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Phoenix, Arizona – 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:
- 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.
Copyright © 2009 Hispanic Institute of Social Issues
Grassroots Journalism
www.barriozona.com
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By Eduardo Barraza
BARRIOZONA
March 24, 2009
Multi-Agency Plan to Fight Spillover Violence
Caused by Drug War Against Cartels in Mexico