TheNewsMexico.com
October 19, 2001
By Janet Leslie Schwartz

SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, Chiapas - At the same time President Vicente Fox is touting Mexico's unconditional support for the war against terrorism, the governor of Chiapas is continuing his months-long campaign of asking the federal government to provide more surveillance of the nation's southern border. Governor Pablo Salazar Mendiguchia said the state doesn't have the resources or the personnel to guard Mexico's porous 600-mile border with Guatemala, the point of entry for "many migrants" and possible terrorists on their way to the U.S.

"We don't want to wash our hands of responsibility, but the state government by itself does not have the capacity to guarantee the security of such an extensive border. We need help from all levels of government -- city, state and federal," he said.

In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States, Interior Secretary Santiago Creel said security would be tightened at all entry points into national territory, including airports, in addition to other unspecified strategic areas.

Furthermore, earlier this year at the behest of its northern neighbor, President Vicente Fox committed Mexico to participating in an immigration control plan (Plan Sur), which included stepping up surveillance on the country's border with Guatemala to impede the entrance of migrants on their way to the U.S.

The U.S. Naturalization and Immigration Service reported a 25 percent drop in migrant detentions prior to the terrorist attacks.

However, Salazar affirmed a lack of security isn't the only problem facing Mexico's southern border. Corruption among federal police officers who collect bribes for granting foreigners access to national territory, he said, adds significantly to the difficulties of ensuring border security.

But, the governor stopped short of calling for a militarization of the southern border.

"A greater number of officers strategically stationed along the border and a government-led fight against corruption is more than enough," he said.