This report begins with a brief discussion of security challenges in mexico and mexicos security strategy. The merida initiative and drug trafficking yasemin tekin introduction in recent decades, mexico has remained one of the worlds key players in the global drug market. Jocelyn chi, lila hayatdavoudi, sarah kruszona and brad rowe. Shannon, assistant secretary for western hemisphere affairs, november 16, 2007. The evolving merida initiative and the policy of shared. Click add files and select the files you want to include in your pdf. The merida initiative supports efforts partner nations themselves have initiated to combat a common enemytransnational criminal organizations. In merida, the united states and mexico have reaffirmed a commitment to enhanced partnership, cooperation, training, assistance, information sharing, built on the premise that we have a shared responsibility to confront these criminals and protect our citizens, and that success requires increased. The merida initiative pepperdine school of public policy. The result is a convergence of threats that have evolved to become more complex. This is more than ten times current annual us antidrug aid to mexico. Merida initiative for the mexican city where the framework agreement was. Trump as president of the united states opens a new era in u. In december 2008, mexico and the united states signed the first letter of agreement loa for the merida initiative, marking a new era of binational cooperation.
Merida initiative archives page 2 of 6 insight crime. The report concludes by raising policy issues that congress may wish to consider. The merida initiative is too little money, too late. Boston, massachusetts, august 5, 2019 during its summer conference, the american correctional association aca formally reaccredited 12 mexican prisons, and accredited, for the first time, a federal prison in coahuila, all of which had received support from the merida initiative.
Border tunnels are most often used to transport narcotics from mexico to the united states, but could also be used to transport people and other contraband. It then provides information on congressional funding and oversight of the merida initiative, with details about each of the programs four pillars. Insight crime codirector steven dudley was invited to testify before us congress on may 23, in order to. Merida initiative was motivated by the growing concern of the u. The united states should increase the size and scope of the merida initiative by. How to merge pdfs and combine pdf files adobe acrobat dc. It is important to contextualize the merida initiative. Under this threeyear initiative, local organization ceead works with law schools to adapt their curricula to the new criminal justice system. Initially signed by presidents calderon and bush, the merida initiative. Mexico merida initiative culture of lawfulness program.
In december 2009, we issued a correspondence detailing the funding status of the merida initiative. Fy 2020 congressional budget justification department of. We depend on one another in order to live in a peaceful region. This article will present an initial assessment of the merida initiative within the framework of u.
Initiative will provide longterm solutions to mexicos drug and security problems. Merida initiative has led to a new architecture for bilateral security cooperation. Olson introduction the inauguration of andres manuel lopez obrador on december 1, 2018 as president of mexico opens a new era in mexicos security relationship with the united states. The merida initiative was envisioned as a threeyear program. Trump as president of the united states opens a new era in. Merida initiative for mexico and central america every crs report. Click, drag, and drop to reorder files or press delete to remove any content you dont want. Mexican drug trafficking organizations and their associates represents a significant and persistent threat to border security.
Pmi presidents malaria initiative ppl bureau for policy, planning and learning, usaid preact partnership for regional east africa counterterrorism prepcom preparatory committee prm bureau of population, refugees, and migration, department of state prp bureau for policy, resources, and performance, usaid. It is still unclear whether the framework of shared responsibility that has guided security cooperation between both nations will be deepened and strengthened, as it has been over the past decade, or is completely overhauled. Merida initiative fact sheet corrections program the goal of the merida initiatives corrections program is to support the government of mexico gom in improving the capacity of its prisons system to more effectively manage its inmate population and conduct meaningful reforms. The merida initiative and beyond congressional research service 1 introduction for several years, violence perpetrated by warring criminal organizations has threatened citizen security and governance in mexico and presented serious challenges to the countrys justice sector institutions. Jul 23, 2018 this report begins with a brief discussion of security challenges in mexico and mexicos security strategy. Crime wave has left about 25,000 missing, government documents show. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, catalog of federal domestic assistance cfda numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants.
The department of state state manages the initiative while other u. The summary for the mexico merida initiative culture of lawfulness program grant is detailed below. This paper will also attempt to understand the merida initiative in the context of the war on terrorism due to the september 11th attacks on the twin towers in new york city. The merida initiative security assistance proposalsbudgets and item. Jan 15, 2016 this report begins with a brief discussion of security challenges in mexico and mexicos security strategy. Hoja informativa iniciativa merida panorama general. The house committee on foreign affairs s ubcommittee on the western hemisphere held. Aug 27, 2018 it is important to contextualize the merida initiative. The merida initiative is a security cooperation agreement between the united states and mexico.
Transnational organized criminals are threatening us interests by. Through six years of implementation, the merida initiative has led to a new architecture for. Department of state, foreign press center ontherecord briefing, the merida initiative, thomas a. The merida initiative and beyond congressional research service summary violence perpetrated by a range of criminal groups continues to threaten citizen security and governance in some parts of mexico, a country with which the united states shares a nearly. The initiative will strengthen at least 200 law schools, both public and private, located in 24 states, with special emphasis on those located in underserved communities. The merida initiative also called plan mexico, in reference to plan colombia is a security cooperation agreement among the united states, the government of mexico, and the countries of central america, with the declared aim of combating the threats of drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, and money laundering. The merida initiative is providing partner nations with. F o r e i g n p o l i c y a t b r o o k i n g s s the merida initiative and central america.
Gangs in central america congressional research service summary the 111th congress has maintained an interest in the effects of crime and gang violence in central america, and on the expanding activities of transnational gangs with ties to that region operating. International studies, simon fraser university, 20 b. Funding and policy issues congressional research service 1 background mexico is a major producer and supplier to the u. Mexicos air mobility in counternarcotics and other security operations increased through the delivery of multiple aircraft for. The merida initiative will enable bothnations to fight the drug trade without infringing on each otherssovereignty and will help to make the border more secure bytargeting traffickers who exploit. While on paper, the merida initiative appeared quite clear in its intentions, according to diana villiers negroponte, the allocation of merida initiative funds suggested that the principal interest of the united states was in counternarcotics and counterterrorism. Citizens monitoring the booths provide information to people reporting crimes, advise them of their rights, and invite them to file criminal complaints, which has led to greater accountability and increased customer service in district attorneys offices. Research project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts. Equipment and training in support of law enforcement and security operations. The merida initiative and shared responsibility in u. You can merge pdfs or a mix of pdf documents and other files. The merida initiative is envisioned for three years of funding fy0810. Mexico is the major supplier of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana in the americas seelke et al. Archive petition cracks open investigative file on mexican army massacre.
Now, ending its second year, the initiative has led to a new architecture for bilateral. Fact sheet the merida initiative an overview in december 2008, mexico and the united states signed the first letter of agreement loa for the merida initiative, opening a chapter of historic cooperation and acknowledging the shared responsibilities of the united states and. Criminal networks are not only expanding their operations, but they are also diversifying their activities. As part of the merida initiative, the mexican government pledged to. Domestic efforts the merida initiative complements u. Economic and social development funds to provide vulnerable populations with alternatives to gangs and crime. The merida initiative is a multiyear program to provide equipment, training, and technical assistance to support law enforcement operations and for longterm reform and oversight of security agencies. Fact sheet the merida initiative an overview human rights and. Transnational organized crime has expanded dramatically in size, scope, and influence.
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