A River of Weapons Flowing from the United States into Mexico

An iron river of weapons flows from the United States to Mexico, empowering criminal organizations and accelerating forced migration through chaos and violence. The river of guns has its headwaters in the United States, originating from hundreds of gun manufacturers, passing through thousands of local U.S. gun dealers before eventually finding its way into Mexico.

In reaction to the flow of illicit weapons, a firearms race has developed, in which gun companies export more and increasingly militarized weapons to Mexican police and military forces.

As a result of the flood of weapons, the number of lives lost or disappeared through violence in Mexico continues to increase, while migrants fleeing through Mexico have become understandably more desperate to get to safety. Political discourse focuses on the U.S.-Mexico border. But the unregulated, massive and militarized U.S. gun market that feeds the violence, drug trafficking, and displacement is growing – and often ignored.

The Stop US Arms to Mexico project obtained finely grained data, never before disclosed, on the origins of guns trafficked and exported to Mexico and Central America from the United States since 2015. This data, and the visualizations assembled, provide a clearer picture than ever before of the extent of the weapons being sold and trafficked.   

The full report is available here: stopusarmstomexico.org/iron-river.
You can help us slow this river of weapons. We have a critical opportunity to make a real difference in the fight against gun violence and arms trafficking by organizing support for the ARMAS Act (H.R. 6618) and Stop Arming Cartels Act (H.R. 8427 / S. 2926).

Join us! Call or Write your Congress Member and ask them to co-sponsor these two life-saving bills!

Gun violence in Mexico, the United States, in Central America, Haiti and other countries in the Americas has created chaos and heartache on an unimaginable scale. We can do something to stem the tide of violence.

Can you take a moment and send a message in support of legislation to reduce the use of U.S. sourced weapons in violence throughout the hemisphere?

The Iron River can be stopped with the courage and commitment of people like you. Thank you.