MEXICO CITY — Lawmakers in Mexico accepted laws Tuesday that might sharply restrict cooperation with American narcotics brokers, delivering a stinging rebuke to america after its short-lived arrest of a former Mexican official introduced tensions to a boil.
The decrease chamber of Congress adopted the measure 329 to 98, a vote that adopted final week’s approval by the Senate. The measure has the backing of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has denounced the actions of U.S. brokers after the arrest of a former protection minister, Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, in October.
“In different international locations, in america, there are guidelines, there are norms” for what international brokers can do, Mr. López Obrador mentioned at a information convention final week, discussing the measure. “So, we wish to resolve this as soon as and for all.”
Arrested in Los Angeles on drug trafficking costs, Common Cienfuegos returned to Mexico final month after america Justice Division dropped the fees in a surprising reversal. His launch got here after Mexican officers expressed outrage at not being knowledgeable of the upcoming arrest.
The brand new laws regulates the actions of international brokers, requiring them to share data with the Mexican authorities and lifting their diplomatic immunity. It might additionally require Mexican officers to get permission from a safety panel earlier than assembly with international brokers, and to report back to the international and public safety ministries what was mentioned.
Though the laws doesn’t single out america by title, American officers view it as a transparent reproach after many years of shut cooperation on drug trafficking.
Lawyer Common William P. Barr mentioned in an announcement final week that the laws would make “cooperation between our international locations harder.”
A senior U.S. legislation enforcement officer who has spent a lot of his profession engaged on circumstances involving Mexico mentioned Tuesday that the laws could all however cripple American investigations in Mexico. The officer, who was not licensed to debate the matter publicly and thus spoke on the situation of anonymity, mentioned violence and the movement of medication north to america may improve because of this.
However safety consultants in Mexico mentioned the invoice was extra a symbolic effort to reassert Mexican sovereignty earlier than President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. takes workplace. Mr. López Obrador formally congratulated Mr. Biden solely on Tuesday, turning into one of many final world leaders to take action.
“They’re afraid of the transition in america,” mentioned Alejandro Hope, a safety analyst in Mexico Metropolis. “They wish to ship a message that there are instruments on this aspect” of the border.
The measure could improve stress on Mr. Biden to maneuver shortly towards enhancing relations with Mexico after years of pressure underneath President Trump.
Mr. Biden has already mentioned he plans to roll again a few of Mr. Trump’s aggressive anti-immigration insurance policies, together with a number of which have angered the Mexican authorities.
Amongst them was Mr. Trump’s demand that Mexico hold Central American migrants on its aspect of the border whereas they apply for asylum in america. Mr. Trump additionally used the specter of tariffs to push for elevated immigration enforcement.
Safety consultants like Mr. Hope mentioned international brokers would discover methods to work across the necessities of the brand new measure.
“Nobody goes to declare themselves a international agent,” he mentioned. “No method would they offer delicate data to the international ministry — it’s laughable.”
Alan Feuer contributed reporting from New York, and Michael Shear from Washington.