### Major National Guard Reform Advances to Senate: Navy Excluded from Integration
Following an intense eight-hour debate, the LXVI Legislature’s Chamber of Deputies passed a significant reform concerning the National Guard on September 19, 2024. With 362 votes in favor and 133 against, the proposed reform amends several articles of the Mexican Constitution, positioning the National Guard (GN) under the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA).
The support for this military alignment was driven by members of the “fourth transformation” coalition, which includes the Morena party and its allies, the Green Party (PVEM) and the Labor Party (PT). This move aims to solidify the military affiliation of the GN before President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s term concludes on September 30, 2024.
Upon approval in the general sense, discussions ensued on 433 reservations presented by various parliamentary groups. Ultimately, only one amendment was accepted, proposed by Morena deputy Merary Villegas Sánchez. This crucial adjustment to Article 21 of the constitution excludes the terms “origin” and “marine,” effectively removing Navy personnel from the GN integration. This guarantees that the GN, under SEDENA, will only consist of active military members, which may also include graduates holding a Bachelor’s degree in Public Security from the Heroic Military College.
On Friday, September 20, 2024, at 3:36 AM, it was confirmed that the comprehensive reform had been approved with 353 votes for, 126 against, and no abstentions. Following the Chamber’s modifications, it has now been forwarded to the Senate for further deliberation.
Opposition parties, including the National Action Party (PAN), the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), and Citizen Movement (MC), presented three suspensive motions to return the reform to committee, arguing that it militarizes public security and breaches international treaties signed by Mexico. Members of the MC displayed banners stating “We Want Peace, Not Militarization” and “Mexico with Justice and Peace, No to Militarization” in protest.
The reform entails changes to 12 constitutional articles and grants the GN authority to investigate crimes within its jurisdiction, reinforcing its dependency on SEDENA and mandating greater coordination with federal and local governments for public safety tasks. Moreover, it emphasizes that the GN should retain a professional, permanent character with its members bound by their respective laws and subject to civilian jurisdiction for their functions.
Amid the reform’s approval, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo assured that human rights would be safeguarded, arguing that the reform does not equate to militarization as ultimate control remains with civilian authority.
### Related News: Concerns Over Militarization Emerge from International Bodies
A day prior to the reform’s passage, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (ONU-DH) in Mexico urged the Mexican Congress not to approve the changes. Issuing a formal request, Jesús Peña Palacios, the deputy representative of the ONU-DH, emphasized the risks posed to civil rights and advocated for a civilian-focused approach in public security roles.
The ONU-DH’s statement highlighted the necessity for the GN to remain a civilian institution under the control of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, ensuring that all officers are subject to civilian law and that military authorities do not extend their powers beyond military discipline.
These concerns resonate across various human rights organizations, emphasizing the need for a clear separation between military and civilian functions within national security frameworks. The debate over this significant reform continues as it moves to the Senate, where further scrutiny and discussions are anticipated.