Why the U.S. should withhold 15% of Merida Initiative aid to Mexico

(For background on U.S. aid to Mexico, see my earlier "The Mexican Military's Torture")

So has Mexico met the human rights conditions that Congress set out when it initiated the Merida Initiative? Or no?

Human Rights Watch laid this out earlier this month. It's pretty simple. Mexico hasn't met the conditions. Most notably, they are still not prosecuting torture/abuse cases in civilian courts.

So, by the rules that Congress set out, and a simple look at the facts, the State Department should withhold 15% of the funding.

Whatever they announce, it will be a big deal for US-Mexico relations going forward.