance for Mexico in its FY2011 budget request, including $310 million in Mérida-related funding."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2010-06-03
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [March 17, 2010]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship, with extensive economic linkages as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Bilateral relations are characterized by strong commercial and cultural ties and cooperation on a range of bilateral and international issues. In recent years, security issues have dominated the bilateral agenda, as the United States has supported Mexican President Felipe Calderón's campaign against drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and organized crime. In the second half of his six-year term, President Calderón of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) is focused on dealing with two major challenges: restarting the Mexican economy, which contracted by 7% in 2009 (largely as a result of the U.S. recession), and combating DTOs. In addition, Calderón submitted a wide-ranging political reform proposal to the Mexican Congress in December 2009, which, if enacted, would introduce run-off presidential elections, permit legislators to run for re-election, and reduce the size of the Congress. As the 2012 presidential elections approach, the Congress, which is now dominated by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), could be reluctant to give President Calderón any major legislative victories or to take up difficult issues such as reforming the declining oil sector."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2010-03-17
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [February 3, 2010]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship, with extensive economic linkages as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Bilateral relations are characterized by strong commercial and cultural ties and cooperation on a range of bilateral and international issues. In recent years, security issues have dominated the bilateral agenda, as the United States has supported Mexican President Felipe Calderón's campaign against drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and organized crime. […] During its second session, the 111th Congress is likely to maintain an active interest in Mexico with counternarcotics, border, and trade issues dominating the agenda. To date, Congress has appropriated some $1.3 billion in assistance for Mexico under the Mérida Initiative, an anti-crime and counterdrug package first funded in FY2008, including $210.3 million in the FY2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-117). Congress is likely to maintain a keen interest in how implementation of the Mérida Initiative and related domestic initiatives to improve border security are proceeding, particularly as it considers the President's FY2011 budget request, which includes at least $341 million in assistance to Mexico, including $310 million in assistance accounts that have funded the Mérida Initiative. Congress may also be interested in how the Obama Administration moves to resolve the current trucking dispute with Mexico now that P.L. 111-117 would permit the resumption of a U.S.-funded pilot program for Mexican trucks. Congress may also consider proposals for comprehensive immigration reform."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.; Seelke, Clare Ribando; Beittel, June S.
2010-02-03
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [May 13, 2009]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship, with extensive economic linkages as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Bilateral relations are close, and characterized by extensive commercial and cultural ties and cooperation on a range of bilateral and international issues. A current bilateral dispute involves the implementation of NAFTA trucking provisions. In March 2009, Congress terminated a pilot-project for Mexican-registered trucks to operate beyond the border commercial zone, and Mexico responded by imposing import tariffs on over 90 U.S. agricultural and industrial products. […].President Barack Obama traveled to Mexico on April 16-17, 2009 to discuss cooperation in the fight against drug-related violence, immigration reform, and clean energy and climate change. This had been preceded by visits in March by Secretary of State Clinton, who discussed a broad range of bilateral issues, including Mérida Initiative cooperation, and Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano, and Attorney General Eric Holder who emphasized new anti-crime efforts. On April 24, 2009, Mexico's Health Ministry announced an outbreak of a new influenza strain, subsequently dubbed influenza A(H1N1). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel health warning on April 27 advising U.S. citizens to avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. The Calderón government took significant measures to combat the outbreak, which began to ease in early May 2009. The influenza outbreak will likely have a significant negative effect on the Mexican economy, which already has been experiencing a severe downturn because of the global financial crisis and U.S. recession."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.; Beittel, June S.
2009-05-13
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [April 14, 2009]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship, with extensive economic linkages as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Since 1994, trade between the countries has more than quadrupled. Bilateral relations are close, and characterized by extensive commercial and cultural ties and cooperation on a range of bilateral and international issues. A current trade dispute with the United States involves the implementation of NAFTA trucking provisions. In March 2009, Congress terminated a pilot-project for Mexican-registered trucks to operate beyond the 25-mile border commercial zone with the United States, and Mexico responded by imposing import tariffs on over 90 U.S. agricultural and industrial products. Drug trafficking issues are prominent in relations since Mexico is the leading transit country for cocaine, a leading supplier of methamphetamine and heroin, and the leading foreign supplier of marijuana. Shortly after taking office in December 2006, President Felipe Calderón launched operations against Mexican drug trafficking organizations. […]. U.S.-Mexican cooperation on drug trafficking has intensified over the past several years, and both countries announced the Mérida Initiative in October 2007 to combat drug trafficking, gangs, and organized crime in Mexico and Central America. […]. The 111th Congress is maintaining an active interest in Mexico with myriad counternarcotics, border, and trade issues dominating the agenda. To date, there have already been a dozen hearings dealing with the increased violence in Mexico as well as U.S. foreign assistance and border security efforts. Comprehensive immigration reform efforts once again could be considered in the 111th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.; Beittel, June S.
2009-04-14
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [December 18, 2008]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship, with extensive economic linkages as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Since 1994, trade between the countries has tripled. Bilateral relations are generally friendly, although the U.S. enactment of border fence legislation in 2006 caused some tension in the relationship. Under the Bush Administration, the United States launched initiatives to combat drug trafficking, augment border security, and combat human smuggling. Drug trafficking issues are prominent in relations since Mexico is the leading transit country for cocaine, a leading supplier of methamphetamine and heroin, and the leading foreign supplier of marijuana to the United States. In October 2007, the United States and Mexico proposed the Mérida Initiative to combat drug trafficking, gangs, and organized crime in Mexico and Central America. [...]. An unexpected challenge for Calderón is the effect of the recent global financial crisis on the Mexican economy, which already has led to a decline in the stock market and the value of the peso. The 111th Congress will likely maintain an active interest in Mexico with myriad counternarcotics, migration, trade, and border issues dominating the agenda. Comprehensive immigration reform was debated early in the 110th Congress, but the issue was put aside following a failed cloture motion in the Senate on the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1348). Immigration reform efforts once again could be considered in the 111th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.; Beittel, June S.
2008-12-18
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [Updated November 14, 2008]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship, with extensive economic linkages as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Bilateral relations are generally friendly, although the U.S. enactment of border fence legislation in 2006 caused some tension in the relationship. Drug trafficking issues are prominent in relations since Mexico is the leading transit country for cocaine, a leading supplier of methamphetamine and heroin, and the leading foreign supplier of marijuana to the United States. In October 2007, the United States and Mexico proposed the Mérida Initiative to combat drug trafficking, gangs, and organized crime in Mexico and Central America. In legislative action in June 2008 on H.R. 2642 (P.L. 110-252), Congress appropriated $400 million for Mexico -- $352 million in FY2008 supplemental assistance and $48 million in FY2009 bridge fund supplemental assistance. Shortly after taking office in December 2006, President Felipe Calderón of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) launched operations against Mexican drug cartels. He has sent some 40,000 soldiers and 5,000 federal police to drug trafficking 'hot-spots,' and is contending with an escalation of drug violence throughout the country. Calderón has increased extraditions to the United States, and has demonstrated an unprecedented willingness to reach out for counternarcotics assistance from the United States while also calling for increased U.S. efforts on arms trafficking and a reduction in the U.S. demand for illicit drugs. In his first two years in office, President Calderón secured approval of several major reforms, including fiscal and pension reforms in 2007, and judicial and energy reforms in 2008. An unexpected challenge for Calderón is the effect of the recent global financial crisis on the Mexican economy, which already has led to a decline in the stock market, the value of the peso, and remittances from Mexicans abroad."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.; Cook, Colleen W.; Durand, Alessandra
2008-11-14
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [Updated May 23, 2008]
This CRS report provides an overview of the relationship between the United States and its southern neighbor-Mexico. First of all, the report looks at the most recent developments that have occurred this year. The relationship between the two nations is examined in the following areas: political developments, economic conditions, socio-economic conditions and foreign policy challenges. The report also reviews certain bilateral issues for Congress as well as enacted legislation and additional legislative initiatives. According to the report, "the United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship, with extensive economic linkages as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA]. Bilateral relations are generally friendly, although the U.S. enactment of border fence legislation in October 2006 caused some tension in the relationship. Drug trafficking issues are prominent in relations since Mexico is the leading transit country for cocaine, a leading supplier of methamphetamine and heroin, and the leading foreign supplier of marijuana to the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dale, Catherine
2008-05-23
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [Updated February 28, 2008]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex relationship as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Although relations with Mexico are generally friendly, and in October 2007, the two countries announced an unprecedented initiative to increase counternarcotics cooperation known as the Mérida Initiative. The enactment of border fence legislation in October 2006 has caused some tension in the bilateral relationship. In October 2007, the United States and Mexico announced the Mérida Initiative to combat drug trafficking, gangs, and organized crime in Mexico and Central America. The Administration has requested $500 million in supplemental assistance for Mexico as part of a $1.4 billion, multi-year aid package. The Administration requested a further $450 million in assistance in its FY2009 Budget request. Mexico is the leading transit country for cocaine, a leading supplier of methamphetamine and heroin, and the leading foreign supplier of marijuana to the United States. […] Migration and border security concerns have dominated the bilateral relationship in recent years. Comprehensive immigration reform was debated early in the 110th Congress, but the issue has been put aside following a failed cloture motion in the Senate on the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1348). In September 2006, Congress approved the Secure Fence Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-367) to authorize the construction of a border fence and other barriers along 700 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. In September 2006, Congress also approved initial funding for fence construction, $1.2 billion, through the FY2007 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cook, Colleen W.
2008-02-28
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [Updated November 14, 2007]
"The United States and Mexico have a close and complex relationship as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Although relations with Mexico are generally friendly, the enactment of border fence legislation in October 2006 has caused some tension in the bilateral relationship. Felipe Calderón of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) narrowly defeated leftist Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) in the disputed July 2, 2006, presidential election. Shortly after taking office President Calderón launched operations against drug cartels in nine states. He has increased extraditions to the United States to 79 through October 2007, up from the record 63 extraditions in 2006. President Calderón has demonstrated an unprecedented willingness to reach out for counternarcotics assistance from the United States while also openly calling for increased U.S. efforts to reduce the U.S. demand for illicit drugs, gun trafficking, and money laundering. In October 2007, the United States and Mexico announced the Mérida Initiative to combat drug trafficking, gangs, and organized crime in Mexico and Central America. The Administration has requested $500 million in supplemental assistance for Mexico as part of a $1.4 billion, multi-year aid package. Migration and border security concerns have dominated the bilateral relationship in recent years. Comprehensive immigration reform was debated early in the 110th Congress, but the issue has been put aside following a failed cloture motion in the Senate on the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1348)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cook, Colleen W.
2007-11-14
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [Updated May 30, 2007]
"The United States and Mexico have a special relationship as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Although relations with Mexico are generally friendly, the enactment of border fence legislation in October 2006 has caused some tension in the bilateral relationship. […] Migration and border security concerns have dominated the bilateral relationship in recent years. Immigration reform legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate. The Senate began debate on the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1348) in May 2007. In September 2006, Congress approved the Secure Fence Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-367) to authorize the construction of a border fence and other barriers along 700 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. In September 2006, Congress also approved initial funding for fence construction, $1.2 billion, through the FY2007 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. Both the House and Senate approved immigration reform measures (H.R. 4437 and S. 2611, respectively) but did not meet in conference to resolve differences. Principal sticking points include the House provision that would criminalize unlawful presence and Senate provisions to adjust the status of certain illegal immigrants. Bush Administration officials regularly praised Mexico's counternarcotics efforts under former President Vicente Fox and anticipate continued strong relations under President-elect Felipe Calderón. Mexico is the leading transit country for cocaine, a leading supplier of methamphetamine, and the leading foreign supplier of marijuana to the United States. The USA Patriot Act Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-177), enacted in March 2006, includes provisions to combat methamphetamine smuggling from Mexico."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cook, Colleen W.
2007-05-30
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [Updated January 22, 2007]
"The United States and Mexico have a special relationship as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Although relations with Mexico are generally friendly, the enactment of border fence legislation in October 2006 has caused some tension in the bilateral relationship. […] President Calderón was sworn into office on December 1, 2006. During his first weeks in office he has focused on law and order matters, beginning operations against drug cartels and extraditing 15 criminals to the United States on January 19, 2007. U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales praised the extraditions and has praised Calderón's efforts to combat the drug cartels. Drug violence and press freedom remain a concern. Migration and border security concerns have dominated the bilateral relationship in recent years. In September, Congress approved the Secure Fence Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-367) to authorize the construction of a border fence and other barriers along 700 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. In September 2006, Congress also approved initial funding for fence construction, $1.2 billion, through the FY2007 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. Both the House and Senate approved immigration reform measures (H.R. 4437 and S. 2611, respectively) but did not meet in conference to resolve differences. Principal sticking points include the House provision that criminalizes unlawful presence and Senate provisions to adjust the status of certain illegal immigrants."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cook, Colleen W.
2007-01-22
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for the 109th Congress [Updated February 21, 2006]
"The United States and Mexico have a special relationship as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The friendly relationship has been strengthened by President Bushs meetings with President Fox. This report, covering trade, migration/border, drug trafficking, and political issues, will be updated on a regular basis, with action on migration issues expected."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cook, Colleen W.
2006-02-21
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for the 109th Congress [Updated January 20, 2006]
"The United States and Mexico have a special relationship as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The friendly relationship has been strengthened by President Bush's meetings with President Fox. This report, covering trade, migration/border, drug trafficking, and political issues, will be updated on a regular basis, with action on migration issues expected."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Storrs, K. Larry (Keith Larry), 1937-
2006-01-20
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for the 109th Congress [Updated August 4, 2005]
"On June 27, 2005, Secretary of Homeland Security Chertoff and Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez met with their Canadian and Mexican counterparts in Ottawa, Canada, and released a Report to Leaders with initial results and proposed initiatives for the future under the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) of North America. On July 3, 2005, in an important gubernatorial election in the populous state of Mexico, PRI candidate Enrique Pea won with 48% of the vote, while the PAN candidate received 25%, and the PRD candidate received 24%, although the losing parties claimed that PRI campaign expenses exceeded the legal limits. On July 29, 2005, U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza announced that the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo would be closed for a week to assess security conditions in the wake of continuing violence in the border city. On August 2, 2005, President Fox called for a strengthening of 'Operation Safe Mexico,' under which Mexican federal police and military forces have reinforced state forces in key border areas."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Storrs, K. Larry (Keith Larry), 1937-
2005-08-04
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for the 109th Congress [Updated June 2, 2005]
"On April 5, 2005, the Departments of State and Homeland Security announced the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative to be adopted in phases that , after January 2008, will require U.S. and foreign citizens arriving in the United States from Western Hemisphere countries to have passports or other acceptable documents. On April 27, 2005, President Fox accepted the resignation of Attorney General Rafael Macedo de las Concha, and he called for a reevaluation of the legal case against the popular Mayor of Mexico City, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, that was endangering the Mayor's participation in the July 2006 presidential election. On May 11, 2005, President Bush signed the FY2005 Emergency Supplemental for Defense/Tsunami Relief (H.R. 1268/P.L. 109-13) with provisions in Division B, the REAL ID Act of 2005, that strengthened border controls and created tighter standards for the issuance of drivers' licenses. On May 23, 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of a Mexican on death row who claims that he had been denied consular notification under the Vienna Convention; the Court ordered the lower courts to resolve the issue under President Bush's directive that all cases be reviewed to comply with a decision of the International Court of Justice. On May 31, 2005, Mexico's Secretary of Government Santiago Creel met with Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff to discuss ongoing efforts to modernize the border crossing points and to regularize migration. On June 1, 2005, Secretary Creel resigned to seek the candidacy of the PAN in the July 2006 presidential race."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Storrs, K. Larry (Keith Larry), 1937-
2005-06-02
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for the 109th Congress [Updated March 30, 2005]
"The United States and Mexico have a special relationship as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The friendly relationship has been strengthened by President Bush's meetings with President Fox. This report, covering trade, migration/border, drug trafficking, and political issues, will be updated on a regular basis. [...] On March 7, 2005, the United States withdrew from the Optional Protocol giving the International Court of Justice jurisdiction over disputes under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations; this came a week after President Bush directed state courts to review the cases of 51 Mexicans on death row to comply with a March 2004 ICJ [International Court of Justice] decision that the United States had breached its obligations under the Vienna Convention by failing to notify Mexican consular officials when those Mexican nationals were arrested. On March 10, 2005, Secretary of State Rice visited Mexico in preparation for President Bush's March 23 meeting with the leaders of Mexico and Canada; she praised the remarkable cooperation between the countries, defended the recent State Department reports on human rights and drug control efforts against Mexican criticism, and announced Mexico's agreement to transfer enough water to meet its existing water debt with the United States. On March 16, 2005, the House passed the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for FY2005 (H.R. 1268), with the text of H.R. 418, the REAL ID Act, as Division B, with identity card standards and provisions to facilitate the completion of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. On March 23, 2005, President Bush hosted meetings in Texas with President Fox and Prime Minister Martin, in which the leaders established the trilateral 'Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) of North America,' that will seek to advance the common security and the common prosperity of the countries through expanded cooperation and harmonization of policies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Storrs, K. Larry (Keith Larry), 1937-
2005-03-30
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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for the 109th Congress [Updated January 6, 2005]
"The United States and Mexico have a special relationship as neighbors and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The friendly relationship has been strengthened by President Bush's meetings with President Fox. This report covering trade, migration/border, drug trafficking, and political issues will be updated on a regular basis"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Storrs, K. Larry (Keith Larry), 1937-
2005-01-06
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