Background and Relevance
The Mexican Senate has recently approved a reform that introduces the CURP biométrica as an official national identification document and a crucial tool for locating missing persons. This change is part of a broader package of amendments to the Ley General en Materia de Desaparición Forzada y la Ley General de Población, aiming to strengthen institutional coordination, expedite the state’s response, and elevate the dignity of the search process for unaccounted individuals.
Key Points on CURP Biométrica
1. National Identification Document
The CURP will now serve as the nationwide identification document, valid across Mexico. It will include a photograph and fingerprints, available in both physical and digital formats.
2. Mandatory Usage for Institutions
All public and private institutions must request the CURP biométrica for any transactions or service provision. It will also be used to verify identities in digital environments.
3. Unique Identity Platform
A unique identity platform will be established to locate missing persons, connecting with the National Registry of Missing Persons and the Forensic Data Bank. This platform will allow searches using CURP and generate alerts if its use is detected in transactions or services.
4. Data Access for Investigative Institutions
Public and private institutions handling biometric data must allow access to the FGR, state attorneys general, the Security Cabinet, and the National Intelligence Center to bolster investigations.
5. Digital and Physical Search Fichas
Every reported missing person will have a digital and physical search file, activating the alert system immediately on the Unique Identity Platform and facilitating their location.
6. Interconnected Databases
All authorities are required to interconnect their genetic, forensic, and investigative databases, keeping them updated to enhance person identification.
7. Mandatory Testing and Registration
Before sending unidentified remains to a common grave, dactyloscopic and genetic tests must be conducted, with results registered in the Forensic Data Bank within three days.
8. Strengthened Fiscalias in Disappearance
Fiscalias in disappearance will be reinforced with certified personnel, and a National Base of Investigation Files of Missing Persons will be created to centralize and expedite investigations.
9. Data Protection by the Secretary of Interior
The Secretariat of Interior will be responsible for integrating biometric data into the CURP, adhering to strict guidelines on personal data protection.
Diverse Legislative Stances
Senadora Olga Patricia Sosa Ruíz (Morena)
During the plenary discussion, Senator Olga Patricia Sosa Ruíz (Morena) emphasized that the approved reforms do not aim to profit from the pain of missing persons’ families or transform the state into a surveillance apparatus. She stressed that biométric data usage should be strictly limited to locating missing persons, following clear protocols while respecting human rights.
Senadora Imelda Sanmiguel Sánchez (PAN)
Senator Imelda Sanmiguel Sánchez (PAN) supported the disappearance-related reforms but opposed changes to the General Population Law. She warned that incorporating biométric data into the CURP could jeopardize personal data protection and argued against addressing a humanitarian tragedy at the expense of fundamental rights.
Senadora Karla Guadalupe Toledo Zamora (PRI)
Senator Karla Guadalupe Toledo Zamora (PRI) criticized the government for using the missing persons crisis as a “pretext” to expand power and increase surveillance over the population. She asserted, “We will lose our privacy and freedom” with these measures.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the CURP biométrica? The CURP biométrica is Mexico’s official national identification document, incorporating a photograph and fingerprints for both physical and digital formats.
- Why was this reform necessary? The reform aims to strengthen institutional coordination, expedite the state’s response to missing persons cases, and elevate the dignity of the search process.
- How will this impact missing persons’ cases? The CURP biométrica will facilitate the location of missing persons through a unique identity platform, interconnected databases, and mandatory data access for investigative institutions.
- What are the concerns raised during the legislative discussion? Concerns include potential risks to personal data protection, the possibility of increased state surveillance, and the perceived exploitation of a humanitarian crisis.
