This report begins with a brief discussion of security challenges in Mexico and Mexico's security strategy. It then provides information on congressional funding and oversight of the Mérida Initiative, with details about each of the program's four pillars. The report concludes by raising policy issues that Congress may wish to consider.

This report provides an introduction of Mexico during Peña Nieto administration. The report discusses key issues of congressional interest in the bilateral relationship.

Increasing violence perpetrated by drug trafficking organizations and other criminal groups is threatening citizen security and governance in Mexico. Escalating violence has increased U.S. concerns about stability in Mexico, a key political and economic ally, and about the possibility of violence spilling over into the United States. In recent years, U.S.-Mexican security cooperation has increased significantly, largely as a result of the development and implementation of the Mérida Initiative, a counterdrug and anticrime assistance package for Mexico and Central America that was first proposed in October 2007. This report looks at the funding and Congressional oversight for this Initiative.

This report covers the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and U.S. - Mexico drug trafficking. It also looks at migration, environmental issues, legislation in the 111th and 112th Congress, and the relationship between the Obama Administration and Mexico.

This report discusses the White House's request for supplemental appropriations that include funding for defense, foreign affairs, and domestic fire fighting. The report details the different programs and areas that the appropriations would fund, including operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, preparedness and emergency management measures relating to the swine flu outbreak, border security between the United States and Mexico, benchmark assessment in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and other general defense operations.

This report examines the causes for the escalation of the violence in Mexico. It provides a brief overview of Mexico's counterdrug efforts, a description of the major drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), the causes and trends in the violence, the Calderón government's efforts to crackdown on the DTOs, and the objectives and implementation of the Mérida Initiative and other measures the U.S. government has taken to support Mexico in its battle with the drug traffickers.

Video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story.

Video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story about the arrest of Dr. Humberto Álvarez-Machaín in Los Angeles for the murder and kidnapping of DEA agent Enrique S. "Kiki" Camarena Salazar. This story aired at 10 PM.

Video footage from the KXAS-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, to accompany a news story.

Interview with Bertha Rosenzweig, co-founder of Tex-Glass, Inc. in Decatur, Texas. The interview includes Rosenzweig's personal experiences about her education in New York, and having a teaching career. Rosenzweig talks about her family background, her knowledge of her husband's family background and his life in Europe during the Hitler era, his technical training, work in glass factories, starting his own glass factory in Vienna, fleeing Nazis and migrating to Greece, the Jewish underground in Central Europe, fleeing to Egypt, Palestine, and his migration to the U.S. Additionally, Rosenzweig talks about their meeting and marriage, work in Canada and Mexico, opening a glass factory in Athens, Texas, moving to Decatur, employee relations, products and the production process, the distribution system, financing methods, her managing the business, sale of the business, and reparations from the Austrian government.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about the coast guard saying that a cutter towing a disabled pleasure craft to Port Isabel which has arrived in port.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story a 32-foot boat "Freedom Quest" which was towed into Port Isabel after it drifted in the Gulf of Mexico without fuel.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about an alert bus station attendant who has led Fort Worth police to a cash of marijuana with a street value in excess of 120 thousand dollars.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about a heart attack which claimed the life of retired united Methodist bishop W. Angie Smith of Dallas.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about a Cuban premier who told reporters that he is in no hurry to improve relations with Washington.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story of some Texas residents who are facing high cost of living by grocery shopping across the border in Mexico.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story of American residents along the Texas-Mexico border have decided to switch rather than fight the current price of beef in the United State.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story.

Official diplomatic packet authorizing the transfer of Wendell Tarver's remains from Monterrey, Mexico to Laredo, Texas for burial. The official consul certificate is signed and sealed with a ribbon that connects all of the accompanying paperwork required for the transfer: the official death certificate (in Spanish, documenting Tarver's death at age 40 from a suspected heart attack, "infarto del miocardio"), the affidavit from the embalmer documenting the preparation for transfer, and travel orders signed by the governor and the chief of public health services ("Servicios Coordinados de Servicios Publica") in Nuevo Leon.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story.

Letter from Douglas Herrera to his father, John J. Herrera, dated October 15, 1969. The letter, mailed from University of the Americas in Mexico to Houston, Texas, details the new house Douglas has found near campus. Douglas also wishes his father luck on an upcoming speech and discusses the ways he believes the Latino minority can elevate itself in society through peaceful means and expresses concern over the tactics of the Brown Power Movement.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas relating a news story.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas relating a news story.

Letter from Harris Leon Kempner to Mr. Francisco Guerrero M. informing him of Harris Leon Kempner, Jr.'s, upcoming trip to Mexicali. He provides Kempner, Jr.'s, travel information, asks the he be shown Kempner properties there, and requests that he meet Mr. Stone and Mr. Calvin and other business associates in the area.