Mexico Develops a Border Strategy, But Will It Suit the United States David McCumber - The New York Times
go to original June 29, 2014

Ana Garcia de Hernandez, first lady of Honduras, speaks to the media Saturday about the immigration influx in the Rio Grande Valley along with U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce in McAllen, Texas. (The Associated Press)

Increasingly, members of Congress are pointing to Mexico's southern border, not its border with the United States, as the place where the tide of illegal migration from Central America should be turned.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has repeatedly called for more U.S. involvement in helping Mexico "secure its borders," saying, "The 500-mile border between Guatemala and Mexico is a sieve."

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, says its a big part of the long-term solution: "It makes sense for us to be playing defense on that border instead of playing defense on our 1-yard line."

Although Mexico's government has developed a detailed multiagency strategy to improve security on its southern flank, it's clear that Mexico's goals and those of the United States are not completely aligned.

According to a senior Mexican government official, the "guiding principles" of the southern border strategy, developed by Mexico's secretariats of governance, defense, navy and the attorney general's office, are "absolute respect to human rights; migrant protection through policies to regulate migratory flow and NOT to close the border; and a frontal fight against corruption."

While the strategy does refer to "detention and repatriation" of illegal immigrants possibly headed to the United States, it calls for "intense diplomatic activity" with Central American countries as part of the process necessary to accomplish that.

Mexican officials are particularly sensitive to the perception that the border strategy is being conducted in lockstep with Washington.

Read the rest at telegram.com

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