Introduction
As the first anniversary of Claudia Sheinbaum’s presidency approaches, Mexico’s Congress prepares to finalize the process that established the legal and regulatory framework for the Guardia Nacional. The commitment made during Sheinbaum’s inauguration is now fully met, ensuring the implementation of the National Strategy for Public Safety.
Background on Claudia Sheinbaum and Her Commitment
Claudia Sheinbaum, a prominent Mexican politician and the current head of the Government of Mexico City, assumed the role of interior minister under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in 2018. As interior minister, she played a crucial part in the creation of the Guardia Nacional, a new national police force. Her dedication to this initiative has been evident since she first articulated the need for a professional, permanent police force integrated with military personnel and civilian officers during her inaugural speech.
Guardia Nacional’s Legal Framework and Implementation
In 2019, the Mexican Senate approved a constitutional reform that paved the way for the creation of the Guardia Nacional. This marked a turning point in the federal government’s approach to public safety challenges and set the stage for realigning the armed forces with national security responsibilities. The new Ley de la Guardia Nacional (Guardia Nacional Law) was published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on July 16, 2024, outlining new guidelines for establishing a public security force composed of military personnel with police training and civilian officers of trust, handling technical, professional, and administrative functions.
Integration into Security Institutions
The Guardia Nacional is now part of the institutions responsible for public safety, authorized to operate at the federal level with a mission to maintain public order as per Article 21 of the Constitution. With deployments in 266 regions across the country and a strength of 135,000 personnel nationwide, the Guardia Nacional aims to collaborate with federal prosecutors in criminal investigations.
Challenges and Concerns
Despite these advancements, the National System for Public Safety has struggled to implement effective national policies to strengthen state police forces and prosecutors. This discrepancy is highlighted by the increase in military-controlled budgets contrasting with the decrease in federal funds allocated to subnational security levels, as reported in the Index of Transparency on the Development of Public Safety Institutions, Prosecution, Justice, and Penitentiaries.
Professionalization and Disciplinary Issues
Half of the state police forces lack professional career service systems. There are significant limitations in equipment, infrastructure, and academic planning. Disciplinary concerns include weaknesses in supervision, inspection, and internal investigation capabilities, which hinder the prevention of illegal conduct. Moreover, most police forces fail to establish complementary security social systems as mandated by law, and there is a widespread deficiency in regulating, evaluating, supervising, and accounting for the use of force.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Claudia Sheinbaum? Claudia Sheinbaum is a Mexican politician who currently serves as the head of the Government of Mexico City. She previously held the position of interior minister under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, playing a key role in the establishment of the Guardia Nacional.
- What is the Guardia Nacional? The Guardia Nacional is a newly formed national police force in Mexico, integrating military personnel with police training and civilian officers of trust. It was created to professionalize public safety efforts and address challenges at the federal level.
- What are the main concerns regarding the Guardia Nacional? Concerns include insufficient career service systems for state police forces, limitations in equipment and infrastructure, disciplinary weaknesses, and a lack of compliance with security social system requirements. There are also issues related to regulating and accounting for the use of force.
