As part of an agreement with President Trump to delay significant tariffs on Mexico for one month, President Claudia Sheinbaum has committed to deploying an additional 10,000 members of the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border to combat drug trafficking, specifically focusing on fentanyl.
This initiative places considerable demand on the National Guard, a relatively new force that operates under the Mexican military's authority.
Mexico does not have a dedicated border patrol like the United States. Instead, due to restrictions on immigration officers carrying firearms, the country relies on its military and the National Guard for border enforcement, as noted by security analyst Jonathan Maza.
In recent years, the National Guard has played a significant role in addressing illegal migration into the U.S. In 2019, under pressure from Trump concerning migration issues, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who is also Ms. Sheinbaum's mentor, deployed National Guard troops to the southern border with Guatemala.
Currently, the National Guard comprises approximately 130,000 members and is being tasked with increased responsibilities in drug interdiction efforts.
Ms. Sheinbaum indicated that the 10,000 troops would be reassigned from other regions within Mexico, though she did not disclose specific details regarding this process or the associated costs. The Mexican government reported that troops have already been repositioned to 18 cities and towns along the border.
If the National Guard is stationed in cities like Tijuana or Nuevo Laredo, known for challenges related to security and drug trafficking, Mr. Maza believes it could significantly aid in curbing drug smuggling. He emphasized the necessity for U.S. and Mexican officials to enhance intelligence sharing to effectively combat drug trafficking.
Ms. Sheinbaum underscored the commitment of both nations to collaborate on addressing not only the influx of drugs but also the illegal flow of firearms to Mexico, which have been instrumental in the operations of organized crime groups.
The National Guard was established in 2019 to address crime, but a constitutional amendment last September placed it under military control. Critics have raised concerns that this move has extended military influence over public security and civilian affairs, amid ongoing allegations of human rights violations.
Maza indicated that, given the urgency for Mexico to avoid tariffs, the National Guard's deployment could yield short- to medium-term results. However, he cautioned that criminal organizations have the capacity to adapt to enforcement measures.
Cecilia Farfán-Méndez, a researcher specializing in drug policy at the University of California, San Diego, emphasized the importance of troop deployment locations. She warned that focusing solely on the border does not address the broader fentanyl production supply chain, which extends beyond the border region.