State report urges Mexico to improve human rights

The Obama administration says Mexico has met enough human rights requirements to release $36 million in previously withheld funds that were part of the $1.4 billion Merida Initiative.

But federal officials said today the U.S. should withhold another $26 million in new funding. State Department spokeswoman Virginia Staab says that’s because the U.S. government would like to see additional progress on “some aspects of Mexico’s human rights effort.”

The funding is part of a 2008 commitment from the U.S. to help Mexico combat drug cartels. Under the rules, Congress must withhold 15 percent of the funds until Mexico meets specific human-rights requirements.