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May 20, 2014                                                                  Brenda Lopez 956.544.8352

Bishop Daniel Flores and Congressman Filemon Vela Urge Secretary of State John Kerry to Support Measures to Bring Peace to Tamaulipas

"All That is Necessary for Evil to Triumph is for Good Men to Do Nothing"- Edmund Burke

Washington, D.C.-Recently, Bishop Daniel Flores and Congressman Filemon Vela (D-Brownsville) urged Secretary of State John Kerry to continue to work with the Mexican government to reduce violence in Tamaulipas, Mexico.  Last week, the Mexican government introduced a new security plan for Tamaulipas which sends hundreds of federal law enforcement personnel to Tamaulipas, establishes additional checkpoints on major roads, and promotes judicial reforms.  Secretary Kerry will travel to Mexico City, Mexico on May 21st to meet with Mexican government officials.

Bishop Flores explained in a letter to Secretary Kerry the profound impact the violence in Tamaulipas has on members of his diocese. “In my travels across four counties of the diocese, I constantly hear first-hand accounts of men, women and children affected by the climate of violence currently afflicting northern Mexico.  Stories of families who are here in my diocese because they have no surviving relatives in the towns right across the River from us are common.  I hear from women with children who are here while their husbands continue to work in Mexico; their husbands want them to be safe from kidnappings and random shootings.  I hear from kidnapping survivors, often missing fingers as a sign of their ordeal.  I hear from aged grandmothers who ask for my prayers for grandsons in northern Mexico who have not been heard from in months.  They are kidnapped and presumed dead, but grandmothers are the last to lose hope."

“The poor from northern Mexico come now by whatever means they can, more for the sake of security than for economic reasons.  The families with sufficient income procure the appropriate business visas and establish their businesses on the American side of the River.  If the poor have no legal way to escape the violence, how can we fault them for risking life and limb to come to the United States?  If the employers in Mexico are leaving for security reasons, what does that portend for the future of the Mexican economy in the North?"

Congressman Vela expressed hope to Secretary Kerry that the additional federal forces will alleviate the violence in Tamaulipas. "This new strategy comes at a time when increased involvement in Tamaulipas by the Mexican federal government is desperately needed.  Currently, brutal slayings, kidnappings, and robberies have become commonplace in Tamaulipas." 

"By increasing federal involvement in Tamaulipas, Mexico's leaders have undertaken a critical and significant challenge.  Our country strongly supports efforts to promote peace and democracy in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Asia.  However, the Tamaulipas security crisis lies at our very doorstep and it has had a profound impact on citizens on both sides of the U.S. – Mexico border.  Many of my constituents have family members who have been victimized by crimes perpetrated on the Mexican side of the border.  Simply put, this is not just a Mexican crisis, but an American crisis.  Please convey to your Mexican counterparts on your upcoming trip to Mexico City the U.S. strongly supports their increased efforts to bring security to Tamaulipas.  In order for this strategy to succeed, coordination at all levels of government in both the United States and Mexico is necessary.  If successful, communities on both sides of the Tamaulipas border can look forward to a peaceful and prosperous future.”

Both letters to Secretary Kerry are attached.

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