## Tijuana on the Brink of Militarization: Congressman César Damián Rete Warns
Federal Congressman from Acción Nacional, César Damián Rete, has raised significant concerns regarding the imminent militarization of Tijuana due to escalating violence fueled by organized crime. Rete emphasized the urgency of the situation by drawing parallels with the ongoing violence in Culiacán.
“What’s happening in Culiacán could very well happen here. We’re on the brink, a slight misstep and we could wake up to another confrontation between rival groups,” stated Rete during a meeting with lawyers and members of civil society. He criticized the potential complacency of local authorities, including Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda and new mayor Ismael Burgueño, urging them to adopt a proactive stance rather than merely asking criminal groups to “settle their scores.”
Rete further argued that the military personnel are dissatisfied with being assigned tasks outside their primary training, such as public construction projects or local security duties. “They aren’t trained for public security, vaccine distribution, or building airports. The troops are not happy being dragged into arenas that aren’t their domain,” he noted.
In his reflection on his party’s performance, Rete acknowledged that Acción Nacional (PAN) has fallen short as an opposition and must strive not only to challenge but also to present viable alternatives with strong leadership. The party plans to propose various initiatives and engage in dialogues with the current administration to restore the appropriate role of the armed forces. Additionally, the opposition will pursue legal actions and raise constitutional challenges, despite not meeting the 33 percent support required by the Constitution.
—
### Secondary Article: Tijuana Takes Steps to Curb Violence Amid Militarization Concerns
In light of Congressman César Damián Rete’s warnings about Tijuana’s potential militarization, local authorities have been taking steps to address the escalating violence.
**Officials Reassess Strategy:** Tijuana’s Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, alongside Mayor Ismael Burgueño, has publicly acknowledged the concerns. They have called for an urgent reassessment of the strategies employed to combat organized crime. This includes increased coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and a focus on intelligence-driven operations to dismantle criminal networks without escalating military involvement.
**Community Initiatives:** Civil society organizations have begun amplifying their efforts to create community programs aimed at preventing youth from being recruited by gangs. These initiatives focus on education, employment opportunities, and recreational activities to offer alternatives to crime.
**Legal and Policy Frameworks:** Both local and national legislatures are now considering amendments to the legal and policy frameworks governing public security. These amendments aim to delineate the roles of military and civilian law enforcement more clearly, ensuring that the military is only deployed in extreme circumstances and not as a routine measure.
**Enhanced Training for Police:** In response to the dissatisfaction expressed by military personnel being assigned non-traditional roles, there is a new emphasis on providing advanced training for local police forces. This training includes areas such as counter-terrorism, cybercrime, and human trafficking, to better equip them to handle complex criminal scenarios without requiring military intervention.
These combined efforts aim to stabilize Tijuana, restore public confidence, and avoid the need for further militarization in addressing the city’s crime rate. The authorities hope that by taking a multifaceted approach, they can curb violence more effectively and sustainably.