Tamaulipas Gov. Claims Weapons of US Origin Fuels Violence
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REYNOSA, Mex. - The Tamaulipas governor reacted to controversial comments reportedly made by President Trump.
CHANNEL 5 NEWS attended a town hall meeting in Mexico on Wednesday. Tamaulipas Governor Francisco Garcia Cabeza De Vaca gathered Mexican border city mayors, businesses and citizen organizations to discuss security.
Mexico has been on edge about the future relations with the U.S. Several news agencies reported President Donald Trump threatened Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto with sending in U.S. forces to help stop the violence.
Cabeza De Vaca said he’s not afraid to admit violence is a problem in his state. He also said it would be absurd to have U.S. troops in Mexico to help combat crime.
“It goes against our sovereignty. I think it’s very clear. If any country has sided with the U.S. on security matters, it has been Mexico… through cooperation with armed forces and intelligence sharing,” he said. “That’s why there have never been any issues along the border relating to terrorism.”
Cabeza De Vaca stated both countries need to stop the flow of weapons entering Mexico illegally.
“There has to be collaboration from the U.S. government. The violence that we’re living wouldn’t have reached the proportions that we’re seeing if it wasn’t for the flow of weapons coming from the U.S.,” he said. “Eighty percent of the weapons confiscated from criminal organizations are from the United States.”
The Tamaulipas governor said he’s asked President Pena Nieto to include the issues of weapons flowing south in any negotiation with the U.S.
He also said the U.S. needs to realize their drug consumption is also a contributing factor to the violence and insecurity in Mexico.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly also agreed Tuesday in a hearing that reducing the drug demand in the U.S. is a key part to secure the border.