Due to Spring Break at the University of San Diego, our regular news gathering service for the Trans-Border Institute’s Justice in Mexico Project is on hold until March 21st. In the meantime, during the week of March 14-18 several important news stories broke on rule of law and security issues in Mexico:
YOUNG CHILDREN CAUGHT UP IN MEXICO’S DRUG VIOLENCE
A series of shootings that involved gunmen fighting in public in the resort city of Acapulco killed innocent civilians, including at least five young children.
U.S. PROFESSOR RELEASED AFTER “EXPRESS” KIDNAPPING
A University of Northern Arizona archeology professor named Veronica Perez Rodriguez was reportedly kidnapped late Friday while visiting family members in Ciudad Juarez, but was released by her captors soon afterwards.
TENSIONS BETWEEN PRESIDENT CALDERON AND U.S. AMBASSADOR PASCUAL
Tensions became more intense this week between Los Pinos and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, with continued revelations from Wikileaks that irked Mexican officials. Specifically, Mexico’s president expressed a lack of confidence in U.S. Ambassador Carlos Pascual, following revelations about negative characterizations of Mexico’s capacity to wage the drug war in classified reports sent back to Washington.
U.S. MAYOR & POLICE CHIEF CHARGED WITH ARMS TRAFFICKING TO MEXICO
Columbus Mayor Eddie Espinoza, Police Chief Angelo Vega and nine other individuals were charged with smuggling at least 200 firearms into Mexico, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday.
ADVOCACY GROUPS PREPARE TO ASSIST ASYLUM SEEKERS FLEEING VIOLENCE IN MEXICO
Immigration attorneys and advocacy groups in El Paso, Texas announced a coalition of multiple service providers hoping to assist asylum seekers coming from Mexico.
AUTHORITIES ACKNOWLEDGE USE OF UNMANNED U.S. DRONES IN MEXICO
The Mexican government authorities acknowledged the use of unmanned US drones have flown over its territory to gather intelligence on organized crime, but insisted that these operations were compliant with Mexican national law.
OBAMA MAKES TRIP TO LATIN AMERICA
President Obama heads to Latin America, though the trip leaves out Mexico at a time when that relationship appears to be in trouble and crises are growing more severe in both North Africa and Japan.
