Obama’s New Anti-Drug Initiative: What Will It Do? What Won’t It Do?

traffic stop in Juarez, file photo

The Obama administration announced its new, counter-narcotics strategy for the US-Mexico border late last week.  The new 65-page document, entitled “White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Document,” calls for:

1) increased coordination in anti-trafficking efforts with Mexico,

2) the employment of new surveillance technologies, and

3) more tightly prohibiting cross-border drugs (southward), and cash & guns (northward).

The initiative doesn’t settle the long-running turf battle between the Departments of Homeland Security and the US Department of Justice.  Homeland Security wants permission to involve more border agents in prohibiting drugs, but the Justice Department’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is resisting that.  Further, this initiative does not provide funds for drug addiction treatment in order to reduce demand for illegal drugs in the world’s largest narcotics market.

The administration will position 450 additional federal agents to the border, primarily to staff newly installed screening technology equipment.  Obama is requesting $350 million in funding this year, most of it to send equipment and training personnel to Mexico as part of the already approved three year, $1.4 billion Merida Initiative.  Both the House and Senate have approved even larger funding packages (House $820 million and Senate $666 million), and the final bill awaits reconciliation between the two.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder stated during the announcement in Albuquerque with Homeland Security’s Janet Napolitano and White House drug czar Gil Kerlikowske that the strategy will provide “…an effective way forward that will crack down on cartels and make our country safer.”

–This report acknowledges helpful analysis from the Mexico Solidarity Network.

Related posts:

1. Accusations of Torture in Mexico’s Drug War! Last week the Obama administration demanded a full report...
2. Juárez War Update: 10K Feds vs. Drug Cartels. Who’s ahead … and Why? Gangland-style murders, now about seven per day just across...
3. What does the Drug War Mean? Ask the Drug Czar! “Drug Czar” Gil Kerlikowske said it himself this spring...
4. The Mexican Drug War Zone-a citizen-report, from Texas USA, March 2009 Tracking the drug war is like following a moving target,...
5. What will El Paso think? Hillary says US Takes Blame for Mexico Drug War “Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade…Our...