| BARRIOZONA |
| Bilingual Community Expression Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues |
| Multi-agency Plan to Fight Spillover Violence Caused by Drug War Against Cartels in Mexico |
Phoenix, Arizona. March 24, 2009 –
Former Arizona Governor and
Department of Homeland Security
Secretary Janet Napolitano
announced today various initiatives
to launch a crack down on criminal
activity by Mexican drug cartels in
the U.S. The plan seeks to
implement improved security
measures at the southwestern
border by adding more personnel,
increasing intelligence resources
and better the coordination with
state, local and Mexican law
enforcement agencies.
The Obama administration is
unveiling this ambitious, multi-
agency plan to assists Mexico in
counterattacking the alarming
escalation of violence caused by
powerful Mexican drug cartels. The
United States will support the
Mexican government’s effort
against the drug-trafficking
organizations by allocating money,
personnel and technology for the
fight against drug-trafficking.
Secretary Napolitano said the issue
of drug-trafficking related violence
in Mexico, and the spillover effects
in the U.S., requires immediate
action. “We are guided by two very
clear objectives” –Napolitano is
quoted in a press release by
Homeland Security. “First, we are
going to do everything we can to
prevent the violence in Mexico from
spilling over across the border. And
second, we will do all in our power
to help President Calderón crack
down on these drug cartels in
Mexico.”
Former Arizona Governor and
Department of Homeland Security
Secretary Janet Napolitano
announced today various initiatives
to launch a crack down on criminal
activity by Mexican drug cartels in
the U.S. The plan seeks to
implement improved security
measures at the southwestern
border by adding more personnel,
increasing intelligence resources
and better the coordination with
state, local and Mexican law
enforcement agencies.
The Obama administration is
unveiling this ambitious, multi-
agency plan to assists Mexico in
counterattacking the alarming
escalation of violence caused by
powerful Mexican drug cartels. The
United States will support the
Mexican government’s effort
against the drug-trafficking
organizations by allocating money,
personnel and technology for the
fight against drug-trafficking.
Secretary Napolitano said the issue
of drug-trafficking related violence
in Mexico, and the spillover effects
in the U.S., requires immediate
action. “We are guided by two very
clear objectives” –Napolitano is
quoted in a press release by
Homeland Security. “First, we are
going to do everything we can to
prevent the violence in Mexico from
spilling over across the border. And
second, we will do all in our power
to help President Calderón crack
down on these drug cartels in
Mexico.”
For the last two years, Mexican authorities have been cracking down on traffickers, which have resulted in a bloody
counterattack by the cartels, as they also have been clash against each other over the control of strategic territories
for drug-trafficking.
The plan highlights the sharing of information and integration with law enforcement agencies at the state and local
level, and seeks to engage authorities across the border of Mexico. Napolitano aims to boost personnel and expand
screening and technology so the Mexican government can target illegal guns, drugs and cash.
In addition, DHS will initiate strategic redeployments totaling more than 360 additional officers and agents at the
border and in Mexico. Costs across the board, totaling up to $184 million, will be revenue neutral, funded by
realigning from less urgent activities, fund balances, and, in some cases, reprogramming.
The plan includes the following measures:
counterattack by the cartels, as they also have been clash against each other over the control of strategic territories
for drug-trafficking.
The plan highlights the sharing of information and integration with law enforcement agencies at the state and local
level, and seeks to engage authorities across the border of Mexico. Napolitano aims to boost personnel and expand
screening and technology so the Mexican government can target illegal guns, drugs and cash.
In addition, DHS will initiate strategic redeployments totaling more than 360 additional officers and agents at the
border and in Mexico. Costs across the board, totaling up to $184 million, will be revenue neutral, funded by
realigning from less urgent activities, fund balances, and, in some cases, reprogramming.
The plan includes the following measures:
- DHS will double assignments to ICE’s Border Enforcement Security Task Forces (BEST), from 95 to 190.
- To increase ICE Attaché personnel, agents working in troubled areas in Mexico such as Ciudad Juarez and
Hermosillo. - To double agents assigned to Criminal Alien Program Violent Criminal Alien Sections, located in the five
Southwest border field offices. - To send new technology to the border including biometric identification deployment at locations at the highest
risk for violence committed by criminal aliens. - To enhance resources at ports of entry, moving more Z-Backscatter mobile X-ray units.
- Upgraded License Plate Readers, which help identify suspected smugglers’ vehicles, will be installed on 52 out
of 110 outbound lanes.
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