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INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 MEXICO 000722 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO BARBARA FLECK G/TIP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC ELAB KCRM KFRD KWMN MX PHUM PREF SMIG
SUBJECT: EIGHTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT 
- MEXICO (PART 2 OF 2) 
 
REF: A. 2006 STATE 202745 
     ¶B. (B) 2007 STATE 150188 
     ¶C. (C) 2008 STATE 02731 
 
 
¶27. (SBU) QUESTION E:  For countries with legalized 
prostitution: does the government have a mechanism for 
screening for trafficking victims among persons involved in 
the legal/regulated commercial sex trade? 
 
POST RESPONSE:  One of the biggest challenges for the GOM is 
to have authorities who are able to identify victims of 
trafficking.  Coordination continues with USG agencies in 
training government officials, police and migration officials 
on victim identification.  USAID will start a program 
sometime this year to train officials from the National 
Commission on Human Rights (CNDH) on victim identification. 
To date, the GOM has not established a concrete screening 
method to identify trafficking victims among prostitutes. 
 
¶28. (SBU) QUESTION F: Are the rights of victims respected? 
Are trafficking victims detained or jailed?  If detained or 
jailed, for how long?  Are victims fined?  Are victims 
prosecuted for violations of other laws, such as those 
governing immigration or prostitution? 
 
POST RESPONSE:  Migrants from Central American and other 
countries who travel to Mexico illegally and violate Mexican 
immigration laws are usually deported within 90 days.  Once 
migration officials identify an illegal migrant, INM takes 
them to their detention center where they conduct interviews 
to see if any crime has been committed during their travel 
to/through Mexico.  If the migrant is identified as a victim 
of trafficking, INM officials say they then turn them over to 
DIF, if they are under the age of 12 or to the appropriate 
Embassy or Consulate or to shelters that can support victims 
of trafficking (i.e. Casa del Migrante or IOM). 
 
Grupos Beta, a unit of INM that operates on the northern and 
southern borders, is mandated to deliver aid and protection 
to migrants or nationals of Mexico.  In 2007, Grupos Beta 
reportedly rescued 5,700 people last year along the 
U.S.-Mexican border alone. 
 
¶29. (SBU) QUESTION G:  Does the government encourage victims 
to assist in the investigation and prosecution of 
trafficking?  How many victims assisted in the investigation 
and prosecution of traffickers during the reporting period? 
May victims file civil suits or seek legal action against 
traffickers?  Does anyone impede victim access to such legal 
redress?  If a victim is a material witness in a court case 
against a former employer, is the victim permitted to obtain 
other employment or to leave the country pending trial 
proceedings?  Are there means by which a victim may obtain 
restitution? 
 
POST RESPONSE:  Law enforcement and migration officials 
encourage victims to cooperate with investigations; however, 
victims rarely identify themselves as victims of trafficking 
and often times migrants who are exploited through their 
employers are afraid to tell authorities for fear 
deportation.  Before the passage of the new federal law, 
trafficking in persons was not considered a crime, however, 
many people were charged with other crimes other than 
trafficking but there are investigations pending under the 
new law but to date, no prosecutions have been made under the 
new law. 
 
Since 2005, the INM has identified 22 victims of trafficking 
from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Argentina, Slovakia and Ecuador. 
Of the 22, (81%) of the 22 were victims of sexual 
exploitation and (19%) victims of labor exploitation.  Five 
of these were foreigners and were authorized humanitarian 
visas in order for them to provide information to prosecute 
traffickers and regularize their status within Mexico.  The 
remaining voluntarily returned to their countries with the 
support from various consulates and international 
organizations. Since the beginning of 2008, INM has 
identified one trafficking victim from Ecuador. 
 
¶30. (SBU) QUESTION H:  What kind of protection is the 
government able to provide for victims and witnesses?  Does 
it provide these protections in practice?  What type of 
shelter or services does the government provide?  Are these 
services provided directly by the government or are they 
provided by NGOs or IOs funded by host government grants? 
Does the government provide shelter or housing benefits to 
victims or other resources to aid the victims in rebuilding 
their lives?  Where are child victims placed (e.g., in 
 
MEXICO 00000722  002 OF 008 
 
 
shelters, foster care, or juvenile justice detention 
centers)?  What is the number of victims assisted by 
government-funded assistance programs during the reporting 
period?  What is the number of victims assisted by 
government-funded assistance programs during the reporting 
period?  What is the number of victims assisted by non 
government-funded assistance programs?  What is the number of 
victims that received shelter services during the reporting 
period? 
 
POST RESPONSE:  Through the DIF, the government administers 
assistance programs and shelters in Sonora, Tamaulipas, 
Coahuila, Chihuahua and Baja California for children 
repatriated to Mexico from the United States.  The GOM works 
closely with UNICEF (which is reportedly in the process of 
compiling information on the number of children who enter 
Mexico's southern border alone and also those who travel 
throughout Mexico alone on their way to the U.S.  The GOM is 
currently working with IOM to build a shelter on the southern 
border for migrants.  Although IOM's shelter reportedly 
provides assistance to victims of trafficking, some say the 
shelter is not equipped for victims of trafficking and is 
more equipped for migrants.  The GOM has often referred 
victims to NGOS.  In January 2008, Congress approved a 7 
million USD budget to construct trafficking shelters.  SRE 
says that they expect to use the funds to build two shelters. 
 
¶31. (SBU) QUESTION I:  Does the government provide any 
specialized training for government officials in identifying 
trafficking victims and in the provision of assistance to 
trafficked victims, including the special needs of trafficked 
children?  Does the government provide training on 
protections and assistance to its embassies and consulates in 
foreign countries that are destination or transit countries? 
Does it urge those embassies and consulates to develop 
ongoing relationships with NGOs and IOs that serve trafficked 
victims?  What is the number of trafficking victims assisted 
by the host government's embassies or consulates abroad 
during the reporting period?  Please explain the level of 
assistance.  For example, did the host government provide 
travel documents for the victim to repatriate, did the host 
government contact NGOs in either the source or destination 
countries to ensure the victim received adequate assistance, 
did the host government pay for the transportation home for a 
victim's repatriation, etc 
. 
 
POST RESPONSE:  The GOM continues to work with USAID and ICE 
on training government officials in identifying trafficking 
victims.  CNDH expects to receive training from USG in 
identifying trafficking victims with the intent to assist in 
training government officials on identifying victims and 
potential victims.  SRE official say that they are 
implementing programs to assist Mexican trafficking victims 
in the U.S. and that one of their consulates in California 
has established the resources to assist a TIP victim.  GOM 
has plans to work with their Embassies in Central America to 
develop programs to assist with prevention of trafficking in 
Central America.  This program has not been established. 
 
¶32. (SBU) QUESTION J:  Does the government provide 
assistance, such as medical aid, shelter, or financial help, 
to its nationals who are repatriated as victims of 
trafficking? 
 
POST RESPONSE: Through the DIF, the government continues to 
administer assistance programs and provide shelters for 
migrants through DIF on the northern border.  NGOs also 
continue to provide assistance to victims of trafficking and 
street children and migrants: 
 
Alternativas Pacificas, based in Monterrey continues to 
provide support for victims of trafficking.  Alternativas 
Pacificas is a holistic shelter model for domestic violence 
victims and created a national network of shelters.  Within 
the past few years, the shelters have provided services to 
victims of trafficking. 
 
Casa Alianza Mexico runs a network of shelters dedicated to 
street children.  Most of the children are victims of 
domestic violence as well as trafficking.  Casa Alianza 
provides comprehensive service such as food, education, 
health care, religion, legal counseling, and psychological 
assistance.  Casa Alianza works with DIF and also receives 
the cooperation of INM when assistance is needed to 
repatriate undocumented migrants. 
 
Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition (BSCC) works on the US 
and Mexican sides of the border, with offices in San Diego 
 
MEXICO 00000722  003 OF 008 
 
 
and Cancun.  BSCC has launched awareness campaigns, developed 
a coalition of civil society organizations to combat 
trafficking, and trained Mexican law enforcement and other 
officials.  BSCC works closely with state-level DIF offices, 
the State Commission for Human Rights and federal law 
enforcement. 
 
Casa de las Mercedes provides assistance and support to women 
of all ages who live on the streets and are victims of 
mistreatment, sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation.  The NGO 
runs a shelter in which these women and their children can 
live (as long as necessary) and receive medical and 
psychological attention, food, legal counseling and education. 
 
The Casa del Migrante runs shelters in Tapachula, Ciudad 
Juarez and Tijuana where they primarily attend to migrants 
but also encounter TIP victims.  In its Tapachula shelter, 
the organization recently added a separate area dedicated for 
trafficking victims.  Casa del Migrante has a good 
relationship with INM. 
 
Centro de Estudios e Investigacion en Desarollo y Asistencia 
Social (CEIDAS) is promoting awareness of trafficking through 
the media, academic conferences, studies and other outreach 
strategies.  CEIDAS in partnership with the Embassy sponsored 
a trip for journalists and members of civil society to travel 
to Washington D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles for a week 
to study prevention, protection and prosecutions of TIP in 
the U.S. in October 2007. 
 
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) actively 
works to raise awareness about TIP, such as on programs 
designed to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors, 
particularly by trying to lower the demand.  CATW has trained 
law enforcement officials on trafficking.  CATW reports 
having received funding from INMUJERES and Mexico City 
Government. 
 
Centro Integral de Atencion a la Mujer (CIAM), located in 
Cancun, provides short and long term services to women 
victims of domestic and sexual violence-including crisis 
prevention, legal assistance, medical and psychological and 
vocational counseling, and also protection.  CIAM provides 
services to trafficking victims, conducts anti-TIP public 
awareness campaigns and works with the hotel industry and the 
local government in efforts to combat trafficking. 
 
Fundacion Infantia works with the tourism industry on 
prevention of child sexual exploitation.  Fundacion Infantia 
works with the BSCC and the International Labor Organization 
(ILO) in providing training to government entities and 
schools and has worked with local DIF offices. 
 
International Organization for Migration works extensively 
with the GOM, mostly with the INM to provide training to 
immigration officials on both the northern and southern 
borders.  The IOM works closely with Casa del Migrante in 
Tapachula, Chiapas, as well as Casa de las Mercedes in Mexico 
City, among many other NGOs and shelters.  The INM regularly 
contacts the IOM for assistance with suspected trafficking 
victims.  Note: The names of NGOs working with the INM with 
victim protection and assistance are not/not for public 
disclosure.  INM reportedly assisted 38 victims of 
trafficking during the reporting period.  End note. 
 
INMUJERES is also involved in anti-TIP efforts, mostly 
through funding programs and it its programs to counter 
violence against women and educate women on their rights. 
 
Sin Fronteras has a good working relationship with the GOM, 
particularly with the INM and the SRE's Secretariat for 
Global Affairs.  Sin Fronteras provides legal and social 
services for migrants in Mexico, and it has been called upon 
to assist the INM with providing assistance to trafficking 
victims.  NOTE: the names of NGOs working with the INM with 
victim protection and assistance are not/not for public 
disclosure. End note. 
 
 
¶33. (SBU) QUESTION K:  Which international organizations or 
NGOs, if any, work with trafficking victims?  What type of 
services do they provide?  What sort of cooperation do they 
receive from local authorities?  How much funding (in U.S. 
Dollar Equivalent) did NGOs and international organizations 
receive from the host government for victim assistance during 
the reporting period?  Please disaggregate funding for 
prevention and public awareness efforts from victim 
assistance funding.  NOTE:  If post reports that a government 
is incapable of providing direct assistance to TIP victims, 
 
MEXICO 00000722  004 OF 008 
 
 
please assess whether the government ensures that TIP victims 
receive access to adequate care from other entities. 
Funding, personnel, and training constraints should be noted 
if applicable.  Conversely, lack of political will in a 
situation where a country has adequate financial and other 
resources to address the problem should be noted as well. 
 
POST RESPONSE:  Several NGOs and international organizations 
work with trafficking victims.  (Please see answers for 
question 31) 
 
Alternativas Pacificas, based in Monterrey continues to 
provide support for victims of trafficking.  Alternativas 
Pacificas is a holistic shelter model for domestic violence 
victims and created a national network of shelters.  Within 
the past few years, the shelters have provided services to 
victims of trafficking. 
 
Casa Alianza Mexico runs a network of shelters dedicated to 
street children.  Most of the children are victims of 
domestic violence as well as trafficking.  Casa Alianza 
provides comprehensive service such as food, education, 
health care, religion, legal counseling, and psychological 
assistance.  Casa Alianza works with DIF and also receives 
the cooperation of INM when assistance is needed to 
repatriate undocumented migrants. 
 
Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition (BSCC) works on the US 
and Mexican sides of the border, with offices in San Diego 
and Cancun.  BSCC has launched awareness campaigns, developed 
a coalition of civil society organizations to combat 
trafficking, and trained Mexican law enforcement and other 
officials.  BSCC works closely with state-level DIF offices, 
the State Commission for Human Rights and federal law 
enforcement. 
 
Casa de las Mercedes provides assistance and support to women 
of all ages who live on the streets and are victims of 
mistreatment, sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation.  The NGO 
runs a shelter in which these women and their children can 
live (as long as necessary) and receive medical and 
psychological attention, food, legal counseling and education. 
 
The Casa del Migrante runs shelters in Tapachula, Ciudad 
Juarez and Tijuana where they primarily attend to migrants 
but also encounter TIP victims.  In its Tapachula shelter, 
the organization recently added a separate area dedicated for 
trafficking victims.  Casa del Migrante has a good 
relationship with INM. 
 
Centro de Estudios e Investigacion en Desarollo y Asistencia 
Social (CEIDAS) is promoting awareness of trafficking through 
the media, academic conferences, studies and other outreach 
strategies.  CEIDAS in partnership with the Embassy sponsored 
a trip for journalists and members of civil society to travel 
to Washington D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles for a week 
to study prevention, protection and prosecutions of TIP in 
the U.S. in October 2007. 
 
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) actively 
works to raise awareness about TIP, such as on programs 
designed to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors, 
particularly by trying to lower the demand.  CATW has trained 
law enforcement officials on trafficking.  CATW reports 
having received funding from INMUJERES and Mexico City 
Government. 
 
Centro Integral de Atencion a la Mujer (CIAM), located in 
Cancun, provides short and long term services to women 
victims of domestic and sexual violence-including crisis 
prevention, legal assistance, medical and psychological and 
vocational counseling, and also protection.  CIAM provides 
services to trafficking victims, conducts anti-TIP public 
awareness campaigns and works with the hotel industry and the 
local government in efforts to combat trafficking. 
 
Fundacion Infantia works with the tourism industry on 
prevention of child sexual exploitation.  Fundacion Infantia 
works with the BSCC and the International Labor Organization 
(ILO) in providing training to government entities and 
schools and has worked with local DIF offices. 
 
International Organization for Migration works extensively 
with the GOM, mostly with the INM to provide training to 
immigration officials on both the northern and southern 
borders.  The IOM works closely with Casa del Migrante in 
Tapachula, Chiapas, as well as Casa de las Mercedes in Mexico 
City, among many other NGOs and shelters.  The INM regularly 
contacts the IOM for assistance with suspected trafficking 
 
MEXICO 00000722  005 OF 008 
 
 
victims.  Note: The names of NGOs working with the INM with 
victim protection and assistance are not/not for public 
disclosure.  End note. 
 
INMUJERES is also involved in anti-TIP efforts, mostly 
through funding programs and it its programs to counter 
violence against women and educate women on their rights. 
 
Sin Fronteras has a good working relationship with the GOM, 
particularly with the INM and the SRE's Secretariat for 
Global Affairs.  Sin Fronteras provides legal and social 
services for migrants in Mexico, and it has been called upon 
to assist the INM with providing assistance to trafficking 
victims.  NOTE: the names of NGOs working with the INM with 
victim protection and assistance are not/not for public 
disclosure. End note. 
 
PREVENTION: 
---------- 
 
¶34. (SBU) QUESTION A: Does the government acknowledge that 
trafficking is a problem in the country?  If not why not? 
 
POST RESPONSE:  The GOM recognizes it has a sex, labor and 
organ trafficking problem, all of which are transnational and 
domestic problems.  The issue of trafficking in persons 
continues to be a new issue for government officials, 
non-governmental organizations and Mexican citizens.  GOM 
officials, National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) and human 
rights groups continued to speak out against trafficking in 
persons throughout the year.  Thorough knowledge of the issue 
remains unclear among Mexican citizens despite the GOM's 
increased awareness on the subject.  There still needs to be 
a clear distinction between smuggling and trafficking in 
persons drawn on the state and local level. 
 
During the last year, the GOM/NGOS sponsored numerous 
seminars and conferences that included panels on trafficking: 
 
 
--March 2, 2007-Coordination meeting about Child Sexual 
Exploitation organized by ECPAT-International. 
 
--March-April 2007- INM organized a training seminar for 
attention to victims of Child Sexual Exploitation (a total of 
five sessions). 
 
--May 17, 2007- Sensitization workshop for screenwriters and 
producers of soap operas organized by "The Media Project." 
 
--May 24, 2007- two conferences organized by International 
Organization for Migration (IOM) on trafficking in persons to 
mark the meeting with the network of Attention to Women 
affected by the migratory phenomenon in Guadalajara. 
 
--June 2007- IOM provide training for civil society 
organizations in the states of Veracruz, Oaxaca and Puebla (a 
total of 18 people). 
 
--June 2007, IOM participated in the International Seminar on 
Prevention and Sanction Trafficking in Persons organized by 
the Mexican Senate and CEIDAS in order to obtain support in 
approving a new federal law against trafficking. 
 
--August 2007- IOM provided two days of training to state 
government officials in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas. 
 
--September 26-27, 2007- IOM co-organized an international 
seminar on "Trafficking of Women for Exploitation in Latin 
America which took place in Tlaxcala. 
 
--October 22-23, IOM and CNDH organized a seminar on 
Migration and Human Rights in Villahermosa, Tabasco for 
government officials and NGOs. 
 
--November 2007, IOM participated in a training workshop 
about trafficking in persons for officials of the state 
Family Dependency agencies (DIF).  At the end of the 
workshop, DIF constructed a network of attention to children 
who are victims of trafficking. 
 
--February 2008- IOM participated in a meeting with the 
Mexico City government for the creation of a working group 
and coordination on trafficking in persons. 
 
--February 2008- IOM organized a sensitization workshop for 
municipal police in Tapachula. 
 
CNDH plans to address university, business and union sectors 
 
MEXICO 00000722  006 OF 008 
 
 
on trafficking in persons 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
-- For 2008 CNDH has five forum scheduled to address 
businesses, unions, religious and civil associations, and 
universities with the objective to diffuse and blend national 
legislation on trafficking in persons.  The following five 
regional forums will be conducted on coordination with the 
Mexican Senate: 
 
--Tlaxcala- February 29, 2008 
--Guadalajara, Jalisco March 28, 2008 
--Zacatecas- April 25, 2008 
--Culiacan-Sinaloa- May 30, 2008 
--Merida, Yucatan- June 27, 2008 
 
University forums 
----------------- 
 
--University Forum (UNAM), February 26, 2008 on trafficking 
in persons. 
 
--University Forum ITESM Monterrey, March 20, 2008. 
 
--University Forum Iberoamericana in Mexico City May 8, 2008. 
 
--University National Forum ITESM Monterrey, September 25, 
¶2008. 
 
Business sector 
--------------- 
 
--Regional Business Forum in Toluca, state of Mexico- 
February 25, 2008. 
 
--Regional Business Forum in Guanajuato- May 12, 2008. 
 
--Regional Business Forum in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon- July 5, 
¶2008. 
 
Union/Labor sector 
------------------ 
 
--Regional Forum with Unions in Merida, Yucatan-April 16, 
¶2008. 
 
--Regional Forum with Unions in Cuernavaca, Morelos- July 31, 
¶2008. 
 
--Regional forum with Unions in Veracruz- November 21, 2008. 
 
National Forum for Agriculture workers 
-------------------------------------- 
 
--National Forum for the Agricultural sector, Hermosillo, 
Sonora- August 22, 2008. 
 
 
Civil Society 
------------- 
 
--Forum with Domestic workers organizations- April 24, 2008. 
 
--Forum with organizations for prostitutes- July 18, 2008. 
 
--Forum with taxi driver organizations- October 17, 2008. 
 
--Forum with organizations for house-maids- November 7, 2008. 
 
--Forum with Organizations for "Fathers of the Family"- 
December 11, 2008. 
 
Government 
---------- 
 
--February 26, 2008, CNDH sponsored a program with Mexico 
Foreign Relation's Secretariat (SRE) to discuss the issue of 
trafficking in persons and the challenges in Mexico. 
 
 
In addition to the above committees, CNDH will create 10 
regional committees around Mexico to address trafficking in 
persons in areas where trafficking activity is the highest. 
CNDH plans to establish at least one committee each month 
starting February 2008.  The first committee was expected to 
start on February 15, 2008 in Chiapas. 
 
¶35. (SBU) QUESTION B: Are there, or have there been, 
government-run anti-trafficking information or education 
 
MEXICO 00000722  007 OF 008 
 
 
campaigns conducted during the reporting period?  If so, 
briefly describe the campaigns(s), including their objectives 
and effectiveness.  Please provide the number of people 
reached by such awareness efforts if available.  Do these 
campaigns target potential trafficking victims and/or the 
demand for trafficking (e.g. "clients" of prostitutes or 
beneficiaries of forced labor)? 
 
POST RESPONSE:  As documented in last year's TIP report, the 
GOM's anti-trafficking information and education campaigns 
have focused on a National Program to Eradicate the 
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minors.  The program is 
administered by the DIF and is supported by numerous 
executive and legislative branch entities (STPS and the PGR), 
as well as civil society groups.  An NGO addressing 
prevention of trafficking in persons in Mexico say the states 
of Colima and Sinaloa has the best state level campaigns to 
combat trafficking in persons through DIF at the state level. 
 
¶36. (SBU) QUESTION C: What is the relationship between 
government officials, NGOs, other relevant organizations and 
other elements of civil society on the trafficking issue? 
 
POST RESPONSE:  The relationship between government 
officials, NGOs, other relevant organizations and elements of 
civil society on the trafficking issue varies - generally 
depending on the particular government agency and whether the 
relationship is at the federal or state level.  The 
relationship between the GOM and civil society in any context 
has traditionally been tense, but in the area of trafficking 
there has been significant but uneven cooperation in the last 
year. 
 
CNDH has received easy access to INM detention centers 
throughout the country.  However, access varies among NGOS. 
For example, Sin Fronteras has no access to INM detention 
centers but Casa del Migrante has full access to the 
detention centers in Tapachula. 
 
The NGO Fundacion Infantia and the International Labor 
Organization (ILO) has worked with the Secretariat of Labor 
(STPS), PGR, DIF and INM on public awareness campaigns to 
prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of children, with 
particularly good cooperation with state level DIF offices. 
 
IOM, ILO, UNICEF, the Bilateral Security Corridor Coalition 
(BSCC), Coalition Against the Trafficking of Women and 
Children (CAT-W), and Fundacion Infantia have conducted 
training for federal and state governmental agencies to build 
capacity in victim services and to develop greater awareness 
of trafficking and the harms of sexual tourism. 
 
¶37. (SBU) QUESTION D:  Does the government monitor 
immigration and emigration patterns for evidence of 
trafficking?  Do law enforcement agencies screen for 
potential trafficking victims along borders? 
 
POST RESPONSE:  The GOM, Migration officials, Grupos Beta, 
PGR all recognize the large influx of trafficked person and 
other illegal migrants entering through the southern border 
with the intention of transiting Mexico en route to the U.S., 
but scare resources continue to prevent them from training 
personnel to effectively screen for potential trafficking 
victims.  INM report that they deported approximately 50,000 
aliens in 2007- the vast majority of whom were from Central 
America; almost all from Central America.  Human rights 
organizations and International organizations say that there 
was an increase of children crossing the southern border 
alone often times falling prey to traffickers. 
 
In 2007, INM authorized the issuance of nine humanitarian 
visas, which are valid for one year, renewable, and granted 
to victims who agree to cooperate in the prosecution of case. 
 
In operations to secure its borders, INM nonetheless misses 
significant opportunities to identify victims.  The lack of 
concrete training on victim identification and enough 
resources to screen Central Americans traveling through 
Mexico prevent official from accurately screening and 
interviewing individuals to see if they are victims of 
trafficking. 
 
INM has 46 detention centers throughout Mexico and CNDH 
reportedly has an office in each center.  INM officials say 
that when they find migrants who are within Mexico illegally, 
they send them to the detention centers where they are asked 
several questions to determine if the person is a victim of 
trafficking.  If not, INM contacts the appropriate Embassies 
and Consulates in order to provide services to the illegal 
 
MEXICO 00000722  008 OF 008 
 
 
migrants.  Within 90 days the migrants are usually deported 
back to their home countries. 
 
INM expects to develop identification cards to issue to 
Central Americans seeking work in Mexico.  The identification 
card is expected to contain personal information on the 
individual, including information on the employer in order to 
track employers.  This will also enable migration officials 
to conduct periodic checks on employers to ensure that they 
are abiding by proper labor standards. 
 
One of the biggest problems in Mexico according to NGOs is 
the lack of documentation and statistics on migrants and the 
lack of strategies to detect victims capable of being victims 
of trafficking. 
 
There was a document published called "Labor Diversification 
of Guatemalan Workers in Chiapas" this document does not 
provide evidence on specific cases in Chiapas but tries to 
approach the migration issue on the border region.  This 
study was written in 2005 and published in 2007. 
 
¶38. (SBU) QUESTION E: Is there a mechanism for coordination 
and communication between various agencies, internal, 
international, and multilateral on trafficking-related 
matters, such as a multi-agency working group or a task 
force?  Does the government have a trafficking in persons 
working group or single point of contact?  Does the 
government have a public corruption task force? 
 
POST RESPONSE:  Under the new federal law an interagency 
commission was created to address trafficking in persons. 
This interagency group consists of all government agencies, 
three civil society organizations and three academic experts. 
 The Interagency commission was established under the new law 
in which President Calderon will appoint an official to chair 
the commission.  To date, President Calderon has not 
appointed a chair of the commission.  This commission will be 
the formal mechanism to coordinate and communicate between 
various agencies. 
 
Background:  In January 2005, the Trafficking in Persons 
Interagency Sub-Working Group was formalized in Mexico.  The 
members are:  SEGOB,-CISEN, SSP-PFP, STPS, SS, SEDESOL, 
SECTUR, PGR, INM, INMUJERES, and SNDIF.  Since 2005, SRE has 
coordinated the efforts of the Sub-working group and one of 
its main goals has been to push for the passage of federal 
legislation on trafficking in persons. 
 
There is no single point of contact.  The lead organization 
has not been named. 
 
¶39. (SBU) QUESTION F:  Does the government have a national 
plan of action to address trafficking in persons?  If so, 
which agencies were involved in developing it?  Were NGOs 
consulted in the process?  What steps has the government 
taken to disseminate the action plan? 
 
POST RESPONSE:  The GOM does not have a national plan of 
action to address trafficking in persons.  Under the new law, 
the GOM is required to create a National Plan of action. 
Article 12 of the new federal law states: "The Inter-Agency 
Commission shall develop the National Program to Prevent and 
Punish Trafficking in Persons."  Section 2 states: "Establish 
prevention, protection and care campaigns for trafficking in 
persons based on the principle of safeguarding human dignity 
and human rights with special attention to children, 
adolescents and women." 
 
¶40. (SBU) QUESTION G:  For all posts:  As part of a new 
criteria added to the TVPA's minimum standards by the 2005 
TVPRA, what measures has the government taken during the 
reporting period to reduce the demand for commercial sex 
acts? 
 
POST RESPONSE: See question 34 and 35. 
 
 
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 / 
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