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May 1, 2002
President Vicente Fox
Mexico City
VIA FACSIMILEDear President Fox:
I am writing to inquire about a disturbing practice that I learned of last weekend "incursions" by members of the Mexican Army and law enforcement agencies onto American soil. Last year, 23 of these incursions were documented by my government.
Having just toured several sections of the border in question, it is clear that there is no chance whatsoever that the army units were simply lost, or unaware that they had crossed the border. Not even the U.S. State Department believes that such an explanation is at all plausible. As such, I am requesting that you answer the following questions about the incursions:
1. For what purpose is the Mexican Army crossing the border without the permission of the United States at least twice a month?
2. Does your government believe that these incursions are an acceptable practice?
3. Is your government working to stop these incursions? If so, how?
4. Have any disciplinary or legal actions been taken against the soldiers and law enforcement agents who have been caught outside of Mexico without authorization?
5. To the best of your knowledge, are the incursions undertaken to protect the traffic of drugs across the border and into the U.S.?
6. If your government's argument is that the soldiers were pursuing drug traffickers, then how does that explain the incident last year involving members of the Mexican Army who were found in a sewer under Nogales, Arizona?
I look forward to your prompt reply.
Sincerely,
Thomas G. Tancredo
Member of Congress
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