U.S. Assistance to Mexico Needs to be Assessed

The United States has provided Mexico over $3 billion in assistance since 2008 to address transnational organized crime and violence, enhance the rule of law, and reduce drug trafficking. Despite U.S. assistance, Mexico's security situation has worsened significantly, with the country's murder rate more than tripling. The State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development have reported some outcomes of their assistance projects--such as amounts of trainings and equipment provided--but haven't assessed results against the bigger goals. We recommended ways to help State and USAID more fully assess the results of U.S. assistance.