Issuing Organization: Jedi Security Policy Group (JSPG)
Title: U.S.–Mexico Security & Humanitarian Partnership (SMHP) — Government Policy Whitepaper
Date: October 2025
Purpose: Present a lawful, sovereign‑respecting bilateral framework that integrates security cooperation with humanitarian relief and institutional reform.
The U.S.–Mexico Security & Humanitarian Partnership (SMHP) modernizes cross‑border cooperation against transnational organized crime while expanding humanitarian relief and institutional reform in affected regions. Building on lessons from the Mérida Initiative and the High‑Level Security Dialogue, SMHP shifts focus from equipment‑heavy enforcement to rule‑of‑law capacity‑building, financial‑crime disruption, intelligence fusion, and community stabilization.
Mexico retains full sovereignty and operational command. U.S. personnel serve only in advisory/technical roles and enter Mexico exclusively via written Territorial Entry Authorizations (TEAs). Core instruments include a Joint Humanitarian Fund (JHF), joint AML operations, prosecutor/forensics training, and a Joint Oversight Board (JOB) that publishes quarterly audits.
Targets (Year 3): ≥25% reduction in major transnational‑crime indicators; ≥30% increase in humanitarian service coverage; sustained growth in illicit‑asset seizures; measurable improvements in public trust.
The 1,954‑mile U.S.–Mexico border is economically vital yet exploited by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). Illicit flows of drugs, weapons, people, and money degrade security and strain communities on both sides. While the Mérida Initiative (2008–2021) provided training/equipment, it lacked standardized metrics, independent audits, and a locally owned humanitarian arm. The Bicentennial Framework (from 2021) emphasized shared responsibility but suffered from fragmented implementation.
Humanitarian imperative: Violence, extortion, and displacement erode livelihoods, fuel migration, and undermine trust in institutions. Enforcement alone cannot reverse these trends; durable stability requires synchronized aid delivery, infrastructure repair, and economic recovery within a rule‑of‑law framework.
Policy problem: the absence of a sustainable, legally anchored, publicly accountable mechanism that links security enforcement with humanitarian and governance outcomes. SMHP addresses this gap.
SMHP complements the Mérida Initiative, the Bicentennial Framework, and the U.S.–Mexico Border Health Commission, while using USMCA‑style transparency for dispute resolution and reporting.
Aligned with the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2000) and the UN Convention against Corruption (2003); compatible with observer roles for UN agencies.
The SMHP Agreement is a binding, sovereignty‑respecting instrument comprised of thirteen articles.
Counter TCOs; promote human rights and rule of law; deliver humanitarian assistance; uphold non‑intervention.
Defines Assistance Personnel, Advisory Mission, Humanitarian Fund, JOB, TEA, and related terms.
Prohibited: unilateral enforcement, kinetic operations, permanent bases.
Issued by SRE; specify personnel, duration, geography, mission scope, and termination/reporting terms. Mexican criminal jurisdiction applies to offenses by U.S. personnel on Mexican soil.
All operations under Mexican command; U.S. advisors have no arrest authority. Coordination via a Joint Mission Directorate (SRE and U.S. State/INL).
Creates a Joint Humanitarian Fund (SHCP + USAID dual‑signature). Quarterly published audits. Funds clinics, schools, and stabilization in targeted municipalities.
Builds a Bilateral Intelligence Fusion Network (CNI with DEA/FBI). Data governed by each nation’s privacy statutes; use beyond scope requires written consent.
Coordinated asset freezing/recovery under UNCAC; proceeds allocated 60% to Mexican victim‑restitution, 40% to capacity‑building.
JOB includes 5+5 voting members and 4 observers; quarterly bilingual reports; external audits.
Mexico retains exclusive criminal jurisdiction for acts on its territory; U.S. retains jurisdiction over U.S. nationals outside TEA parameters. Disputes resolved by consultation or UNCITRAL arbitration.
Five‑year initial term; 90‑day termination notice; immediate suspension for serious human‑rights violations.
Amendments require legislative processes in both countries; enters into force upon exchange of notes.
Treaty text, JOB reports, and budgets published in English and Spanish with limited redactions for live investigations.
Co‑financed, administered by SHCP with USAID co‑signature; Year‑1 capitalization: USD $1.2B. Audited by ASF and GAO; published quarterly.
Bilingual online portal; town‑hall sessions; SMS feedback; quarterly press briefings by SRE and State.
| Metric | Target (Year 3) | Lead |
|---|---|---|
| Households receiving food aid | 250,000 | JHF / DICONSA / WFP |
| Clinics operational | 80 | SHCP / USAID |
| Youth trained/employed | 20,000 | Youth Resilience Corps |
| Women entrepreneurs funded | 5,000 | Women’s Fund Program |
| Milestone | Lead (MX/US) | Target | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|
| JMD & JOB operational | SRE / State(INL) | Day 30 | Signed charters |
| Fusion Centers active | SSPC / DEA | Day 45 | Ops reports |
| First JHF projects funded | SHCP / USAID | Day 60 | Disbursement logs |
| JOB Q1 audit | JOB Secretariat | Day 90 | Published report |
Three‑year total: USD $7.8B (U.S. $5.7B; Mexico $2.1B). Year‑1 total: $2.8B.
| Category | Description | Year‑1 (USD M) | Managing Entities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humanitarian & Stabilization (JHF) | Clinics, food, education, water | 1,200 | SHCP / USAID |
| Institutional Strengthening | Forensics, judicial training | 800 | FGR / INL / USAID |
| Financial & Technical Intel | Fusion centers, AML systems | 500 | UIF / FinCEN / DEA |
| Oversight & Governance | JOB, audits, portal | 300 | JOB / GAO / ASF |
| Total | 2,800 |
Controls: dual‑signature disbursement; OCDS procurement; quarterly fiscal dashboards; GAO/ASF audits; AML vetting.
| Function | Lead | Reviewer | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial audit (JHF) | ASF | GAO | Annual |
| Programmatic audit | GAO / USAID OIG | SRE Internal Audit | Semi‑annual |
| Human‑rights review | CNDH | U.S. State/DRL | Annual |
| AML ops audit | UIF / FinCEN | JOB Fiscal Subcommittee | Quarterly |
Discloses all contracts ≥ $25k within 30 days; machine‑readable data under the U.S. OPEN Government Data Act and Mexico’s General Law of Transparency. Semi‑annual classified briefings to U.S. Senate committees; quarterly reporting to the Mexican Senate.
Encrypted reporting channels; non‑retaliation clauses; 30‑day remedial plans for findings; escalation up to program suspension for severe breaches.
| Domain | KPIs | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Rule‑of‑Law | Conviction rate ↑; case duration ↓ | ≥20% improvement |
| Financial Integrity | Asset seizures ↑; wire alerts resolved ↑ | ≥40% increase |
| Humanitarian Relief | Households aided; clinics rebuilt; youth trained | 250k; 80; 20k |
| Transparency | Disbursements online; JOB on time | 100%; 100% |
| Public Trust | Approval index; corruption perception | ≥60%; +5 points |
| Migration Pressure | Out‑migration from pilot zones | −25% |
The SMHP replaces transactional aid and ad‑hoc security programs with a transparent, treaty‑grounded architecture that binds both nations to measurable, humane outcomes. It preserves sovereignty, fortifies judicial integrity, and demonstrates that cooperative investment in justice and livelihoods can outperform coercive enforcement—building homes, not destroying them.