New Guard National Law Raises Concerns Over Civil Rights: Experts

Experts Warn of Militarization Impact on Citizens’ Rights

Eunice Rendón, a security expert specializing in crime prevention, and Vicente Sánchez, a member of the National System of Investigators (SNI), have expressed concerns about the new Guard National Law, which they claim formalizes the militarization of public security at the expense of citizens’ human rights.

Militarization of Public Security

Rendón points out that the new law, once enacted, will “formalize what we have been seeing with recent reforms and clearly establish militarization, removing all civil elements.” She emphasizes that the law now aligns with the reality of military involvement in public security.

Pending Legislation and Risks to Human Rights

In addition to reviewing the Guard National’s training, as it is essentially military in nature, both experts stress that the new legislation puts Mexican citizens’ human rights at risk. Sánchez highlights the increasing number of human rights complaints against the armed forces.

Absence of Civil Oversight

Rendón argues that the lack of civil oversight in the new law is detrimental to citizens’ human rights. She explains that since the Guard National’s creation, there have been numerous human rights violations, including forced disappearances. With the new law granting extensive powers without civil safeguards, these issues are exacerbated.

Key Provisions of the New Law

The decree to be discussed and voted on by the Senate today, expected to pass without amendments, specifies that the Secretary of National Defense will be responsible for organizing, equipping, training, and developing the Guard National, following instructions from the federal executive.

• The Guard National member is defined as a “military person with police training, affiliated with the Guard National.”
• The Guard National can request written information from telecommunication concessionaires, operators, and service providers, including device geolocation data, under the supervision of the Public Ministry.

Key Questions and Answers

1. What are the main concerns of the experts regarding the new Guard National Law?
   The experts, Eunice Rendón and Vicente Sánchez, are concerned that the new law will lead to the militarization of public security, undermining civilian oversight and putting citizens’ human rights at risk.
2. What specific provisions of the new law have raised concerns?
   The absence of civil oversight, the militarization of training, and the broad information-gathering powers granted to the Guard National are key concerns.
3. How does the new law define a Guard National member?
   According to the new law, a Guard National member is described as a “military person with police training, affiliated with the Guard National.”
4. What information can the Guard National request from telecommunication providers?
   Under the new law, the Guard National can request written information, including geolocation data of mobile communication devices, from concessionaires, operators, and service providers under the supervision of the Public Ministry.