Mérida InitiativeEmma Watts, Michael Konek, Michael Cadigan

Background Information

• October 22, 2007- the US and Mexico issued a statement announcing the start of the initiative

• Eventually signed into law on June 30, 2008 by G.W. Bush

• Overall agreement to expand bilateral and regional counternarcotic and security cooperation in Mexico and in Central America

• $12-15 billion in cash flow per year between the Us and Mexico for drugs

What is the Mérida Initiative?

• It is a multiyear plan for US assistance in Mexico and Central America

• Predicted to cost about $500 million in Mexico and $50 million in Central America

• Mexico was the area in need of the most aid- Mexican military and law enforcement

Goals of the Mérida Initiative:

• Mexico: to enhance and complement US and Mexican efforts against drug, human and weapons trafficking

• Central America: to strengthen the capacity of the government to find and destroy unauthorized drugs, goods, arms and people

Budget• Mexico: $500 million for planes, parts, training,

expansion of the immigrations agency database and verification system, securing communications systems, law enforcement training, etc.

• Central America: $16.6 million spread throughout the 7 countries

Spent on support for the CA Fingerprinting Exploitation (CAFÉ), technical assistance on firearms tracing and destruction, border security and anti-gang efforts

Training of Agents

• Training is included in a $24 million proposal which also covers logistics and spare parts

• 4,500 federal police have already completed training

Taught by law enforcements professionals from other countries

• Millions more have been spent on canine training

Training of Agents Continued…o They learn

criminal investigative techniques, evidence collection, crime scene preservation and ethics

How to view contents of rail cars using Railroad, Vehicle, and Cargo Inspection Systems

How to detect weapons and drugs in cars, trains and many types of containers

How to hold, transport and classify prisoners

Torture Training scandal

• A US Secretary Firm Instructor in Mexico was accused of teaching city police officers torture techniques

                    Tracking Drug Cartels 

•The U.S. government provides scanners and X-ray machines to enhance Mexican authorities’ ability to detect illicit goods at key checkpoints

• In 2008, the ATF assisted Mexico and Central America countries in setting up e-trace software. 

•ATF has also provided Mexico and Columbia with its own tracing center.  US gun firearms transactions are included in the databases.

                Combating Drug Trafficking

•The US in helping train police, prosecutors and defenders 

•Support from the US is helping to develop correction systems  •The Mexican government has used funds to establish a corrections academy to train federal correctional staff.

•Located in Xalapa in Mexico’s Veracruz state. 

                      Equipment Exchange

•Eight Bell helicopters to the Mexican Army/Air Force

•Three UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to the Federal Police

•Three UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to the Mexican Navy

                     Criticisms of Merida 

• The Mérida Initiative is called "Plan Mexico" by critics, to point out its similarities to Plan Columbia

•In "Plan Columbia", U.S. has heavily funded the Colombian military, yet cocaine production has steadily increased and registered a 27% rise in 2007, before declining in 2008 and 2009.  

•  Comparison implies that Merida is useless.

                     

                          Criticisms of Merida II

 • Human Rights activists are worried that interrogation methods will consist of torture.

 • Some people are worried that personal privacy will be compromised on the basis of being a suspected terrorist.  Ths can be compared to criticisms of the US Patriot Act.  

 • A growing number of citizens are concerned that the Mexican military is "becoming too powerful in the face of state weakness 

Security Cooperation

Challenges to Cooperation:

• Lack of Trusto Criminal Gangs have infiltrated the security

Mexican security forceso Mexicans do not trust the U.S. government

• Poor Trainingo Tactical, Criminal, Judicial

• Bad Equipment• Restrictive Laws

o Who is in charge?o Gun smuggling 

• Limited Funding

A

Solutions towards Security Cooperation

Embedded U.S. Security Forces:

• Trust:  Information can be compartmentalized• Training:  Experts can give on the job training• Equipment:  U.S. forces can have access to              

  American technology• Laws:  Small teams can take advantage of loopholes• Funding:  Cost effective compared to pure funding

B

About the Team:

• Pilot Program launched Summer 2011• Operates from an undisclosed base in northern Mexico• Fewer than 2 dozen members

o CIA, DEA, retired military• Restrictions:

o Not allowed to carry weaponso Not allowed to visit crime scenes

• May lead to the use of mercenaries in the future

C

Security Cooperation: Drones

Orbiter Mini UAV

Drones:  Mixed Success

• Drones proved very successful over the last decade• U.S. reportedly started drone operation Feb 2011

o Global Hawk UAV• News reports indicate missions actually started in

2009• U.S. has refused to sell drone technology to Mexico

o Security Concerns• Mexico has apparently bought drones from Israel

o Crash landing in Texas• Mexican Navy plans to use drones in March 2012

D

 

Security Cooperation:  Fast and Furious

• Operation by U.S.  Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)

• Encouraged gun sellers to provide guns to suspicious buyerso Gunwalking ("letting guns walk")

• Over half of the 2,000 guns were losto Many recovered at crime scenes too late

• ATF attempted to hide the scandalo Used the increase in violence from rifles as evidence

it needed stronger gun laws it had long wanted.• Shattered trust and showed American recklessness

E

Security Cooperation:  Political Pressure

• 2012 is an election year for both Mexico and the U.S.• Mexican electorate threatening change

o Fear of corruption and violenceo Increasing role of the U.S.

• Barack Obama feeling heato Drugs are still crossing the bordero Violence could spill overo Lobbyists preventing changes to gun laws

F

How Has it been successful?

• So far: The Mexican government has successfully

destroyed some smuggling routes, seized major amounts of drugs and jailed kingpins

Trained more than 6,800 federal officers

strengthened ties in order to investigate and combat money laundering

Successfully removed 29 drug cartel bosses

How has it been successful cont...

• Expanded its efforts to trace weapons in Mexico

• Increased indictments of more serious crimes

• Helped assist victims in cities in Mexico Victim’s services Alternative justice centers 3,500 trained officials there to help

Discussion Questions

1.  Where have the Central American and Mexican governments invested Merida funds?

2.  Do you think Mexico should allow U.S. security forces to operate within Mexico since Mexican forces have not always proven successful?

Sources"2010 Press Releases | Embassy of the United States Belmopan, Belize." Home | Embassy of the United States Belmopan, Belize. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. <http://belize.usembassy.gov/pr_01_13_10_page.html>. Cook, Colleen W., Rebecca G. Rush, and Clare R. Seelke. United States. Latin American Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Division. Merida Initiative: Proposed US Anticimr and Counterdrug Assistance for Mexico and Central America CRS Report for Congress. Cong. Doc. 2008. Print.

"Merida Initiative | Embassy of the United States Mexico City, Mexico." Home | Embassy of the United States Mexico City, Mexico. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. <http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/ataglance/merida-initiative.html>.

"Merida Initiative: Success/Accomplishments (Taken Question)." U.S. Department of State. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/09/172574.htm>.