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Mexico City, September 21, 2006 – A number of high-level U.S. officials from a broad range of U.S. federal law enforcement and policy agencies met today with their Mexican counterparts in Laredo, Texas, to discuss the shared responsibilities of our two countries on the border. The officials all agreed that immediate, practical and proactive responses to violence and increasing criminal activity are needed, especially in border zones like Nuevo Laredo and Tijuana. Together, we renewed our joint commitment to fight this plague of violence.
The rapid response by the Government of Mexico to Ambassador Garza’s recent appeal for a meeting between officials of our two countries is further evidence of our strong bilateral cooperation in the battle against crime and violence—and also evidence of how much urgent work we have to do to make our border region safe again.
Now that we have come together to discuss what more we can do, the true gauge of our success today will be the specific actions we take to address the real problems we face.
The United States pledges to do its part, and is hopeful that Mexico will also make renewed and concerted efforts to deploy a proactive, comprehensive and well-coordinated law enforcement approach to violence, using all the resources Mexico has available, with an appropriate level, kind and mix of forces. Ending the culture of impunity in which criminals currently act along our border will be a strong sign to both cartels and beleaguered law enforcement agencies that all involved mean business.
Today, we reached agreement on the need for a joint task-force to work on specific kidnapping cases involving American citizens. We also continue to urge that Mexico consider returning federal forces in significant numbers to Nuevo Laredo as a short-term deterrent to the increase in violence there. Additionally, we would ask that Mexico act rapidly on several arrest requests prepared by U.S. law enforcement officials that are still pending.
With the assistance of our Mexican counterparts, the United States will continue to seek out those individuals whose drug activities permit us to cancel their U.S. visas and border crossing cards. Additionally, our U.S. federal law enforcement agencies will offer every possible support to Mexico to help apprehend those who murder law enforcement, judicial or investigative officers because of their efforts to enforce the law in Mexico and protect their communities. Too many brave and respected Mexican law enforcement officials have lost their lives or live in fear of reprisals simply because they are committed to their duty of protecting innocent people.
The advisory to U.S. citizens alerting them to the rising level of violence in Mexico, especially along the border, remains in effect.
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