SRC-JEC C.S.H.C.R. 59 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.C.R. 59
By: Chavez (Shapleigh)
International Relations and Trade
5/19/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST
 
The Mexican border city of Juarez has been plagued with the sexual assault
and brutal slaying of over 300 women in the past nine years.  Women
continue to disappear in the Juarez area almost every month.  Federal
Bureau of Investigation experts suspect that one or more serial killers
are behind the killings and that at least one of the killers has access to
both sides of the border.  Some of the victims are as young as 13 years
old, and many of them were abducted during broad daylight in
well-populated areas.  A number of the victims were Texas residents.
These killings have brought pain and frustration to the El Paso-Juarez
area as the victims' friends and families on both sides of the border
struggle to cope with the loss of their loved ones.  The United States
Department of State blames the limited progress in solving the crimes on
police incompetence, prosecutorial ineptitude, and a lack of investigative
resources.  The attention paid to the murders by the local authorities
appears to be minimal, as tangible evidence, including the victims'
clothing, shoes, and hair, has been found at the scenes of the killings
months later.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation must be allowed to
maintain a physical presence in Juarez in order to assist in solving these
horrendous crimes.  Direct and personal involvement by Federal Bureau of
Investigation agents, especially in the collection of evidence, is crucial
to the expeditious solving of these murders. 

PURPOSE

Sets forth the following resolutions:

That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby request that the
Federal Bureau of Investigation offer to continue to be directly involved
in assisting the Mexican law enforcement authorities in their
investigation of the brutal murders of women in Juarez, Mexico, in order
to put an end to the violence and bring justice to the families and
friends of the victims. 

That the Texas secretary of state forward official copies of this
resolution to the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
attorney general of the United States, the United States secretary of
state, and the president of the United States.