Today, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and other representatives of the US government met with their Mexican counterparts to discuss the implementation of the Biennial US-Mexico Security Framework. , Public Health, and Safe Communities.
The framework of the past two decades, adopted at the opening meeting of the high-level security dialogue in October 2021, continues to guide bilateral security cooperation. The United States and Mexico remain committed to transforming our partnership to better protect the health and safety of our citizens, prevent criminal organizations from harming our countries, and pursue criminals to justice. Today, we are committed to continuing to work together on all three goals to protect human rights in accordance with international obligations, share information and best practices, prosecute those who violate our laws, and evaluate the impact of our efforts.
The Biden-Harris administration has taken several domestic actions since October 2021 to implement our Twenty Year Framework goals. In April, the administration released the National Drug Control Strategy, which focuses on two key aspects of the overdose epidemic: untreated addiction and drug trafficking. In June, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Social Security Act, the first major gun safety legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in nearly 30 years, which for the first time criminalized the sale of firearms. Federal for the first time. On July 12, Presidents Biden and President Lopez Obrador pledged multi-year efforts to reform border infrastructure, noting that the American Infrastructure Act includes $3.4 billion to implement 26 infrastructure projects. which are large and include the security features of the North American and southern borders. Mexico also pledged to invest $1.5 billion in border infrastructure.
Highlighted below are examples of achievements in each of the framework’s goals over the past two decades since its adoption in October 2021. The United States has pledged to continue progress next year.
Goal 1: PROTECTING OUR PEOPLE – The United States and Mexico seek to build a sustainable, healthy, and safe society for the benefit of the citizens of both countries.
Reduce homicides and high-impact crimes
OBJECTIVE 2: COMBAT CRIME – The United States and Mexico intend to reduce the power of Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and prevent the trafficking of drugs, weapons, wildlife, and people, as well as human trafficking.
OBJECTIVE 3: TRACK CRIMINAL NETWORKS – Disrupt TCO financial networks and reduce their ability to profit from illegal activities both cross-border and online.
