How the u. S. Is working with the Mexican Government to combat drug and arms trafficking by cartels. The current humanitarian crisis and american citizens being killed in mexico. We are going to get started. The Ranking Member is on his way. The reason for the early evening as we have votes and people go back to the district today so i wanted to make sure that i got this started. Other members will be walking in as the hearing is progressing. This hearing will call them to order amid u. S. Security assistance to mexico. We will focus on evaluating the extent to which u. S. Assistance under the initiative has been detected in strengthening mexicos Justice Sector institution combating crime. All members may have five days to submit statements, questions, strenuous materials for the record subject to the limitation of the rules i will now make an Opening Statement and then turn it over to the Ranking Member of his Opening Statement. Its early, its miserable outside and i certainly want to thank the witnesses for being here good morning, everyone and thank you for the witnesses being here today. In reading the news over the last few weeks, the shocking headlines from mexico have it impossible to escape. Last week, i saw kids as young as 6yearsold trying to defend their families in the rural part of the state. It was cartels have sough is cao assert control of the area, the murder rate has doubled in the community has nearly shut down a. Kids should be in School Learning that the science and not how to ambush armored vehicles. As a former teacher, i believe that nothing is more sacred than the investment W Investments wer childrens future. It broke my heart to think that these kids are being deprived of the right to learn and grow free from violence and fear, and they know that it is just a microcosm of the broad trends that we are seeing across mexico. Mexicos rate has reached its highest level in decades. Targeted attacks against journalists, human rights defenders and local Public Officials have continued to rates almost higher than anywhere in the world. A recent report on the International Federation for journalists found mexico is the deadliest country in the world for terrorists. Up to 49 journalists killings documented in 2019, ten were in mexico. Most journalist murders like most homicides in mexico are never solved. I have long advocated for robust u. S. Assistance to help mexico strengthen its Democratic Institution caused by corruption, defending human rights and improve security. I believe mexico and the United States have a shared responsibility to reduce Violent Crimes and improve quality of life for those living on both sides of the border. The United States must enact strict gun laws dedicated more resources to combat Money Laundering by the cartels and increase investment in programs to reduce domestic demand for illegal drugs. While we also expect a commitment on the mexican side to reduce in this violence. I appreciate the efforts the Security Forces are making but they are being undone by these cartels. If the Mexican Civil Society organization released a report this week showing that 953 Police Officers have been murdered in mexico in just the past two years. I admire those courageous individuals putting their lives on the line, but it is clear substantial political commitment is needed to address the underlying problem of the impunity and corruption that are perpetuating the violence in mexico. Now is the time for the government of critically at the programs to determine what is working and what is not fine looking forward to working on the strategy and how congress can measure tangible progress on the initiatives. With mexico rather than pressuring them to use [inaudible] i know that many of my colleagues share frustration that we havent made more progress over the initiative and i hope that this hearing will help us develop a sense of what is next, whats next step we should take. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the executive branch of the bipartisan basis to explore solutions to the difficult challenges. Thank you and i now turn over to the Ranking Member for his Opening Statements. Thank you, mr. Chairman for holding a second hearing to to followup ofollow up on this vet and timely issue regarding the security situation in mexico. The situation is among the most strategically important relationships in the United States. Linked by geography, geographic proximity as well as economic historical and cultural ties. In the events occurring in mexico the impact the country. Recent years brought widespread violence, criminality and the deteriorating security that has been largely driven by the drug cartels and ignore the fact the paper today that the article about the children. Tsukuba petition is a critical component of the relationship with mexico and its important that we review the security conditions and assistance programs to identify what has been most effective and ineffective in assisting the country to address the security challenge. Im concerned recent events in mexico have resulted in the deaths of nine u. S. Citizens including three children at the hands of the drug cartels. Despite the efforts Previous Administration to combat cartel with a 30 percent increase of mexicos homicide rate further the cartels have expanded the drug trade with hera when it is synthetic opioids. And heroine read the book dreamland. We must also take illegal weapons from the United States and mexico especially assault weapons and highpowered leopard weapons that contribute to systemic corruption and lack of rule of law since 2007 the ministration provided 3 million in security aid to mexico from 2014 through 22 us security assistant have focused on human rights in mexico the trumpet ministration has added focus of financing of the cartels and combating opioids which i think is a positive step United States and mexico must continue to Work Together to ensure that Regional Security priorities are addressed its also critical the Mexican Government communicates to us and present a comprehensive security strategy. The first the United States should explore ways to modernize the Security Assistance and continue intelligence sharing capacity and also review the coordination on the border to support mexicos efforts to carry out the screenings that has come a long way but we must continue to build the relationship on cooperation it is a joint responsibility for both countries to do so thank you mr. Chairman and Career Foreign Service officers for being here today i look forward to hearing your testimony. Thank you very much Ranking Member. I will now introduce mr. Hugo rodrigues was a Career Foreign Service officer who most recently served as deputy chief and previously served at the us embassy and later as missions acting minister for affairs. We welcome you to the hearing. That really hear from the assistant secretary of state and bureau of international narcotics. In his current role oversees the program to oversee the work with the 2000 of it in of 2011 and also serving in argentina. Thank you for joining us today and finally will hear from Barbara Feinstein usa member of the overseas usaid program to mexico and Central America and caribbean. Previously Deputy Assistant administrator for administrative and Public Affairs serving as deputy chief of staff and chief of staff acting administrator. Thank you for joining us today please limit your testimony to five minutes and without objection your prepared statements will be made as part of the record we recognize you first for your testimony. Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member members of the subcommittee thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss Security Cooperation with mexico thanks to the u. S. Congress in this committee in particular for its consistent bipartisan strong support of usmexico relationship in general and the merit of relationship in particular while the bilateral agenda in mexico covers a wide range of issues with commercial relationships and educational exchanges and bigger partnership Security Cooperation is only been a central element to be central partners in confronting the Transnational Criminal Organizations operating on both sides of usmexico border these have engaged in unprecedented levels of violence in the fundamental challenge to mexico and its people also a major threat to the United States we must take a comprehensive approach including the targeting of their Business Model from production and trafficking of illicit drugs to finances in revenue this is critical to safety of all citizens the necessity of cooperation has made it clear with our horrific murders of nine citizens in the failed operation october 2019 these are in addition to the live Security Forces continue to be lost the trumpet ministration is committed to work with mexico to combat these organizations us customs and Border Protection all separately visited mexico for the joint efforts and to increase collaboration more effectively for this threat. The criminal organizations that traffic methamphetamine, fentanyl, colon cocaine to the United States to address these and the latest threats United States and mexico support mexico is the efforts to improve security reduce drug production and enhance criminal prosecution and to build Public Confidence in the Justice Sector, reduce the migration flow to promote those that i set Security Cooperation has been expanding in this launched in 2008 based on the recognition and commitment to country shares responsibility for Transnational Criminal Networks from the crime and corruption generated initiative is founded on Mutual Respect reflecting the tremendous benefits derived from collaboration. Us assistance provided crucial support to the government in its efforts to build to capacity while enhancing cooperation between us and Mexican Governments with assistance and training also with greater cooperation between Law Enforcement agencies prosecutors and judges as they expand the shared capacity making the reduction of violence that keith goal of Security Policy in his pledge to fight corruption advance efforts with the security challenges to develop a new bilateral structure mexico city High Level Working Group to jointly develop groups to tackle issues of the highest importance focus on drug policy, migration illicit finance cybersecurity arm Services Emergency response and arms trafficking. Through these groups identify priorities and specific actions to have progress in each area. For example to increase the joint efforts to increase drug introduction introductions and we also working with firearms weapons and the ammunitions for crossing into the border those by Transnational Criminal Organizations requires our continual support in our cooperation must continue in this initiative provides a framework for the partnership to benefit americans and mexicans i will be happy to answer any questions that you have. We will now hear your testimony. Distinguish members of the subcommittee thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss our efforts with mexico forgot one of the states. Oh is to keep americans safe by countering crime and illegal drugs. We provided assistance for the last 12 years under the initiative to build mexican interdiction Law Enforcement and prosecutorial capacity the system has two principal purposes first is to stop illicit drugs before they reach the United States and to improve capacity to demand each component Transnational Criminal Organizations with trafficking and to elicit proceeds and hold accountable for their crimes. Despite the news drug overdoses are falling for the first time in 20 years more than 67000 americans died in 2018 many of which have come from mexico it is the source of the most methamphetamine consumed and for synthetic opioids like fentanyl meanwhile they face their own epidemic with the homicide rate a record high of 29 per 1000 public trust is low and organized crime erodes through corruption the Mexican Government continues to consolidate with major growing pains in the face of these challenges the initiative has petitioned the us cooperation to tackle corruption and security to build trust between us and mexican Law Enforcement now to learn those who adapted the programs to meet the changing environment tackle those through the us and ministration to prioritize sustainability there is sustained political will we have seen investments bear frui fruit. One example more than those since 2011 with 23 tons of narcotics including fentanyl 56000 guns and millions of double dollars of smuggled cash we have since expanded the canine program and the next step is working closely with mexico with a Strategic Plan for the deployment of canines to increase seizures and save more lives we have learned no amount of equipment or training can reduce impunity with sustainable improvements this requires continued political will and resources to tackle todays immediate problems while laying the foundation for the enduring culture of accountability we are under no illusion we have to reduce the number of drugs in the United States or the level of violence we have a long road ahead when fully embraced to yield improvements we seek opportunities to make the greatest impact while mitigating risk and ensure sustainability on the campaign trail in the first year in office he has repeatedly vowed to take a minute Transnational Criminal Organization by combating illicit finance and arms trafficking. With mexicos commitment you have an opportunity to tackle our threat to those only make the immeasurable difference to be employed in the strategic manner and the recent actions it with this momentum. And the time that calls for urgency the current statistics make it hard to argue we are making headway nevertheless those are exactly that we must continue we engage at every level with partners in the Mexican Government and we encourage mexico to take a strategic approach of our shared challenges we will continue to do so that requires nothing less. I look forward to your questions. Thank you. Ranking member rooney and members of the subcommittee thank you for the aid in mexico. Since 2008 usaid has partnered with the department of state and other agencies to address the crime and justice and corruption challenges to threaten our mutual security and prosperity. Under the marinette initiative usaid works to strengthen institutions and address impunity protect human rights reduce crime and violence and transparency undoubtedly as clearly articulated the challenges before us are daunting that is why usaid is labor law and is laser focused to have incredible partners willing to work with us with the necessary political will to enact systemic change as outlined in my written testimony we are seeing results in the area that we work to continue to press federal state and local governments. With the rule of law to support Mexican Government with a Seismic Shift with the presumption of guilt to a presumption of innocence. Working at the state level where the vast majority of crimes are tried we have demand driven support with investigators and attorneys to implement protocols and procedures and secure prosecutions. Our work has helped to increase prosecutions of felony crimes by 400 to over 700 percent. And to have specialized homicide units increasing the indictments and homicides. With a sufficient political will and resources and capacity are marshaled to the shared outcomes. The systems we are putting in place at state level are the foundations on which the entire Justice System. Usaid is focus on those 13 specific states with a crime violence prevention but the anticorruption system to shifted our resources with the anticorruption prosecutors and <