Meeting Between the Mexican Government and U.S. District Prosecutors: Combatingof Arms Trafficking
August 26, 2022
Institutional Context
In October 2021, the United States and Mexico created the Bicentennial Framework for Security. Building on past security cooperation efforts, this Framework establishes a long-term approach for binational actions to pursue the safety and security of both societies. This mechanism is a joint binational effort to protect human rights, share information and best practices, prosecute those who violate the law, and regularly and transparently evaluate the impact of those efforts. The Framework comprises three goals: protecting people, preventing transborder crime, and pursuing criminal networks.
Meeting Between the Mexican Government and U.S. District Prosecutors
On August 26th, within the framework of the Bicentennial Understanding on Safety, Public Health and Safe Communities, a meeting was held at the Foreign Ministry between officials of the Mexican government and a delegation of district attorneys from the United States. The goal of the meeting was to talk and share information on progress in combating arms trafficking.
Roberto Velasco, Head of the North America Unite emphasized the efforts made on improving the operational relationship between the different security areas of both nations; and on working on a broader model of combating organized crime supply chains as it is a phenomenon that transcends both sides of the border. United States district attorneys shared the figures on justice actions in their country and delved into recent changes in federal arms trafficking legislation.
The Mexican delegation was led by the Mexican Undersecretary of Public Security, Ricardo Mejía, and by the Head of the North America Unit, Roberto Velasco. On the Mexican side, the conversation was attended by the Legal Deputy Consultant, Miguel Reyes; General Director of Special Affairs, María de Haas; Ministry of National Defense Colonel, José López; Federal Prosecutor, Ranmsés Ruiz; from the Financial Intelligence Unit Patricia Cruz; Secretary of the Navy Captain Eduardo Cabrera; and National Guard Colonel Raúl Romero.
The United States delegation was made up of the Attaché of the Department of Justice in Mexico, Christina Vejar; New Mexico District Attorney, Alexander Uballez; South Texas District Attorney, Jennifer Lowery; East Texas District Attorney, Brit Featherston; West Texas District Attorney, Ashley Hoff; Federal Prosecutor for the Northern District of Texas, Chad Meacham; Interim Federal Prosecutor for the District of Central California, Stephanie Christensen; and First Deputy Federal Prosecutor for the District of Arizona, Rachel Hernandez.
