Introduction to the New Guardia Nacional Law Initiative
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has submitted a proposal to the Permanent Commission of Congress for a new Guardia Nacional law along with related secondary legislation. This initiative, sent to the Chamber of Deputies, aims to regulate the 2024 reform of the Guardia Nacional by transferring it to the Mexican Army (Sedena) to give it a military character.
Key Legal Reforms
The new iniciative by Sheinbaum seeks to reform, add to, and repeal various provisions of the following laws:
- Ley de la Administración Pública Federal
- Ley Orgánica del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos
- Ley de Educación Militar del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos
- Ley de Ascensos y Recompensas del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos
- Ley del Instituto de Seguridad Social para las Fuerzas Armadas Mexicanas
- Ley de Disciplina del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos
- Código de Justicia Militar
- Código Militar de Procedimientos Penales
Objectives of the Reform
According to the explanatory statement, these reforms aim to enhance the Guardia Nacional’s institutional capabilities and force strength to strengthen its public security tasks in areas with high violence and delinquency rates, as well as regions without local police forces.
Moreover, the Guardia Nacional will participate in intelligence generation and investigation tasks, coordinating with law enforcement and justice institutions that require it.
New Powers for the Mexican Army (Sedena)
Although this reform targets regulating the Guardia Nacional’s actions as a military entity, it also grants new powers to Sedena. These include:
- Generating, operating, processing, and using information related to national security within its scope
- Developing intelligence products and services that identify and address risks and threats to Mexico’s integrity, stability, and permanence
- Supporting good governance and strengthening the rule of law and government institutions
“The Secretary of the Army shall generate, operate, process, and use national security information to anticipate risks and prevent threats through intelligence organizations that contribute to preserving Mexico’s integrity, stability, and permanence, as well as supporting good governance and strengthening the rule of law and government institutions, in accordance with applicable legislation.”
Information Sharing and Coordination
A modification to Article 29 of the Federal Public Administration Organization Law requires the Sedena head to share national security information, following coordination with the Security National Council instances, to fulfill their duties.
Sedena’s Responsibilities
The reform establishes Sedena’s responsibilities for organizing, equipping, educating, training, capacitating, administering, and developing the Guardia Nacional, reinforcing its military character.
Guardia Nacional as a Military Force
The reform also proposes amending the Organic Law of the Mexican Army and Air Force to establish that the Guardia Nacional’s use as a military force will be exclusive to preserving national security.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main objective of Sheinbaum’s new Guardia Nacional law proposal? The primary goal is to regulate the 2024 reform of the Guardia Nacional, transferring it to the Mexican Army (Sedena) and giving it a military character.
- Which laws will be reformed, added to, or repealed? The proposed changes affect the Ley de la Administración Pública Federal, Ley Orgánica del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos, Ley de Educación Militar del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos, Ley de Ascensos y Recompensas del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos, Ley del Instituto de Seguridad Social para las Fuerzas Armadas Mexicanas, Ley de Disciplina del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos, Código de Justicia Militar, and Código Militar de Procedimientos Penales.
- What new powers does Sedena receive under this reform? Sedena gains the authority to generate, operate, process, and use national security information; develop intelligence products and services; and support good governance and strengthen the rule of law and government institutions.
- How will information sharing and coordination be handled? The reform requires Sedena’s head to share national security information following coordination with the Security National Council instances.
