National Guard (Mexico)

The National Guard (Spanish: Guardia Nacional) is a Mexican gendarmerie with national police functions created in 2019.[1] The National Guard was formed by absorbing units and officers from the Federal Police, Military Police, and Naval Police.[1][2]

National Guard of Mexico
Guardia Nacional de México
Seal of the National Guard.
AbbreviationGN
Agency overview
FormedMay 26, 2019
Preceding agency
Jurisdictional structure
National agencyMexico
Operations jurisdictionMexico
Governing bodyDepartment of Security and Civil Protection
General nature
Agency executive
  • Luis Rodríguez Bucio, Commander

Creation

The Mexican National Guard was launched by President of Mexico Andrés Manual López Obrador in 2019. It has since played a major part in intensifying the enforcement of their immigration policy.[3] Before becoming President of Mexico, Obrador campaigned on a promise to take the military off the streets of Mexico.[2] Shortly after getting into office, Obrador released a plan to create the National Guard under control of the Mexican Armed Forces which would be in charge of "preventing and combating crime".[2][4] Obrador stated that the new National Guard would be critical to solving Mexico's ongoing security crisis.[1][5]

On 28 February, Mexico's national legislature voted to approve a 60,000-member national guard.[5] On 30 June 2019, the National Guard was officially established.[6]

A 2019 survey sponsored by The Washington Post and Mexico’s newspaper Reforma gathered information on public opinion regarding both the new National Guard and illegal immigration to Mexico.[3] The survey was conducted through July 9 to July 14, 2019, among 1,200 Mexicans adults across the country in 100 election districts by way of face-to-face interviews.[3] A 53% majority of Mexicans have voiced their trust in the national guard, with two-thirds of Mexicans saying that they would like the national guard to be in their city, whereas 45% report that they feel more safe with the domestic force.[3]

Deployment at border
National Guard of Mexico

In early June 2019, as part of a deal the United States, Mexico agreed to deploy the newly formed National Guard to their border with Guatemala.[7][8][9] While the guard was always intended to enforce immigration policy, it was not intended to do so as soon as announced.[7][8] President of the United States, Donald Trump, threatened to raise tariffs on Mexico if it did not help to curb Illegal Immigration.[7][8]

A Post-Reforma survey was conducted among Mexican adults after a dramatic increase in Mexico’s immigration enforcement following the agreement made in June with the United States.[10] Several analysts had predicted the base for the President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador to be disillusioned when he agreed to heighten Mexico’s immigration enforcement. But he currently maintains a strong 70% job approval rating eight months after assuming office. A 54% majority say that President Obrador is standing up for the interests of Mexico in his dealings with the United States and illegal immigration.[3] Furthermore, 51% of Mexicans support utilizing the country’s recently formed National Guard to repel the migration of illegal immigrants in Mexico.[3]

Command structure

The law assigns full control of the National Guard to the Secretary of Security and Civilian Protection, who is in charge of all matters related to the work of the NG.[6]

According to article 12 of the Law of the National Guard, the National Guard is organized on five command levels:[11]

  • Secretary of Security and Civilian Protection;
  • Operational Commander;
  • Territorial Coordinator;
  • State Coordinator;
  • Unit Coordinator

Ranks

According to article 29 of the Law of the National Guard, the ranks are:

Officers
  • Commissioner General – Comisario General
  • Chief Commissioner – Comisario Jefe
  • Commissioner – Comisario
  • Inspector General – Inspector General
  • Chief Inspector – Inspector Jefe
  • Inspector – Inspector
  • First Deputy Inspector – Primer Subinspector
  • Second Deputy Inspector – Segundo Subinspector
  • Officer – Oficial
  • Sub-Officer – Suboficial

Basic echelon personnel
  • Senior Agent – Agente Mayor
  • Agent – Agente
  • Deputy Agent – Subagente
  • Guardsman – Guardia

See also

References
  1. "A Look At Mexico's New National Guard". NPR.org. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  2. Sieff, Kevin; Sheridan, Mary Beth (10 June 2019). "Mexico is sending its new national guard to the Guatemala border. The mission is unclear". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  3. Clement, Scott; Sieff, Kevin (17 July 2019). "Unauthorized Immigrants Face Public Backlash in Mexico, Survey". The Washington Post. Fred Ryan. Retrieved 17 July 2019.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. "Plan Nacional de Paz y Seguridad" (PDF). transicion.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  5. Semple, Kirk; Villegas, Paulina (28 February 2019). "Mexico Approves 60,000-Strong National Guard. Critics Call It More of the Same". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  6. Correa, Catalina Pérez (8 August 2019). "México necesita una Guardia Nacional realmente civil". The New York Times (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  7. "Mexico Scrambles To Establish National Guard After Promising To Tighten Border". NPR.org. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  8. Semple, Kirk (14 June 2019). "Mexico's National Guard, a 'Work in Progress,' Deployed to Curb Migration". The New York Times. Mexico City. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  9. Fredrick, James9 (13 July 2019). "How Mexico Beefs Up Immigration Enforcement To Meet Trump's Terms". NPR.org. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  10. Thaivalappil, Maureen (8 June 2019). "U.S.-Mexico Joint Declaration - United States Department of State". State.gov. United States Department of State. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  11. "LEY DE LA GUARDIA NACIONAL" (PDF) (in Spanish). 27 May 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
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