Background on Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and Her Relevance
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the President of Mexico City, has prioritized addressing extortion as a significant issue affecting the nation’s security, economy, and personal lives. Her proposed reform aims to equip the Congress with constitutional powers to create comprehensive legislation against extortion, ensuring consistent penalties and consequences for those committing this crime.
Reform Details and Objectives
The reform, approved unanimously by the Chamber of Deputies with 474 votes from all political blocs, seeks to amend the Constitution’s Article 73, Fraction XXI, Section a. This change will enable Congress to establish a general law against extortion, which includes unifying penal types and sanctions. The reform acknowledges extortion as a high-impact crime with severe consequences for both victims and the state.
- The general law against extortion will unify and consider:
- The penal type of extortion
- Agravating circumstances
- Related offenses
- Sanctions
- It will also ensure the general objectives of prevention, investigation, and effective attention mechanisms for victims, witnesses, and offended parties.
The reform’s transitional articles stipulate that the Congress of the Union must enact the general law within 180 days of its entry into force. Existing federal and state legal provisions will remain in effect until the general law is enacted.
Legislators’ Perspectives
During the discussion, Deputy Leonel Godoy Rangel (Morena) emphasized the growing extortion problem in Mexico, with daily cases increasing from 19 in 2018 to 29 by January 2025—a 58% rise in six years. He highlighted telephone fraud and “piso” (collection of protection money) as the primary extortion modalities, affecting all economic activities.
Deputy César Alejandro Domínguez (PRI) noted that creating a general law against extortion follows previous successful legislative efforts addressing high-impact crimes, such as forced disappearance, human trafficking, torture, and victim assistance laws. These efforts led to the creation of specialized units, fiscal investigations, and reparation mechanisms for victims.
Deputy Annia Sarahí Gómez Cárdenas (PAN) reported that 4.9 million extortion cases occurred in 2023, equating to 5,213 per 100,000 inhabitants. She pointed out that 71% of cases concentrated in Veracruz, the State of Mexico, and Nuevo León. She also stressed the need for penalty harmonization across Mexico, particularly in Nuevo León, which has a high extortion rate.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main objective of this reform? The primary goal is to empower Congress to create a comprehensive law against extortion, ensuring consistent penalties and addressing its high impact on society, security, and the economy.
- Why is extortion a significant concern? Extortion has grown considerably, with daily cases rising from 19 in 2018 to 29 by January 2025. It affects various aspects of life, including personal safety, commercial activities, and economic stability.
- What types of extortion does this reform aim to address? The reform targets telephone fraud, “piso” (collection of protection money), and other related offenses that put pressure on businesses, roads, and personal activities.
- How will this reform impact existing state laws? Existing federal and state legal provisions will remain in effect until the general law is enacted. The Congress of the Union must establish the general law within 180 days of this reform’s entry into force.
