Background on Key Figures and Relevance
The Mexican Congress, consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, recently concluded an extraordinary session during which they approved significant reforms to various aspects of national security. These changes encompass more than 20 laws, including those related to disappearances, the Guardia Nacional, telecommunications, and new functions for the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) following the elimination of the Coneval.
This legislative overhaul is crucial as it aims to strengthen Mexico’s security infrastructure and intelligence capabilities, addressing pressing issues such as drug trafficking, organized crime, and cross-border threats. The reforms also reflect the importance of collaboration between Mexico and the United States, particularly in intelligence sharing to combat transnational crimes.
Key Legislative Approvals
On the final day of the extraordinary session, both chambers approved two significant decrees:
- Ley General del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública: Approved by 88 votes from Morena, PVEM, PT, and MC. The PRI group was the only one to vote against it.
- Ley del Sistema Nacional de Investigación e Inteligencia: Approved by 67 votes from Morena, PVEM, and PT. PAN and PRI cast 29 and 3 votes against it, respectively; three MC members abstained.
These decrees regulate the content of Article 21 in Mexico’s Constitution, which assigns responsibility for criminal investigations to the Attorney General’s Office, the relevant security public sector branch of the Federal Executive, the Guardia Nacional, and various police forces within their jurisdiction. These forces will operate under the guidance and command of the Attorney General while performing their investigative duties.
Rationale Behind the Reforms
The explanatory statement of the Ley del Sistema Nacional de Investigación e Inteligencia emphasizes the necessity of intelligence in Mexico, stating that “a country without intelligence is a blind, vulnerable, and reactive nation.”
The establishment and operation of the National System for Investigation and Intelligence in Public Security matters will be coordinated by the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC). This system will facilitate the sharing of information generated by various governmental and private security institutions’ intelligence systems.
In the context of Mexico-US cooperation, a robust National Intelligence System is vital. It enables the timely exchange of tactical and strategic information, especially in operations against transnational phenomena like arms, drugs, human trafficking, and money laundering that severely impact both countries.
Concerns and Debates
Espionage Concerns
During the debates, Francisco Ramírez (PAN) explained that his party would vote against the reforms due to concerns about a “government spying” system. They oppose concentrated power without checks and balances, uncontrolled access to personal, sensitive, fiscal, biometric, property-related data, and real-time geolocation without clear regulations or judicial oversight.
Anabell Ávalos (PRI) echoed these concerns, stating that the Ley del Sistema Nacional de Investigación e Inteligencia “worries us because it provides legal backing for an intelligence system that will undoubtedly infringe on people’s privacy.”
Other Approved Changes
Throughout the seven extraordinary session meetings, both chambers of Congress approved reforms to:
- The Ley General del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública
- The Ley del Sistema Nacional de Investigación e Inteligencia en Materia de Seguridad Pública
- Transferring Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social (Coneval) functions to Inegi
- Changes to the Guardia Nacional
- Ferroviary service and bureaucratic procedures
- New Telecommunications Law
Additionally, amendments to the Ley del Seguro Social were approved in San Lázaro to regulate partial unemployment retirement withdrawals from Afore accounts.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the significance of these reforms? These reforms aim to strengthen Mexico’s security infrastructure and intelligence capabilities, addressing pressing issues like drug trafficking, organized crime, and cross-border threats. They also emphasize collaboration between Mexico and the United States in intelligence sharing to combat transnational crimes.
- Who opposed the reforms, and why? The PAN party, represented by Francisco Ramírez, opposed the reforms due to concerns about a “government spying” system. They were worried about the lack of checks and balances, uncontrolled access to personal data, and insufficient judicial oversight.
- What other laws were reformed during this extraordinary session? Besides the Ley General del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública and the Ley del Sistema Nacional de Investigación e Inteligencia, other approved reforms included transferring Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social (Coneval) functions to Inegi, changes to the Guardia Nacional, ferroviary service and bureaucratic procedures, and a new Telecommunications Law.
