A new law enforcement structure, a national guard, with the aim of combating a rising wave of crime will be created in Mexico after the relevant bill was unanimously approved by the country’s Senate on 21 February.
The initiative, focusing on avoiding further militarisation of the country amid the fight against crime and drug trafficking came from Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. This national guard will be composed of highly-trained members of Mexico’s security forces. It will be controlled by Mexico’s Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection instead of the military.
According to Eduardo Ramirez, the head of the Senate’s committee for legislative studies, the fact that the new body will be a civilian-led force will guarantee internal security with full respect of human rights, while the Mexican Armed Forces will have to cease its activities on maintaining public security in the next five years.