Order Code RS22837
March 18, 2008
Merida Initiative: Proposed U.S. Anticrime and
Counterdrug Assistance for Mexico and
Central America
Colleen W. Cook, Rebecca G. Rush, and Clare Ribando Seelke
Analysts in Latin American Affairs
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Summary
Increasing violence perpetrated by drug cartels, youth gangs, and other criminal
groups is threatening citizen security and democracy in Mexico and Central America.
Mexican and Central American government efforts to combat drug trafficking and
organized crime have been hindered by inadequate resources, corruption, and weak
judicial systems. On October 22, 2007, the United States and Mexico issued a joint
statement announcing the Mérida Initiative, a multi-year plan for U.S. assistance to
Mexico and Central America aimed at helping those governments combat drug
trafficking and other criminal organizations. The Administration requested $500 million
for Mexico and $50 million for Central America in the FY2008 supplemental
appropriations request. To date, there is no legislative vehicle for the funding request.
The Administration requested another $450 million for Mexico and $100 million for
Central America in the FY2009 budget request. This report discusses the background
and funding of the Mérida Initiative and will be updated as events warrant. For more
information, see CRS Report RL32724, Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress,
and CRS Report RL34112, Gangs in Central America.
Background
The Mérida Initiative, named for the city where Presidents George W. Bush and
Felipe Calderón met in March 2007, was designed to combat drug trafficking,
transnational crime, and terrorism. At that March meeting, the two presidents agreed to
expand bilateral and regional counternarcotics and security cooperation. United States
and Mexican government officials met over subsequent months to craft the details of the
Initiative. These negotiations were not public, and Members of both the U.S. and
Mexican Congresses reportedly have expressed frustration that they were not involved in
the discussions. Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon has described the Mérida
Initiative as an “urgent” aid package composed largely of equipment and training that

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could have “an immediate and important impact in the fight against organized crime.”1
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere held
a hearing on the initiative in February 2008. Both the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings on the initiative in
November 2007.
The goals of the Mexican and Central American portions of the Mérida Initiative
vary slightly. According to the joint statement, the goal of the Mexico portion of the aid
package is to complement U.S. and Mexican domestic efforts against drug, human, and
weapons trafficking. The joint statement highlights current efforts of both countries,
including Mexico’s 24% increase in security spending in 2007 and U.S. efforts to reduce
weapons, human, and drug trafficking along the Mexican border. The statement does not,
however, announce additional funding for U.S. domestic efforts. The Southwest Border
Counternarcotics Strategy and the National Drug Control Strategy are cited as existing
U.S. efforts to combat drug trafficking. The Central America portion of the Initiative is
aimed at bolstering the capacity of governments to inspect and interdict unauthorized
drugs, goods, arms, and people. It would also support implementation of the U.S.
Strategy for Combating Criminal Gangs from Central America and Mexico, announced
at a July 2007 U.S.-Central American Integration System (SICA) summit.
Funding
The Administration has requested $1.1 billion in support of the Mérida Initiative,
$550 million as part of the FY2008 supplemental appropriations request and another $550
million in the FY2009 budget request (see Table 1 for country breakdowns). In the
FY2008 supplemental appropriations request, the Administration requested $500 million
for Mexico and $50 million for Central America. All of the proposed funding has been
requested through the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE)
account, administered by the Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and
Law Enforcement Affairs. (See Table 2 for proposed funding by program components.)
If approved by Congress, this funding would represent a dramatic increase in aid to
Mexico and a significant increase in aid to Central America, mostly in the form of
equipment and training. U.S. assistance to Mexico totaled $65.4 million in FY2007 and
roughly $50.6 million in FY2008. If Congress approves the pending supplemental
request, Mexico and Central America’s share of the estimated U.S. foreign aid to Latin
America in FY2008 would increase from roughly 15.4% to 38.5%. In the FY2009
budget request, the Administration requested another $550 million for the Mérida
Initiative. Although the total request for funding remains the same, the Administration
requested $450 million for Mexico and $100 million for Central America.
1 Joint Explanatory Statement to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, Division J, (P.L.
110-161); “Security: President Bush Offers US$500 Million,” Latin American Regional Report
— Mexico and NAFTA, November 2007; U.S. Department of State and Government of Mexico,
“Joint Statement on the Merida Initiative,” October 22, 2007; U.S. Department of State, Foreign
Press Center On-the-Record Briefing, “The Mérida Initiative,” Thomas A. Shannon, Assistant
Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, November 16, 2007.

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Table 1. Estimated Mérida Funding by Country
($ in millions)
FY2008 Supplemental
FY2009
Country
Request
Request
Mexico
500.0
450.0
Belize
1.9
5.8
Costa Rica
4.3
9.5
El Salvador
7.1
17.3
Guatemala
11.1
17.7
Honduras
10.8
12.4
Nicaragua
3.7
6.7
Panama
3.9
8.9
Central America (Regional)
7.2
21.7
Total
550.0
550.0
Source: U.S. Department of State briefing papers provided to Congressional offices; U.S.
Department of State, Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations, FY2009. In the FY2009
budget request, the $100 million for Central America is not broken out by country.
Table 2. Mexico and Central America Program Components
($ in millions)
FY2008
FY2008
FY2009
Supplemental
FY2009
Supplemental
Request
Type of Funding
Request
Request
Request
(Central
(Central
(Mexico)
(Mexico)
America)
America)
Counternarcotics,
Counterterrorism, and
Border Security
306.3
16.6
238.3
40.0
Public Security and
Law Enforcement
56.1
25.7
158.5
32.0
Institution Building
and Rule of Law
100.6
7.7
30.7
23.0
Program Support
37.0
—
22.5
5.0
Total
500.0
50.0
450.0
100.0
Source: U.S. Department of State briefing paper provided to Congressional offices; U.S. Department of
State, Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations, FY2009.

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Mexico Program Components
Counternarcotics, Counterterrorism, and Border Security.2 This is the
largest category of proposed aid and is intended to provide significant equipment and
technology infrastructure improvements for Mexican military and law enforcement
agencies. In the FY2008 supplemental request, the majority of the proposed funding,
$208.3 million, would go to the procurement of eight Bell 412 transport helicopters,
including a $24 million logistics, spare parts, and training package, for the Mexican Army
and Navy; 87 handheld ion scanners for the Mexican Air Force and Army; two CASA
CN-235-300 surveillance planes for the Mexican Navy; and equipment for two aircraft
operated by the Mexican Attorney General’s Office. Inspections equipment, including
scanners and x-ray vans, as well as canine training, valued at $31.5 million would be
provided to Mexican customs for use at points of entry. Another $31.3 million would be
for the expansion and modernization of the Mexican immigration agency’s database and
document verification system, as well as the digitalization of immigration forms and the
equipment and training of agency personnel in rescue and safety techniques to be used
along Mexico’s southern border. It would also provide $25.3 million to secure
communications systems among Mexican security agencies and inspection facilities for
mail facilities. Mexican intelligence agencies would receive $7.9 million to improve
database interconnectivity; data management, and forensic analysis tools. It also includes
$2 million to expand the Mexican Attorney General Office’s (PGR) support of the
Operation Against Smugglers Initiative on Safety and Security (OASISS), a program
aimed at identifying and prosecuting human smugglers along the U.S.- Mexico border.
For the FY2009 request, this category would receive just over 50% of funding, with
more emphasis placed on assistance to non-military agencies. Some $118 million would
go to improve infrastructure and information systems at non-military agencies, including
Mexico’s immigration agency, the Attorney General’s office, the intelligence service
(CISEN), the postal service, and customs. The Mexican Army and Air Force would
receive some $20 million to support transport helicopters, helicopter maintenance, and
night vision. The Army would also receive just over $20 million in Gamma Ray
inspection equipment to use at Army checkpoints in Mexico’s interior. The Mexican
Navy would receive $100 million to support fixed wing aircraft for surveillance and
counternarcotics interception missions.
Public Security and Law Enforcement. For the FY2008 supplemental request,
the majority of this aid, $30 million, would provide inspection scanners and x-ray vans
to police in Mexico’s Ministry of Public Security and create a canine detection team also
to be used in inspections. The next largest component, $15.1 million, would support drug
demand reduction efforts of Mexico’s Secretariat of Health by providing computer
hardware and software to improve links to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and
other private groups working in demand reduction. Another $6 million would provide
security equipment, including armored vehicles, and bullet-proof vests, to Mexican law
enforcement personnel investigating organized crime. Finally, $5 million would go to
upgrading computer infrastructure and data analysis tools to support the Financial
Intelligence Unit’s efforts against money laundering.
2 Information for sections on funding components are from Department of State briefing papers
submitted to Capitol Hill Offices.

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For FY2009, The Administration requested $158.5 million in this category, a $100
million increase over the FY2008 supplemental request. Nearly all of this assistance,
$147.6 million, would go to support the Mexican federal police, which would receive:
transport helicopters and maintenance support ($106 million); mobile gamma ray
inspectioin equipment ($26 million); x-ray vans for light vehicles ($4.8 million); and,
canine training ($750,000). Some $10.9 million would support drug demand reduction
programs.
Institution Building and Rule of Law. For the FY2008 supplemental
request, the Administration asked for $100.6 million in this category, with some $60.7
million for an array of efforts, including revamping information management and
forensics systems at Mexico’s Office of the Attorney General (PGR); training in courts
management, prison management, asset forfeiture, and police professionalization; support
for anti-gang and anti-organized crime units; victim and witness protection program
support; and extradition training. The PGR would also receive $19.9 million for
digitalization, database improvements, and a case management system, and $5 million in
unspecified support of the PGR’s Forensic Institute. The aid proposal also includes $15
million to promote anti-corruption, transparency, and human rights, though support of law
enforcement, court institutions, and civil society groups working to improve the efficiency
and responsiveness of the justice system.
For FY2009, the Administration requested significantly less funding, $30.7
million, with $23.4 million to improve the justice system; $8.5 million to support the
PGR’s Forensic Institute; and $9.4 million to support improved data collection and
analysis.
Program Support. The FY2008 supplemental request includes $37 million for
program support to cover the cost of U.S. personnel, administration, and budget services
related to the proposed aid package. For FY2009, the Administration requested $22.5
million in program support.
Central America Program Components
Counternarcotics, Counterterrorism, and Border Security.3 For
FY2008, the Administration is requesting $16.6. million for this category, spread out
among the seven Central American countries. The Administration proposes spending
$7.5 million to support the Central American Fingerprinting Exploitation (CAFÉ)
initiative to facilitate information-sharing about violent gang members and other
criminals; to improve drug crime information sharing and collection; and to expand
sensitive investigation police units dedicated to counternarcotics efforts. Another $5.3
million would go towards improving maritime interdiction capabilities and providing
technical assistance on firearms tracing, interdiction, and destruction. The Administration
also proposes giving $3.8 million for port, airport, and border security, including
equipment and training through the Organization of America States (OAS) Inter-
American Committee Against Terrorism.
3 Information for sections on funding components is from a Department of State briefing paper
that was submitted to Capitol Hill Offices.

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For FY2009, the Administration requested $40 million in this category. More than
half of that money, $25.8 million, would go to land and maritime interdiction and
interception assistance, as well as to a regional arms tracking program. The FY2009
request also includes $1 million to support the drug demand reduction efforts of the OAS
Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission and $2 million to combat currency
smuggling.
Public Security and Law Enforcement. In the FY2008 supplemental
request, the majority of proposed funding for Central America, $25.7 million, is specified
for programs to improve policing and support anti-gang efforts. The Administration
proposes $12.6 million in spending to implement the U.S. anti-gang strategy, including
support for diplomatic efforts, funding for the electronic travel document (eTD) system
to provide biometric and biographic information on persons being deported from the
United States, anti-gang units, and community-based prevention programs. Another $11.1
million would provide specialized police training and equipment. Some $2 million
would fund the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in El Salvador.
The Administration’s request for funding in this category did not change
significantly in the FY2009 budget request. The request includes $13 million to
implement the U.S. Anti-Gang Strategy, with $7.5 million of that slated for community
prevention programs, up from $5 million in the FY2008 supplemental request. It also
includes $13 million for police modernization and technical assistance and $6 million to
support the ILEA.
Institution Building and Rule of Law. The Administration also proposed
$7.7 million in rule of law programs in the FY2008 supplemental request, including
improvement of court management and prosecutorial capacity building; reforming prison
management; supporting community policing programs, and providing assets forfeiture
capacity training.
The Administration’s FY2009 budget request for this category rose to $23 million.
The largest increases from the FY2008 supplemental request are for courts management
programs and training to improve prosecutorial capacity. The FY2009 budget request
also includes $2 million for juvenile justice systems and rehabilitation programs and $1
million for programs to build public confidence in the justice system, two components not
included in the FY2008 supplemental request.
Program Support. The FY2008 supplemental request did not include funding
for this category, while the FY2009 budget request included $5 million in unspecified
program support.

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