Representatives from six U.S. government agencies and their Mexican counterparts met in McAllen, Texas, on September 26, 2025, for the first session of the U.S.-Mexico Security Implementation Group. This group was created following Secretary Rubio’s recent visit to Mexico and aims to improve security cooperation between the two countries. The cooperation is guided by principles such as reciprocity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and mutual trust.
The meeting marked the launch of “Mission Firewall: United Against Firearms Trafficking Initiative,” a new joint effort to disrupt illegal firearms trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border. The initiative seeks to expand Mexico’s use of eTrace and ballistic imaging technology throughout all 32 states in Mexico, enhance information-sharing platforms, and increase bilateral investigations and prosecutions related to arms trafficking. The United States will also boost inspections and coordination with Mexico to address the flow of firearms moving southbound across the border.
Officials from both nations discussed ways to strengthen information sharing between U.S. agencies—including the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice—and their Mexican counterparts. At Mexico’s request, the United States has developed a secure platform designed for sharing information about suspicious air shipments and packages in order to identify illicit drugs, chemical precursors, firearms, and fuels.
The Security Implementation Group announced plans to form a bilateral working group focused on combating cross-border illicit finance and collaborating on civil asset forfeiture efforts. These steps are intended to disrupt transnational criminal organizations by targeting their financial resources.
According to a statement released after the meeting: “Through the leadership and close collaboration of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, the United States and Mexico are embarking on a new chapter of security cooperation based on mutual security interests, reaffirming their shared vision for a safer and more prosperous region.”
The Security Implementation Group intends to meet regularly going forward in order to coordinate ongoing actions against narcoterrorism networks, drug trafficking—including fentanyl—border security threats, illicit finance operations, fuel theft schemes, as well as investigations into crimes that affect both countries’ safety.