Bill Richardson touches off a firestorm in Mexico
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's August 12 declaration of a state of emergency along the Mexican border with his state provoked sharp reactions in Mexico....
Gov. Richardson issued the declaration after touring southern New Mexico and hearing
from residents about a deteriorating border security situation. The Democratic
governor cited increased violence, drug smuggling, property destruction, and illegal
immigration, as well as federal neglect, for his dramatic decision. He requested
the Mexican government bulldoze old buildings that serve as staging grounds for
undocumented immigrants.
"I'm taking these serious steps because of the urgency of the situation and,
unfortunately, because of the total inaction and lack of resources from the federal
government and Congress," Richardson said. The emergency declaration will
allow the spending of US$1.75 million in state and federal funds on beefed-up
law enforcement, a new cattle fence and a New Mexico Homeland Security Department
field office, probably to be located in Luna County near the Chihuahua border
town of Palomas....
Gov. Richardson's emergency declaration was praised by some New Mexico border
residents, but it was criticized by the Fox administration as contrary to the
spirit of bilateral cooperation between Mexico and the U.S. Calling border crime
"a complex phenomenon," the Fox administration maintained security was
being attended to by U.S. and Mexican law enforcement officials....
A day after the emergency declaration, the office of Chihuahua Governor Jose Reyes
Baeza released its own statement, saying it understood the worries of Gov. Richardson
but urged "a constructive dialogue." According to Gov. Reyes' office,
"close and permanent communication between the authorities of both border
states will be key to avoid the diverse situations that might have interpretations
far from the acts that motivated the declaration of emergency....
Gov. Richardson's action came at a particularly sensitive moment in Mexico-U.S.
relations, coming in the wake of the temporary closure of the U.S. Consulate in
Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, and the renewal of a U.S. Department of State travel
advisory to border travelers. Both actions caused consternation among Mexican
officials....
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