Join Stop U.S. Arms to Mexico, Global Exchange, Community Justice, legal experts, attorneys, and advocates as we listen to the Mexico v. Smith & Wesson oral arguments and discuss the case’s implications. This landmark case marks the first time a sovereign nation has sued the U.S. gun industry to hold manufacturers accountable for facilitating illegal gun trafficking and marketing weapons favored by cartels.
March 4, 2025
On March 4th, the U.S. Supreme Court heard opening arguments in Mexico v. Smith & Wesson, a landmark case seeking to hold U.S. gun manufacturers accountable for the deadly impact of their products in Mexico. This case marks a pivotal moment in the fight against gun violence—one that could set a major precedent.
At Global Exchange, we know that facts and the voices of impacted communities are our most powerful tools in this fight. And today was proof of that.
Research conducted by Global Exchange’s Stop U.S. Arms to Mexico program on U.S. firearms trafficked across the border provided the Mexican government with evidence used in the case.
This morning, we gathered with supporters for a listening session of the Supreme Court arguments, where we heard from experts on the case’s legal complexities and, most importantly, the profound human toll of firearm violence in Mexico. If you missed it, you can listen to the arguments here.
Yesterday, John Lindsay-Poland, founder of the Stop U.S. Arms to Mexico program, was interviewed on The World about his groundbreaking research tracing U.S.-made guns to homicides in Mexico. More than 70% of guns used in homicides in Mexico originate in the United States—a staggering statistic that underscores the urgent need for change.
Today, we also took action at the highest levels. We sent a letter to the White House, signed by dozens of faith, peace, gun violence prevention, and organizations, demanding that President Trump uphold his promise to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum: to stop the trafficking of high-powered weapons into Mexico. Read our press release here.
As Trump moves to designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and the Supreme Court hears Mexico’s case, we urge the administration to confront the root cause: the unchecked flow of U.S. firearms that fuels violence, strengthens cartels, and forces families to flee their homes.
“U.S.-sourced firearms are enabling cartels to devastate communities, fuel the narcotics trade, and intimidate local authorities—forcing migration from Mexico to the United States.” – from our letter to the White House.
No matter what happens in court or in Washington, our fight continues. We commit to doing everything we can to stop the flow of U.S. guns into Mexico.
Will you stand with us? Your donation will:
- Support survivors of gun violence to tell their stories.
- Fund continued research exposing the link between U.S. gun dealers and violence in Mexico.
- Power community education and advocacy for responsible gun laws.
Make your gift today to help stop the deadly flow of U.S. guns to Mexico.
We’ll keep you updated on this critical case. Thank you for standing with us in solidarity and action.
This interview originally aired on The World.
The World
March 3, 2025
Joshua Coe
This week, the US Supreme Court will hear a case that places some blame for cartel violence in Mexico on gunmakers in the US. The Mexican government argues that the firearm industry enables the trafficking of guns used by cartels. Host Marco Werman discussed the case with John Lindsay-Poland, of the advocacy Group Stop US Arms to Mexico.
Right now, the Trump Administration is making good on their campaign promises to attack migrant communities.
Trump made xenophobia a day one priority, including removing restrictions on raid locations, stopping asylum, attempting to roll back birthright citizenship, and a series of publicized raids designed to instill maximal fear on people throughout the United States – and throughout Mexico and Central America.
We are not going to abandon one single person to this reckless and hateful onslaught.
In Mexico, frontline organizations for deportees and refugees are bracing for a surge in requests for their services now that Trump is in office. Government infrastructure is not robust enough to meet this upswing in service needs, so the immediate needs fall to migrant shelters run by civil society and religious organizations.
If you can, please make a donation to our emergency fund today.
We have partnered with established, reputable migrant shelters and legal aid organizations to ensure these funds reach those in need. These frontline organizations will use the donations to buy food, medical supplies, mattresses, pay essential bills, and sustain advocacy efforts. They’re going to need every ounce of our support.
Casa Tochan (meaning “our home” in Nahuatl) is a nonprofit organization run by civil society, offering shelter, support, and services for migrants and refugees in Mexico City.
CAFEMIN (House for Sheltering, Education, and Empowerment of Migrant and Refugee Women) is a nonprofit based in Mexico City, led by Catholic nuns dedicated to supporting migrant and refugee women.
Voces Mesoamericanas is a nonprofit organization in San Cristobal de las Casas, leading emergency efforts to support migrants in Chiapas.
We know that while our immediate focus is on the relief funds for these shelters, we must also continue the struggle to reshape the narrative and policies within the United States and the region. We must provide an alternative to the fear mongering, zero sum approach to immigration that has largely defined the approach of both political parties in the United States, to the detriment of the wellbeing of all of us.
Please join Global Exchange next week for an Immigrant Justice webcast on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 5:30 pm PST/6:30 pm MST/7:30 pm CST/8:30 pm EST. Learn about:
- current federal immigration law and proposed legislation at state and federal levels
- immigrants as part of local economies and contributors to the tax base
- statistics on crimes against immigrant communities and crimes by immigrants
- historical rights violations against immigrant communities and practical resources to assist
- immigrant communities and protect human rights.
It’s up to us to defend our communities. Thank you for taking action.
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.
The Iron River can be stopped with the courage and commitment of people like you. Thank you.
The situation at the Chiapas-Guatemala border paints a deeply troubling picture of a region engulfed in violence and human rights violations due to the activities of organized crime groups vying for territorial control. The complexity and severity of this situation highlight several critical issues that require immediate attention and action from both national and international actors.
This summary presents key points raised in the recent report titled “Siege of Daily Life, Terror for the Control of Territory, and Serious Violations of Human Rights”, released by civil society organizations in the border region of Chiapas.
Human Rights Violations and International Humanitarian Law
Widespread human rights violations—including forced displacement, extortion, sexual exploitation, and the infiltration of various levels of government and public services—underscore the profound impact of this conflict on the civilian population. The report reveals a serious crisis that not only disrupts the daily lives of thousands but also challenges the fundamental principles of human rights and humanitarian protection.
The report asserts that this situation could be classified as a Non-International Armed Conflict (NIAC) under International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which is a significant development. This classification implies that certain rules of IHL should apply to the conflict, aimed at protecting those not participating in hostilities, including civilians and those who have ceased to be active combatants. The application of IHL could also hold parties accountable for war crimes and other serious violations.
The Role of the Mexican State
The Mexican State’s omission, acquiescence, and in some cases, collaboration with organized crime groups point to a troubling complicity that exacerbates the vulnerability of the population. The demands for urgent intervention by state security forces, like the Ejército Mexicano and the Guardia Nacional, contrast sharply with reports of inaction and complicity, revealing a profound mistrust between the civilian population and state institutions.
This mistrust and perceived betrayal by state institutions not only deepen the crisis but also complicate efforts to resolve the conflict and restore peace and security in the region.
Urgent Need for Intervention and Support
The ongoing violence and human rights abuses at the Chiapas-Guatemala border region call for immediate and coordinated intervention by the Mexican government, international organizations, and human rights bodies. Addressing the root causes of the conflict, providing support and protection to the affected populations, and restoring the rule of law are essential steps toward resolving the crisis.
Efforts must also be made to ensure accountability for human rights violations and to dismantle the criminal structures that have infiltrated government institutions. This includes strengthening the judiciary and law enforcement agencies to resist corruption and collusion with criminal groups.
International Attention and Solidarity
The international community must lend its support and attention to this crisis, helping mediate and provide resources for conflict resolution and humanitarian assistance. International NGOs, UN agencies, and other global bodies can play a crucial role in monitoring the situation, offering aid to displaced populations, and advocating for a resolution to the conflict.
Conclusion
The situation at the Chiapas-Guatemala border represents a critical challenge to human rights, state sovereignty, and regional stability. Addressing this crisis requires a concerted effort from the Mexican government, the international community, and civil society to protect the affected populations and restore peace and order in the region.
Alberto Solís Castro
Mexico Human Rights Senior Fellow at Global Exchange
Download the full report (in Spanish) at grupotrabajofronterachiapas.org.mx.
We will never give up demanding justice for the disappeared.
Right now, the family of Ricardo Lagunes Gasca and representatives of Antonio Díaz Valencia are in Washington DC, meeting with policy makers and the international diplomatic community to push for answers and to demand accountability.
Ricardo Lagunes Gasca, a human rights and Indigenous territories lawyer, and Professor Antonio Díaz Valencia, the leader of the Nahua Indigenous community of San Miguel de Aquila, Michoacán, Mexico, were victims of enforced disappearance on January 15, 2023 for successfully defending Indigenous rights in courts.
They violently disappeared after participating in a community assembly discussing the next steps after winning the case. There are allegations that both received threats from Ternium, the company operating the Aquila mine – a company that has received scrutiny for its blatant disregard of Indigenous rights in the region.
Unfortunately, the plight of Ricardo and Antonio is far from unusual in the region. Between 2002 and 2023, 96 environmental defenders and 62 Indigenous Rights activists have disappeared.
Since their disappearance, Ricardo’s relatives have been demanding a full investigation from the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances and Inter-American Commission.
Ana Lucía and Antoine Lagunes Gasca, Ricardo’s siblings, are visiting Washington D.C. this week, from November 8 to 11, for a meeting with the U.S. State Department’s Task Force of Environmental defenders, a private hearing with the Inter-American Commission, the Office of the High Commissioner and the Mexican Government, and with several allies.
They are seeking support from the international community and international organizations to advocate for the return of both defenders and achieve international technical assistance in the search and investigation in order to seek their humanitarian recovery, find the truth and seek justice in the case.
Watch a video (in Spanish) featuring the families of Ricardo and Antonio below:
One of the key demands of the People’s Movement for Peace and Justice is accountability and justice for the disappeared. Further, Global Exchange has been an ally of human right defenders in Mexico for over 30 years. Our Mexico Human Rights Senior Fellow, Alberto Solis, was contacted by the families and the lawyers of Ricardo and Antonio to support them in their visit to DC. We will be with them to make sure the US State Department follows up on their commitments with the case and the victims. The People’s Movement for Peace and Justice stands with these families, and with all the families of the disappeared.
Press Statement: Families of Disappeared Mexican environmental and Indigenous land defender visit Washington to Seek Justice.
The family of Ricardo Lagunes Gasca and representatives of Antonio Díaz Valencia will be in Washington from November 8 to 11 to meeting with policy makers and the international diplomatic community to discuss their enforced disappearance for defending the environment and Indigenous land from mining development in Aquila Michoacán, Mexico.
Ricardo Lagunes Gasca, a human rights and Indigenous territories lawyer, and Professor Antonio Díaz Valencia, the leader of the Nahua Indigenous community of San Miguel de Aquila, Michoacán, Mexico, were victims of enforced disappearance on January 15, 2023 for successfully defending Indigenous rights in courts. They violently disappeared after participating in a community assembly discussing the next steps after winning the case. There are allegations that both received threats from Ternium, the company operating the Aquila mine disregarding Indigenous rights.
Since their disappearance, Ricardo’s relatives have been demanding a full investigation with Mexican and international organizations and an humanitarian recovery. They also obtained recommendations from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Committee against Enforced Disappearance, several UN Special Procedures and the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights.
Ana Lucía and Antoine Lagunes Gasca, Ricardo’s siblings, will be visiting Washington D.C. from November 8 to 11, for a meeting with the U.S. State Department’s Task Force of Environmental defenders, a private hearing with the Inter-American Commission, the Office of the High Commissioner and the Mexican Government, and with several allies. They are seeking support from the international community and international organizations to advocate for the return of both defenders and achieve international technical assistance in the search and investigation in order to seek their humanitarian recovery, find the truth and seek justice in the case.
For more information and to interview the Lagunes, please contact:
Alejandra Gonza, Director Global Rights Advocacy at:
alejandragonza@globalrightsadvocacy.org
Cel. 2063054919
Alberto Solis Castro, Senior Fellow on Mexico, Global Exchange at:
asolis@globalexchange.org
Cel. 7736684593
It has been nine years and we still don’t know the full truth about what happened in Iguala, Mexico on the night of Sept 26th, 2014 when police disappeared 43 students from the rural teachers college in Ayotzinapa.
Recently, a blockbuster article in the New York Times detailed the complicity and involvement of the Mexican Army and police in cartel activity as well as the disappearance of the 43 students and the murder of 6 people that night. The students had gone to Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico to commandeer buses to travel to Mexico City to participate in protests.
Since 2014, the families of the disappeared, as well as civil society organizations both within Mexico, the United States and beyond, have demanded answers and accountability.
The first, sham investigation from the Peña Nieto administration tried to fool the parents by pointing to a site where the government planted false evidence. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) committed to finding the students and the truth and bringing the perpetrators to justice. And though his administration took early steps to fulfill his promise, it has since shut down the investigation. There is significant evidence that the Army was monitoring everything, was in telephone communication with police and cartel members, and was present as the students were being disappeared.
Independent investigators under-covered the existence of military documents that could further illuminate the full truth of what happened that night. Both the Army and AMLO deny those documents exist. The families are demanding the information be turned over.
The AMLO administration wants to move on, to achieve only a partial truth that papers over the degree of military complicity, and fails to bring all those responsible to justice.
But the families of the disappeared will not give up, and neither will we. To mark the nine year anniversary of the disappearance, civil society organizations throughout the United States and Mexico are taking action to put pressure on the AMLO government to come clean and pursue justice.
Global Exchange and our partners at the People’s Movement for Peace and Justice are organizing actions in Mexico and here in the U.S. Find more information and how you can take action with us here.
If you cannot make it to one of these in person events, we hope you can take a moment of your time to send a letter to Mexican President Obrador calling for a full accounting of the events of September 26, 2014.
Nine years is far too long. The truth must come out, no matter the cost.