• CONTROVERSY: Republican Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri called Thursday to sanction Mexican officials for what he said was a refusal to act against drug cartels an accusation that was flatly rejected as a mischaracterization of the close security cooperation between both countries.
• LEGAL BASIS: In the wake of the killings of nine members of the LeBaron family in Northern Mexico -all with dual US and Mexican citizenship-, Hawley alleged that sanctions were guaranteed but failed to establish under what legal authority would the US Government could these be enacted.
• RESPONSE: “I hope to discuss these matters with you personally, including how to reduce drug demand in the US”, said Martha Bárcena, the Mexican Ambassador to the US, in a letter shared by Hawley in which she described what she said was a well established bilateral partnership.
• TONE: Almost one year since the new Administration took power in Mexico, several conservative GOP Senators have adopted a harsher tone for what they say is a failed policy to combat drug cartel violence. Murders in Mexico remain at a high point this year with 25,000 through September.
