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Summary

Increasing violence perpetrated by drug trafficking organizations, gangs, and other criminal groups is threatening citizen security in Mexico and Central America. Drug-related violence claimed more than 5,600 lives in Mexico in 2008, and several Central American countries have some of the highest homicide rates in the world. Mexican drug cartels dominate the illicit drug market in most regions of the United States and are expanding their operations by forming partnerships with U.S. gangs. As a result, some of the drug-related violence in Mexico has begun to spillover into the United States. On October 22, 2007, the United States and Mexico announced the Mérida Initiative, a multi-year proposal for $1.4 billion in U.S. assistance to Mexico and Central America aimed at combating drug trafficking and organized crime. The Bush Administration requested $500 million for Mexico and $50 million for Central America in FY2008 supplemental appropriations, and another $450 million for Mexico and $100 million for Central America in the FY2009 budget request. While the Bush Administration did not request any funding for domestic programs to complement the Initiative, U.S. officials pledged to step up efforts to prevent arms, precursor chemicals, and bulk cash from flowing from the United States into Mexico, and to reduce U.S. drug demand. In June 2008, the 110th Congress appropriated $465 million for FY2008 and FY2009 supplemental assistance for Mexico and Central America in the FY2008 Supplemental Appropriations Act, (P.L. 110-252). Mexico received $352 million in FY2008 supplemental assistance and $48 million in FY2009 bridge fund supplemental assistance. Central America, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic received $65 million in FY2008 supplemental assistance. In March 2009, the 111th Congress appropriated another $300 million for Mexico and $110 million for Central America, Haiti and the Dominican Republic under the Mérida Initiative in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, (P.L. 111-8). To date, a total of $875 million has been appropriated under the Mérida Initiative. The Obama Administration also requested $66 million of Mérida funding for Mexico in a FY2009 supplemental request; in May 2009, the House approved H.R. 2346 to provide $470 million for Mexico while the Senate version of the bill would only fund the Administrations request. For FY2010, the Obama Administration requested $450 million for Mexico and $100 million for Central America for a total of $550 million. The 111th Congress has demonstrated a strong interest in addressing the spiraling drug trafficking violence in Mexico. Between March and May 2009, various committees convened 14 hearings focused on issues relating to the border violence. Congress will continue to examine the Mérida Initiative as it considers the Obama Administrations supplemental request and the FY2010 budget. Policy debates that have already emerged during congressional consideration of Mérida include what levels and types of funding should be provided to Mexico and Central America; how well the interagency community, in coordination with its counterparts in partner countries, is implementing the Initiative; and the degree to which the nations involved, including the United States, are fulfilling their domestic obligations under Mérida. Congress may also have a keen interest in enforcement of Méridas human rights conditions. This report provides an overview of the funding provided for the Mérida Initiative and a discussion of some policy issues that Congress may consider as it oversees implementation of the Initiative. For related information, see CRS Report RL32724, Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress, by Mark P. Sullivan and June S. Beittel and CRS Report R40582, Mexicos Drug-Related Violence.

Related Legislation:
• H.R.2346

Related Reports:
• R40135
• R40135

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