Has Mérida Evolved? The Evolution of Drug Cartels and the Threat to Mexico's Governance

Today's hearing will address the evolution of illegal activity in Mexico to determine if taxpayer funded programs have evolved accordingly. The reality is clear and while Mexico doesn't want to admit this; there is an insurgency taking place in Mexico along the U.S. border.

Since 2006, Mexican drug cartels have evolved into resilient and diversified trans-national criminal organizations. The drug cartels have splintered into subgroups and expanded operations into human smuggling, kidnapping, extortion, weapons smuggling, and stealing resources such as oil. The result: A well funded criminal insurgency raging along our southern border, threatening the lives of U.S. citizens and harming the U.S. economy by undermining legal business.

The insurgent activities utilized by the cartels are aimed at undermining the government, protecting their illegal activity, and wining the support of the people. For example, one cartel has provided economic and social services in Mexico, and crossing over into Central America, where they build roads and provide housing, food, clothes and toys to lower income residents in return for their loyalty. Where they are unable to win the hearts and minds, these criminal organizations use extreme violence to instill fear in the population and to undermine the Mexican government's ability to control its territory. The violent display of over 40,000 deaths since 2007 is but one example. It is time that our determination to eradicate the cartels matches the cartels' determination to undermine the freedom, security and prosperity of the United States, Mexico and the entire hemisphere.