Overview: Counterterrorism cooperation between Mexico and the United States remained strong in 2018. At the end of 2018, there was no credible evidence indicating international terrorist groups established bases in Mexico, worked directly with Mexican drug cartels, or sent operatives via Mexico into the United States. International supporters and facilitators of terrorist groups such as Hizballah and ISIS are active elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere, and the U.S. southern border remains vulnerable to potential terrorist transit, although terrorist groups are more likely to seek other means of trying to enter the United States.
2018 Terrorist Incidents: There were no terrorist attacks reported in Mexico in 2018. In at least one instance, the Mexican government disrupted a homegrown terrorist’s plot at an early stage and mitigated a potential threat. The individual had self-radicalized online.
Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security: There were no changes to Mexico’s counterterrorism legislation or investigative procedures, other than those described under the terrorist financing section. Mexico does not view terrorism as a major threat to its security, but acknowledges the United States’ concerns and cooperates closely, as evidenced by their assistance in the 2011 failed assassination case. The government lacked adequate laws prohibiting material support to terrorists and it relied on counterterrorism regimes in other countries to thwart potential threats. Impunity remained a problem with extremely low rates of prosecution for all crimes.
The Mexican Center for Investigation and National Security (CISEN), housed in the Interior Ministry (SEGOB), was the lead agency for assessing and preventing terrorist threats for most of 2018. The Mexican Congress passed legislation in November to reorganize the national and public security bureaucracy in preparation for the new administration that took office December 1. The National Intelligence Agency (CNI) replaced CISEN, and moved into the new Security and Citizen Protection Ministry. Early indications suggest CNI will assume CISEN’s counterterrorism responsibilities.
Mexico made some investments in border security, although a steady illicit flow of people and goods continued along its southern border. The Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) supported the Mexican government’s effort to establish a secure telecommunications network for the southern border and helped develop the first standardized basic training course for Mexico’s immigration service, the National Migration Institute (INM). Mexico improved its technical capacity to collect biometric data on migrants, thanks to an INL-funded program under the Mérida Initiative. While Mexico improved port security procedures, corruption still plagued Mexican ports of entry, and INM remained underfunded and understaffed.
In November, the Government of Mexico announced that it would strengthen its border controls. The new López Obrador administration committed to identifying and screening all migrants entering Mexico.
Countering the Financing of Terrorism: Mexico is a member of FATF and the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT), a FATF-style regional body. Additionally, Mexico is a cooperating and supporting nation of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and is an observer of the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures (MONEYVAL), two other FATF-style regional bodies. Mexico’s FIU, Unit of Financial Intelligence (UIF), is a member of the Egmont Group and proactively shares financial intelligence on shared threats with its U.S. Department of the Treasury counterpart, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
FATF published its 2017 evaluation of Mexico in January 2018, and the report noted Mexico had a mature CFT regime but failed to take a systemic approach to addressing money laundering. In March, Mexico reformed its laws regulating financial technological institutions, requiring them to demonstrate compliance with policies to prevent terrorism financing.
UIF continued to operate with diminished authorities after a 2017 Mexican Supreme Court decision found it was unconstitutional for UIF to maintain a blocked persons list. The Mexican Congress did not approve a legislative fix in 2018. Still, from September 2017 to June 2018, the Mexican government reported opening four investigations into terrorism financing and blocked 34 individuals from accessing the Mexican finance and banking system based on UN designations linking these individuals to terrorism financing.
The Mérida Initiative’s training and capacity-building programs targeted focused units from the states of Puebla, Guanajuato, Jalisco, and Tamaulipas as well as some federal entities. Training programs help investigators and regulators earn certification from SEGOB and the National Banking and Securities Commission on the way to obtaining international certification by the end of 2019. The INL-developed curriculum and agenda for these courses allow regulators, investigators, and prosecutors to share and learn the latest global techniques and best practices for investigations into the illicit financing of transnational organized crime.
For additional information on money laundering and financial crimes, see the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Volume II, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes.
Countering Violent Extremism: There were no changes in 2018. Mexico lacks official CVE policies, initiatives, or programs.
International and Regional Cooperation: Mexico participated in the UN High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies, as well as the Organization of American States Regional Conference to Prevent and Combat Terrorism and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Their Means of Financing in Latin America and the Caribbean. Mexico is also an active member of the Organization of American States/Inter-American Committee against Terrorism. Mexico also received bilateral counterterrorism training from a range of partners including Israel, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Mexico is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
