Sec. 1120. Merida Initiative

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It is the sense of Congress that assistance to Mexico, including assistance from the Department of State and the Department of Defense and any aid related to the Merida Initiative should— be focused on providing enhanced border security at Mexico’s northern and southern borders, judicial reform, and support for Mexico’s anti-drug efforts; and return to its original focus and prioritize security, training, and acquisition of equipment for Mexican security forces involved in anti-drug efforts as well as be used to train prosecutors in ongoing justice reform efforts.

The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense, shall provide level and consistent assistance to Mexico— to combat drug production and trafficking and related violence, transnational organized criminal organizations, and corruption; to build a secure, modern border security system capable of preventing illegal migration; to support border security and cooperation with United States military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies on border incursions; to support judicial reform, institution building, and rule of law activities to build judicial capacity, address corruption and impunity, and support human rights; and to provide for training and equipment for Mexican security forces involved in efforts to eradicate and interdict drugs.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 50 percent of any assistance appropriated in any appropriations Act to implement this section shall be withheld until after the Secretary of State submits a written report to the congressional committees specified in paragraph

(3)certifying that the Government of Mexico is— significantly reducing illegal migration, drug trafficking, and cross-border criminal activities on Mexico’s northern and southern borders; taking significant action to address corruption, impunity, and human rights abuses; and improving the transparency and accountability of Mexican Federal police forces and working with Mexican State and municipal authorities to improve the transparency and accountability of Mexican State and municipal police forces. The report required under paragraph

(1)shall include a description of— actions taken by the Government of Mexico to address the matters described in such paragraph; any relevant assessments by civil society and non-government organizations in Mexico relating to such matters; and any instances in which the Secretary determines that the actions taken by the Government of Mexico are inadequate to address such matters. The congressional committees specified in this paragraph are— the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate ; the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate ; the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate ; the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate ; the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives ; the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives ; the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives . Any assistance made available by the Secretary of State under this section shall be subject to— the notification procedures set forth in section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2394–1 ); and the notification requirements of— the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate ; the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate ; the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate ; the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives ; the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives . Not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the congressional committees specified in subsection (c)(3) a detailed spending plan for assistance to Mexico under this section, which shall include a strategy, developed after consulting with relevant authorities of the Government of Mexico, for— combating drug trafficking and related violence and organized crime; and anti-corruption and rule of law activities, which shall include concrete goals, actions to be taken, budget proposals, and a description of anticipated results.

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22 USC 2394–1

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Sec. 1120

Merida Initiative

Cite22 USC 2394–1

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