New ‘Fast Track’ Law in Mexico Restricts Interactions with U.S.
New ‘Fast Track’ Law in Mexico Restricts Interactions with U.S. – The Law Offices of Scott Henry – https://topcriminallawfirm.com/
For decades, there has been no shortage of tension between the United States and Mexico. Much of this arises from drug trafficking and drug-related violence. In Mexico, narcotics regulations tend to be more lenient from U.S. policies. As a result, drug smuggling is a massive industry between Mexico and the U.S.
Recently, Mexican government processed a piece of legislation—proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration—as a reaction to these tensions. The legislation is called the Fast-Track Law, which aims to restrict Mexican officials from communicating with American drug agencies without permission and supervision.
The Arrest of Salvador Cienfuegos
The American arrest that spurred the Fast-Track legislation was that of Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos, a highly respected general in Mexico’s military, as well as a defense minister for President Enrique Peña Nieto. Cienfuegos was charged in October 2020 for helping a Mexican cartel ship heroin, cocaine, and meth to the United States.
The charging of Cienfuegos was not taken lightly by the Mexican military and sparked outrage in Mexico. In fact, Mexican officials responded to the detention of Cienfuegos by threatening to remove all security cooperation with the United States. As a result, U.S. officials dropped the charges and sent Cienfuegos home.
The primary piece of evidence used for the arrest was text messages from a Blackberry phone between Cienfuegos and members of the cartel. This led to suspicion amongst Mexican officials about U.S. surveillance.
What is the Fast-Track Law?
The Fast-Track Law is looking to change the ways Mexican law enforcement communicates with the United States. The law requires Mexican officials of virtually all levels to get permission from a security panel in order to communicate with American drug agencies.
Officials must first write an entire report detailing their planned communications. If approved, a security representative will then sit in on any meetings between Mexican and American officials. Naturally, this legislation could have a significant impact on U.S. investigations related to the drug trafficking and possession, as well as kidnapping and human trafficking.
Past Efforts Between the United States and Mexico
In 2007, Former U.S. President George W. Bush and Former Mexican President Felipe Calderón created a joint system known as the Mérida Initiative, with the aim of cracking down on drug violence and enforcing border security between the two countries.
However, in the past decade, drug enforcement efforts have only risen in priority between the U.S. and Mexico. In a U.S-Mexico summit, former Mexican President Vincente Fox stated that the trafficking and consumption of drugs is the most pressing issue at hand.
The Current State of the Drug War
The number of drugs crossing between the United States and Mexican borders has only risen. Many point to the evolving techniques of drug smuggling as an example of the adaptive and resilient nature of the problem. Strategies include fake packaging, complex tunnel systems, and waterways, among many others.
Drug trafficking is a huge economy in the black market, with cartels competing over control of sales, as well as territory and resources. Naturally, this leads to violence. In 2018, there were 36,000 drug-related homicides tied to cartel activity. In January 2021 alone, there were over 2,000 drug arrests between the U.S.-Mexico borders. These arrests covered both usage and trafficking and included drugs from marijuana and cocaine to heroin.
The Future for Mexican-American Communication
The arrest of General Salvador Cienfuegos escalated tensions and distrust between Mexico and the United States. With the passing of the Fast-Track legislation, it seems that tensions may only continue to rise. Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how American anti-drug measures pivot in the wake of increased restrictions on communication across the border.
New ‘Fast Track’ Law in Mexico Restricts Interactions with U.S. – The Law Offices of Scott Henry – https://topcriminallawfirm.com/
