VZCZCXRO1685
RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #5891/01 3242207
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 202207Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9616
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 005891 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
G/TIP -- BARBARA FLECK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB KCRM KWMN MX PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: MEXICO: TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT 
 
REF: STATE 148925 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY.  The Government of Mexico (GOM) has shown 
significant and substantive progress in addressing its 
deficiencies in combating trafficking in persons (TIP) since 
the release of the June 2007 TIP Report, in particular by 
enacting comprehensive federal anti-TIP legislation to 
criminalize and punish all severe forms of TIP.  Meanwhile, 
it has opened several new cases against traffickers and has 
developed plans to engage more government agencies in a 
coordinated effort to assist and protect victims.  With the 
adoption of the new anti-TIP law, the GOM is looking at 
expanding the resources it dedicates to combating trafficking 
and creating a special unit in the Attorney General's Office 
to prosecute trafficking cases.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Anti-Trafficking Legislation 
----------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) On March 27, Mexico enacted a federal law against the 
Sexual Exploitation of Children, which includes sanctions for 
the corruption of minors.  On October 31, President Calderon 
signed into law Mexico's new federal anti-trafficking 
legislation (unanimously approved and ratified by the Senate 
on October 2). The law not only criminalizes trafficking in 
persons, as defined by international treaties signed and 
ratified by Mexico, but also underscores the need to 
establish specialized shelters that can protect, assist, and 
provide comprehensive services to trafficking victims. 
Separately, Tlaxcala joined four other states (Michoacan, 
Chihuahua, Guerrero, and Zacatecas) in adopting anti-TIP 
legislation at the state level. 
 
GoM Opens New Trafficking Cases 
------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Since June, the GOM has reported making arrests in 
connection to three new TIP cases. The GOM reportedly made 
new arrests in the Divas case that it opened originally in 
early 2007. It also provided USG authorities with information 
contributing to arrests made in connection to a TIP case in 
South Carolina.  All told, Mexican authorities have arrested 
at least six individuals in connection to alleged federal 
trafficking cases since June.  Meanwhile, the state of 
Chihuahua has produced seven indictments against alleged 
traffickers this year.  Separately, the GOM has conducted 
several rescues of potential trafficking victims in cases 
where there was insufficient evidence to initiate a formal 
investigation/prosecution. 
 
Information Collection 
---------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) The GOM-USG bilateral law enforcement cooperation is 
working well, resulting in effective collaborative 
investigations. In 2005, Mexico's Foreign Affairs Secretariat 
created a working group focused on TIP. Over the last three 
months, this group has considered next steps once the TIP law 
passed Congress, including the creation of two sub-groups 
dedicated to social and legal issues respectively. The legal 
sub-group will be dedicated to prosecuting and convicting 
traffickers. In addition, INM has expanded its efforts to 
collect information on foreigners involved in trafficking 
either as victims or traffickers with a particular focus on 
Central Americans. The Attorney General's office relies on a 
database to track TIP cases at both the federal and local 
level and is looking at developing a single unit to prosecute 
TIP cases. 
 
Protection Services 
-------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) The sub-group working on social issues noted above 
will focus on providing services to victims including witness 
protection. The SRE has also created a toll free hotline for 
trafficking victims to call.  The budget to support the 
federal law is expected to be drawn from the budgets of INM, 
PGR, and SSP.  By November, INM reported that it had issued 
six humanitarian visas to allow trafficking victims to remain 
in Mexico pending investigations into their cases.  With the 
adoption of the Mexico's new TIP law, a national commission 
for trafficking in persons will replace the exiting 
interagency committee presently led by SRE. This commission 
will have the authority to request additional funds to 
support the law and implement a national program to prevent 
trafficking and protect victims.  To date, the GOM has 
expended significantly expanded resources to train 
prosecutors, judges, immigration officials, and police in 
anticipation of the new law's adoption and implementation. As 
of November 2007, USAID and Mexico have collaborated in 
assisting 245 TIP victims with medical, legal, psychological 
 
MEXICO 00005891  002 OF 002 
 
 
support and shelter. 
 
Victim Identification 
--------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) Mexican immigration (INM) officials regularly 
interview migrants -- generally from Central America -- 
detained in migrant detention centers to ascertain if they 
have been the victims of trafficking.  Mexico's National 
Human Rights Commission (CNDH) maintains offices on location 
at the migrant detention centers  for the purpose of 
monitoring treatment of all migrants and assuring that 
victims of trafficking enjoy special protections.  The 
Mexican Government has an established a Memorandum of 
Understanding with Guatemala providing for the protection of 
victims of trafficking with particular attention to women and 
children. 
 
 
Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American 
Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / 
GARZA