[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14129-14130]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         CENTRAL AMERICA REPORT

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, as chairman of the Senate Caucus on 
International Narcotics Control, I am pleased to release a report today 
outlining key steps that the United States can take to assist our 
friends in Central America as they try to reduce escalating violence. 
The report--entitled ``Responding to Violence in Central America''--is 
endorsed by all seven Senators on the Caucus. In particular, I want to 
thank my cochairman Senator Grassley for his efforts on this report.
  Violence in Central America has reached crisis levels. Throughout 
Central America, Mexican drug trafficking organizations, local drug 
traffickers, transnational youth gangs, and other illegal criminal 
networks are taking advantage of weak governance and underperforming 
justice systems.
  Contrary to what many might think, the murder rates in Central 
America last year were significantly higher than those in Mexico. In 
2010, there were 18 homicides per 100,000 people in Mexico. In 
comparison, there were 50 murders per 100,000 people in Guatemala, 66 
in El Salvador and 77 in Honduras. GEN Douglas Fraser--the Commander of 
U.S. Southern Command--

[[Page 14130]]

said that ``the northern triangle of Guatemala, El Salvador and 
Honduras is the deadliest zone in the world outside of war zones.''
  Our report calls for security in Central America to become a greater 
priority across all U.S. Government agencies. The caucus calls for a 
two-track approach to U.S. assistance to Central America focusing in 
the short term on highly vetted law enforcement units while not losing 
sight of the long-term goal of strengthening institutions.
  The report's key recommendations include:
  Expand vetted units: The caucus calls for the expansion of vetted law 
enforcement units which work with the Drug Enforcement Administration--
known as sensitive investigative units--to all seven countries in 
Central America. Vetted units provide a trusted partner to U.S. law 
enforcement in countries where corruption is often rampant. I supported 
language that was included in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on 
Commerce, Justice and Science's Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations bill 
that recommends the expansion of these units throughout Central 
America.
  Speed up security assistance: Our report calls on the State 
Department to speed up the arrival of security assistance to Central 
America by changing it from being managed remotely by the U.S. Embassy 
in Mexico to allowing it to be managed directly by each of the U.S. 
embassies in Central America.
  Increase drug traffickers' extraditions: Our report recommends that 
the Obama administration encourage our partners in Central America to 
increase the extradition to the United States of their nationals who 
are involved in international drug trafficking. Currently, Panama, 
Honduras, and Costa Rica will not extradite their nationals to the 
United States.
  The caucus believes that extradition from Mexico to the United States 
has been a critical tool in combating Mexican drug trafficking 
organizations. Bringing these fugitives to the United States for 
prosecution ensures that they cannot evade justice through bribes or 
threats of violence in their home countries.
  Support witness, judge and prosecutor protection programs: Next, our 
report calls for the State Department and USAID to use existing funds 
to provide support for witness, judge and prosecutor protection 
programs in Central America. Far too often, witnesses in Central 
America are afraid to testify at hearings because of corruption in the 
judicial system and fear of retaliation. Judges and prosecutors are 
equally afraid to pursue cases against high-profile criminals.
  Map sources of violence: Our report recommends that the countries of 
Central America map the causes and sources of violence in the region. 
Without a clear understanding of the causes and sources of violence, it 
will be difficult to provide relevant solutions to the security 
situation in Central America.
  Reduce the U.S. demand for drugs: Last, but certainly not least, the 
caucus's report emphasizes that drug consumption in the United States 
fuels violence in Central America. The United States continues to be 
the world's largest consumer of illegal drugs. The 2010 National Survey 
on Drug Use and Health found that 22.6 million Americans aged 12 or 
older were current illegal drug users.
  Senator Grassley and I have asked the Government Accountability 
Office to conduct a study to evaluate the successes and shortcomings of 
drug prevention and treatment programs in the United States. I have 
also asked my staff to prepare a report on how to most effectively 
reduce the U.S. demand for drugs.
  Central America is at a dangerous crossroads. A further deterioration 
of the security situation in Central America could severely damage 
already weak institutions and justice systems. I, therefore, urge the 
Obama administration and my colleagues in Congress to make security in 
Central America a priority.

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