VZCZCXRO5760
RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #6568/01 3260035
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220035Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4329
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 006568 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KCRM KWMN MX
SUBJECT: INTERIM TIP ASSESSMENT FOR MEXICO 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) The Government of Mexico (GOM) has shown 
appreciable progress in addressing its deficiencies in 
combating trafficking in persons (TIP) since the release of 
the June 2006 TIP Report, especially in the conduct of 
trafficking investigations.  However, to provide a clear and 
reliable framework for the protection of victims and 
prosecution of traffickers, the GOM should adopt federal 
anti-trafficking legislation; show more improvement in the 
areas of arrests and prosecutions; establish a reliable data 
gathering mechanism; create identification and referral 
procedures for victims; and provide better protection for 
trafficking victims. 
 
Coordination and Cooperation 
---------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The Mexican Federal Preventative Police (PFP), the 
lead government agency on TIP, appointed Jose Nemecio Lugo as 
the Director General for Smuggling and Contraband, which also 
covers trafficking cases. Lugo also leads the federal 
interagency committee on trafficking. PFP created five 
investigative units dedicated exclusively to trafficking 
cases in different geographic areas. Two units have already 
initiated investigations. Although PGR and the National 
Institute for Migration (INM) have yet to assign their 
respective trafficking coordinators, the agencies have 
actively assisted PFP on investigations and the 
identification of victims. 
 
¶3.  (U) The National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH), with 
the International Organization for Migration (IOM), sponsored 
a TIP conference in June, in Chiapas, that was attended by 
more than 200 persons representing government agencies, NGOs 
and academia from Mexico, the United States and Guatemala. 
The Secretariat for Foreign Relations sponsored an 
interagency meeting with NGOs on trafficking, intending to 
build stronger relations and cooperation between government 
and civil society. The GOM has also participated in two major 
international conferences on trafficking. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) While GOM-USG bilateral law enforcement mechanism 
is working well, resulting in effective collaborative 
investigations and extraditions, Mexico must bolster 
bilateral cooperation with its southern neighbors on anti-TIP 
efforts, particularly Guatemala. DHS-ICE has provided a 
40-hour training course on TIP investigations to 60 PFP 
officers, a 4-hour module to 300 officers at the PFP training 
academy, and additional training to INM officers in Chiapas. 
 
Investigations, Arrests, and Prosecutions 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The GOM has pursued at least nine trafficking cases 
(verified by the DHS-ICE TIP coordinator at post), most of 
which are still active. As a result, the GOM has conducted 
several rescues of potential trafficking victims, issued one 
active state arrest warrant (though no arrest has been made), 
and made one arrest under federal charges of child 
pornography. The GOM participated closely with civil society 
on these investigations, and the leads to all rescues were 
provided by NGOs. Five cases involved an element of USG 
cooperation and two were related to active USG trafficking 
investigations, resulting in one extradition of an alleged 
trafficker from Mexico to the US. A case is still pending for 
a Mexican citizen extradited from the US to Mexico on 
TIP-related charges on July 15 and who is currently detained 
in Cancun. 
 
¶6.  (U) On April 28, the Mexican Attorney General's Office 
(PGR) prevailed on an appeal in a significant prosecution on 
TIP-related charges. The seven defendants were members of the 
Carreto trafficking ring and were convicted with sentences 
ranging from 19 to 27 years. Though currently serving time, 
the defendants have initiated another appeal process. GOM 
also granted the extradition to the US of one of the 
defendants wanted on trafficking charges, though first she 
will have to complete her 25 year sentence in Mexico. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) CNDH issued its first recommendation in April to 
the INM and the Secretariat of Labor, addressing a 
trafficking case of two Chinese nationals in the state of 
Guanajuato. The subsequent investigation by authorities, 
however, was largely ineffective. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) PFP is developing a mechanism to collect data on 
TIP-related investigations, arrests and prosecutions from the 
state governments, but considerable work remains to be done. 
The PFP and Save the Children have entered into a formal 
collaborative relationship, which will include a project 
 
MEXICO 00006568  002 OF 002 
 
 
among a network of civil society organizations to manage a 
web-based database to track missing persons, including 
potential trafficking victims. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Impunity and corruption are serious problems in 
most areas and at all levels of government in Mexico. There 
have been no reported sanctions against corrupt officials 
involved in trafficking. 
 
Anti-Trafficking Legislation 
---------------------------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Although the Mexican senate passed comprehensive 
anti-trafficking legislation early in the year, the lower 
chamber of congress did not vote on the bill before its 
session ended in June. The lower chamber is currently 
studying the anti-trafficking legislation in committee, in 
consideration for a floor vote.  There is strong support for 
the legislation across party lines in the chamber.  The state 
of Michoacan passed state-level anti-trafficking legislation 
in June. The state of Chihuahua has completed the draft of 
its anti-trafficking legislation, which it expects to 
introduce to the state congress shortly. 
 
Protection Services 
------------------- 
 
¶11.  (SBU) In September, INM authorized the issuance of visas 
to trafficking victims, contingent on assistance in 
prosecution cases. However, there currently do not exist 
formal mechanisms for immigration officials to interview and 
detect potential trafficking victims and refer them to 
victims' services. Though CNDH enjoys complete access to 
victims, NGOs have limited entree to INM detention centers. 
INM and PFP have expressed interest in participating with 
NGOs in training programs on identifying TIP victims. Mexico 
lacks shelters exclusively dedicated to TIP victims. 
 
 
Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity 
BASSETT