Uncovering Mexico

Uncovering Mexico

Jeremy Schwartz is the Mexico correspondent for Cox Newspapers. He is based in Mexico City.

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The entry titled "McCaul gets wish on Border Patrol slaying."

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Home > Uncovering Mexico > Archives > 2008 > January > 24 > Entry

McCaul gets wish on Border Patrol slaying

By Jeremy Schwartz | Thursday, January 24, 2008, 01:53 PM

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, was in Mexico City this week, talking drug cartels and border security with President Felipe Calderon as part of a fact-finding mission for the U.S. Congress. McCaul and fellow rep Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, were trying to decide whether to endorse the so-called Merida Initiative, a proposed $1.4 billion aid package to help the Mexican government fight the cartels. The two Texas lawmakers will soon report back to the U.S. Congress, which will then debate the issue in coming weeks.

Among the first issue McCaul brought up when I met with him at his Mexico City hotel Monday night was the recent killing of U.S. Border Patrol agent Luis Aguilar, who was run down by a Hummer allegedly carrying drugs in the Imperial Sand Dunes east of San Diego. McCaul said he told Mexican officials, “If you want to show commitment, then working with us to (arrest the killer) would demonstrate in a strong way how we can work together.”

Well, yesterday Mexican authorities arrested Jesus Navarro Montes and charged him with the Border Patrol agent’s death. It’s unclear if Navarro will be extradited to the U.S. since Mexico does not extradite subjects who face the death penalty (which Navarro could face).

Navarro’s arrest does not necessarily translate to passage of the Merida Initiative, which has been pushed by both Presidents Bush and Calderon. Members of congress in both countries were ticked that they weren’t kept in the loop when the aid package was being negotiated, and U.S. lawmakers have expressed alarm about giving money to what have traditionally been corrupted Mexican law enforcement agencies. And Mexico’s military has come under heavy criticism for human rights abuses committed during its battle with the drug cartels, allegations that include shooting to death a family at a checkpoint in Sinaloa.

But the quick arrest could demonstrate to U.S. lawmakers Mexico’s newfound resolve to tackle both border security and the drug war. Calderon has made several attacks on both the warring Gulf and Sinaloa cartels in the last week and taken drastic measures like disarming police forces in border cities like Nuevo Laredo. And a top Mexican drug lord, Alfredo Beltran Leyva, was arrested just as the Texas congressmen were meeting with Mexican officials, McCaul reported.

Here’s how McCaul summed up his thoughts on Mexico’s performance: “I think the Mexican government has been in denial for awhile,” he said. “The most significant thing I am walking away with is the recognition that they have a problem.”

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