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Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [Updated May 1, 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.
2009-05-01
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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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Merida Initiative for Mexico and Central America: Funding and Policy Issues [January 21, 2010]
"Increasing violence perpetrated by drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and other criminal groups is threatening citizen security in Mexico and Central America. Drug-related violence claimed more than 6,500 lives in Mexico in 2009, and several Central American countries have among the highest homicide rates in the world. Mexican DTOs dominate the illicit drug market in the United States and are expanding their operations by forming partnerships with U.S. gangs. As a result, some of the drug-related violence in Mexico has spilled over into the United States. On October 22, 2007, the United States and Mexico announced the Mérida Initiative, a proposed package of U.S. counterdrug and anticrime assistance for Mexico and Central America that would begin in FY2008 and last through FY2010. Congress appropriated roughly $1.3 billion for Mexico and Central America, as well as Haiti and the Dominican Republic, in the FY2008 Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-252), FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (P.L. 111- 8), and the FY2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-32). Each of these Acts contained human rights conditions on 15% of certain law enforcement and military assistance provided. Throughout 2009, drug-related violence in Mexico and the potential threat of spillover along the Southwest border focused congressional concern on the pace of implementation of the Mérida Initiative. On December 3, 2009, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a preliminary report for Congress on the status of funding for the Mérida Initiative."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2010-01-21
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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 [July 3, 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 announced the Mérida Initiative to combat drug trafficking, gangs, and organized crime in Mexico and Central America. The Administration requested $500 million in FY2008 supplemental assistance for Mexico as part of a $1.4 billion, multi-year aid package for the Initiative. In final legislative action in late 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. In other action, on June 10, 2008, the House approved H.R. 6028 that would authorize $1.1 billion for Mexico over three years under the Mérida Initiative."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.; Cook, Colleen W.
2008-07-03
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State Capacity and Effectiveness in Combating Crime: A Comparative Study of El Salvador and Guatemala
From the thesis abstract: "Less than two decades after the conclusion of brutal civil wars, El Salvador and Guatemala are once again faced with high levels of violence stemming from drug trafficking, organized crime, corruption, and gangs. Overall, El Salvador was more successful in post-war state building. However, despite having stronger institutions and more capabilities, it is not better off when it comes to public security when compared to Guatemala, a state with weaker institutions and fewer resources. In fact, El Salvador's homicide rates have been consistently higher. According to prevailing conventional wisdom, a country with stronger institutions and more resources should be more capable and effective at maintaining order, but this is not the case. This thesis examines the nature of crime, institutional capacity, and the effectiveness of government responses to reduce violent crime. It argues that decisions made during the transition period set these states on different paths. Furthermore, while strong institutions are important to maintaining order, government policy can strengthen or weaken the effectiveness of the institution. Strong institutions are necessary, but not sufficient."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Hampton-Gaines, Berthea G.
2012-06
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Statement by Director of Communications Matt Chandler [October 26, 2012]
On October 26, 2012, the Department of Homeland Security issued the following press release: "'The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is working with stakeholders in Puerto Rico to maintain a unified and coordinated approach to support the execution of the investigation, intelligence collection, interdiction, and other law enforcement activities directed at disrupting the flow of illegal weapons, drugs, money, and migrants into and out of Puerto Rico. These efforts are intended to focus on transnational criminal organizations and targeting violent gang members for federal prosecution. In the past two months alone, DHS operations have resulted in the seizure of over 16,000 lbs of drugs and more than 100 arrests. In addition, DHS is working with the Department of Justice and other federal and local island partners to support local law enforcement efforts, maintain a strong presence of vetted officers, and establish enhanced training and professionalism standards.'"
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office
2012-10-26
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Strengthening Rule of Law Approaches to Address Organized Crime: Criminal Market Convergence
From the Introduction: "In many parts of the world, multiple criminal markets operate in the same space, undermining good governance and regional peace and security. To varying degrees, criminal markets overlap or reinforce each other--for example, human trafficking supporting the illicit minerals trade, drugs exchanged for wildlife commodities, or illicit firearms bolstering gang control over drug turf. Systems of transporting commodities and laundering criminal profits are also common across multiple criminal markets. Often, responses to organized crime do not examine these linkages. Many law enforcement officials, civil society activists, and researchers specialize in single criminal markets without a wider focus on market intersections. Yet in some cases, a convergence lens may improve responses to organized crime by clarifying the reach of corrupt arrangements across markets, locales, and parts of the government; identifying key nodes and points of vulnerability in poly-criminal networks; applying the commitment and tools used to address one market to address other markets; and galvanizing political will across a range of stakeholders."
United States. Agency for International Development
Dininio, Phyllis, 1963-
2020-03
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Criminal Intelligence Resources Guide: A Collection of Intelligence Information Sharing Products and Resources
"The Criminal Intelligence Resources Guide focuses on intelligence products available to law enforcement officials. This guide contains a listing of available products and a brief summary of what each product entails. The guide is broken down into the following categories: 1) Analysts; 2) Fusion Centers; 3) Policy; 4) Training and Technical Assistance (specific to fusion centers); 5) Technology; 6) Gangs; 7) General Intelligence; 8) Nationwide SAR [Suspicious Activity Reporting] Initiative (NSI); 9) Privacy; 10) Security; [and] 11) Training (other than fusion center training). Documents are sorted alphabetically under each category and are available electronically via the hyperlinked title."
United States. Bureau of Justice Assistance
2012-07
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Drug Situation in the Chicago Field Division
From the Executive Summary: "The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Chicago Field Division (CFD) is comprised of the states of Illinois (Northern and Central Federal Judicial Districts of Illinois), Indiana, and Wisconsin. The City of Chicago serves as the primary drug trafficking hub for most other major cities in the CFD and surrounding states. The vast majority of drugs entering Chicago and the surrounding area, including fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances (FRS), heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, continue to be smuggled across the United States-Mexico border. Availability and abuse of these drugs is high, with opioids being the most prevalent in major cities and methamphetamine in rural areas. The primary organizational threats within the CFD are Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs)--often referred to as cartels-- that distribute illicit drugs through trusted intermediaries to local street gangs for retail sale."
United States. Drug Enforcement Administration
2019-11
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Unaccompanied Alien Children: Potential Factors Contributing to Recent Immigration [July 3, 2014]
"Since FY2008, the growth in the number of unaccompanied alien children (UAC) from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras seeking to enter the United States has increased substantially. Total unaccompanied child apprehensions increased from about 8,000 in FY2008 to 52,000 in the first 8 ½ months of FY2014. Since 2012, children from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (Central America's 'northern triangle') account for almost all of this increase. Apprehension trends for these three countries are similar and diverge sharply from those for Mexican children. Unaccompanied child migrants' motives for migrating to the United States are often multifaceted and difficult to measure analytically. Four recent out-migration-related factors distinguishing northern triangle Central American countries are high violent crime rates, poor economic conditions fueled by relatively low economic growth rates, high rates of poverty, and the presence of transnational gangs. In 2012, the homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants stood at 90.4 in Honduras (the highest in the world), 41.2 in El Salvador, and 39.9 in Guatemala. International Monetary Fund reports show economic growth rates in the northern triangle countries in 2013 ranging from 1.6% to 3.5%, relatively low compared with other Central American countries. About 45% of Salvadorans, 55% of Guatemalans, and 67% of Hondurans live in poverty. Surveys in 2013 indicate that almost half of all unaccompanied children experienced serious harm or threats by organized criminal groups or state actors, and one-fifth experienced domestic abuse."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kandel, William; Bruno, Andorra; Meyer, Peter J. . . .
2014-07-03
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PRISM: A Journal of the Center for Complex Operations (Volume 7, No.1)
This edition of PRISM contains the following articles: "How to Prepare for State-Building" By Roger Myerson; "Is There a Path Out of the Yemen Conflict? Why it Matters" By Gerald Feierstein; "Leading the National Security Enterprise" By Ronald Sanders; "21st Century Intelligence--The Need for a One-Team-One-Fight Approach" By Leslie Ireland; "MS 13--From Gang to Political Force" By Douglas Farah; "The Curse of the Shiny Object--How We Fight Problems, Where They Are Visible and Why We Need to See Beyond" ;By Gretchen Peters "ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] Radicalization, Recruitment, and Social Media Operations in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines" By Nathaniel Moir; "Fighting for Legitimacy in Afghanistan: the Creation of the Anti-Corruption Justice Center" By Chad Brooks and Craig Trebilcock; "Developing a Western Logistics Course for Kazakhstan" By George Topic and Robert Brewer; "Learning from the Struggle to Assess Counterinsurgency and Stabilization Operations in Afghanistan" By Nathan White; and "Reinventing Social Science in the Military: Lessons Learned from the United States and New Zealand" By P.S. Lieber and W.S. Hoverd.
National Defense University. Center for Technology and National Security Policy. Center for Complex Operations
2017
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Jamaica: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations [February 3, 2006]
From the Document: "Although Jamaica has a stable parliamentary democracy and is a middle-income developing country, the government of Prime Minister P.J. Patterson faces several significant challenges. These include a violent crime wave fueled by gangs and drug trafficking; high external debt, estimated at 135% of gross domestic product, that could constrain the governments social expenditures; and an adult HIV/AIDS infection rate of over 1%. U.S. relations with Jamaica are close and characterized by significant economic linkages and cooperation on such bilateral issues as anti-drug trafficking measures, hurricane reconstruction support, and efforts to combat the AIDS epidemic. Overall U.S. foreign aid to Jamaica amounted to about $41 million in FY2005 (with $18 million for hurricane assistance) and an estimated $19 million in overall aid for FY2006. This report will not be updated. For further information, see CRS Report RL32160, Caribbean Region: Issues in U.S. Relations, and CRS Report RL32001, AIDS in the Caribbean and Central America, both by Mark P. Sullivan."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.
2006-02-03
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Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy 2020
From the Introduction: "Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) operating on both sides of the United States-Canada border (Northern Border) often team with criminal biker gangs to exploit the international boundary's vulnerabilities for illegal activities. They smuggle illegal drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, marijuana, MDMA (ecstasy), and cocaine as well as weapons and the illicit proceeds from drug sales between the two countries. [...] To address the unique threats associated with the United States-Canada border, the 'Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy' ('Strategy') further refines the 'National Interdiction Command and Control Plan' ('NICCP') and the 'National Drug Control Strategy' ('NDCS') and supports the United States-Canada Joint Action Plan to Combat Opioids, by establishing the Administration's strategy to prevent the illegal trafficking of drugs across the U.S.-Canada border, as mandated by the Congress in 21 U.S.C. § 1705(c) (3)(C). This 'Strategy' reflects the longstanding tradition of close collaboration between the United States and Canada with regard to our 5,225-mile shared border--the longest in the world between two countries."
United States. Executive Office of the President; United States. Office of National Drug Control Policy
2020-02
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Central America Regional Security Initiative: Background and Policy Issues for Congress [March 30, 2011]
"The security situation in Central America has deteriorated in recent years as gangs, drug traffickers, and other criminal groups have expanded their activities in the region, contributing to escalating levels of crime and violence that have alarmed citizens and threaten to overwhelm governments. Violence is particularly intense in the 'northern triangle' countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, which have some of the highest homicide rates in the world. Citizens of nearly every Central American nation now rank public insecurity as the top problem facing their countries. Moreover, some analysts maintain that the pervasive lack of security in the region not only threatens Central American governments and civil society, but presents a potential threat to the United States. Given the proximity of Central America, instability in the region-- whether in the form of declining support for democracy as a result of corrupt governance, drug traffickers acting with impunity as a result of weak state presence, or increased emigration as a result of economic and physical insecurity--is likely to affect the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Meyer, Peter J.; Seelke, Clare Ribando
2011-03-30
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Central America Regional Security Initiative: Background and Policy Issues for Congress [July 26, 2012]
"The security situation in Central America has deteriorated in recent years as gangs, drug traffickers, and other criminal groups have expanded their activities in the region, contributing to escalating levels of crime and violence that have alarmed citizens and threaten to overwhelm governments. Violence is particularly intense in the 'northern triangle' countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, which have some of the highest homicide rates in the world. Citizens of nearly every Central American nation now rank public insecurity as the top problem facing their countries. The World Bank estimates that the overall economic costs of crime and violence average 7.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) in Central America. Moreover, some analysts maintain that the pervasive lack of security in the region not only threatens Central American governments and civil society, but presents a potential threat to the United States. Given the proximity of Central America, instability in the region--whether in the form of declining support for democracy as a result of corrupt governance, drug traffickers acting with impunity as a result of weak state presence, or increased emigration as a result of economic and physical insecurity-- is likely to affect the United States. Although some analysts assert that the current situation in Central America presents a greater threat to regional security than the civil wars of the 1980s, policymakers have only recently begun to offer increased attention and financial support to the region. During the 1980s, the United States provided Central America with an average of nearly $1.3 billion (constant 2010 U.S. dollars) annually in economic and military assistance to support efforts to combat leftist political movements."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Meyer, Peter J.; Seelke, Clare Ribando
2012-07-26
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Is the Narco-violence in Mexico an Insurgency?
From the thesis abstract: "Since Mexican President Felipe Calderón declared war on the drug cartels in December 2006, more than 35,000 Mexicans have died due to narco-violence. This monograph examines whether the various Mexican drug trafficking organizations are insurgents or organized criminal elements. Mexican narco-violence and its affiliated gang violence have spread across Mexico's southern border into Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Additionally, the narco-violence is already responsible for the deaths of American citizens on both sides of the United States -- Mexico border, and the potential for increased spillover violence is a major concern. This monograph argues that the Mexican drug cartels are transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) that pose a national security threat to the regional state actors; however, they are not an insurgency for four reasons. First, none of the cartels have the political aim or capability to overthrow the Mexican government. Second, the various TCOs are competing criminal organizations with approximately 90 percent of the violence being cartel on cartel. For example, the violence in the city of Juárez is largely the result of the fighting between the local Juárez cartel and the Sinaloa cartel for control of one of the primary smuggling routes into the United States. Third, the cartels' use of violence and coercion has turned popular support against them thus denying them legitimacy. Fourth, although the cartels do control zones of impunity within their areas of influence, the Mexican government has captured, killed, and extradited kingpins from every major TCO. [...] The conclusion of this monograph is that the TCOs have a weak case for being an insurgency due to their lack of legitimacy because violence has been excessively cruel and lacking in purpose in the eyes of the Mexican people."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies
Rogan, Michael G.
2011-05-18
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Geography & Public Safety [August 2012]
This edition of "Geography and Public Safety" contains the following articles: "Criminal Justice and Public Health Approaches to Violent Crime: Complementary Perspectives"; "Integrating Emergency Department and Police Data to Locate and Prevent Violence: The Cardiff Model"; "Using Public Health Strategies to Reduce Violence in 'Hot Spots' in East Palo Alto, California"; "Comprehensive Community Based Information System to Reduce Youth and Gang Violence in Los Angeles County and Beyond"; and "What Can We Learn from Public Health? - An Example of Sharing Law Enforcement Spatial Data with Community Partners".
National Institute of Justice (U.S.); United States. Department of Justice. Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
2012-08
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Review of the United States Marshals Service Judicial Security Process
From the Executive Summary: "Protecting the federal judiciary is one of the eight strategic goals of the Department of Justice (Department), and it is the primary mission of the United States Marshals Service (USMS). No federal judges have been assassinated since 1989, but two federal judges have been assaulted in the last three years, and the USMS receives almost 700 threats against members of the judiciary each year. Further, in the 10 years since the first World Trade Center bombing trials, the federal judiciary has conducted an increasing number of high-threat trials, such as those involving international and domestic terrorism, international drug trafficking, organized crime, and gang activity. Since fiscal year (FY) 2001, Congress has increased funding for judicial security by about 50 percent and authorized the USMS to hire 106 new Court Security Inspectors. However, Congress has expressed concern that 'as the program has grown sufficient attention has not been provided to program and budget administration….'"
United States. Department of Justice. Office of the Inspector General
2004-03
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Violence and the Pandemic: Urgent Questions for Research
From the Document: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic is the deepest global crisis yet in the 21st century. Its effects radiate into every aspect of life. In this 'HFG [Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation] Research and Policy in Brief', we address the implications of the pandemic for a problem of signal importance: violence. [...] So what exactly is happening as the pandemic unfolds to specific forms of violence, from civil wars, terrorism, and social unrest to gang homicides, child abuse, and bullying? What violence-fuelling mechanisms are triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic? How much variation is there globally in violent responses to the crisis? Will violence trends change direction as the crisis persists? What interventions can governments deliver to mitigate violence-promoting influences of the crisis, and how effective should we expect them to be? And what will happen to violence when the constraints on daily life are relaxed and economies return to--or at least toward--normal? Violence researchers across the world are uniquely equipped to formulate and provide timely answers to these and other urgent questions. High-quality research, grounded in theory and rigorous in methodology, on how the COVID-19 emergency affects violence, what we can learn from drops in violence, and how to counter increased violence can inform policy, practice, and action, as the pandemic continues to unfurl and as the globe grapples with its long-lasting aftermath."
Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation
Eisner, Manuel; Nivette, Amy
2020-04
