Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies approved a bill Tuesday tightening the rules governing the activities of foreign law enforcement agents.

Some measures in the bill are identical to those in bilateral agreements, while others are new. Measures include limiting the immunity granted to foreign agents and requiring agents to share all the information they collect with the Mexican government. Some measures apply to Mexican officials, such as requiring them to get permission prior to meeting with foreign agents and submit a written report of what was discussed. While the wording in the bill does not specifically target any country, it is generally accepted as targeting agents from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Agents of the DEA in Mexico have long been criticized for refusing to share information with Mexican authorities.

Critics of Mexico’s security forces have alleged that corruption within the Mexican government will result in sensitive information shared with them reaching drug cartels. To counter the accusations, the government insists the bill applies the same requirements Mexican agents abroad follow to foreign agents operating in Mexico. There remain concerns that the bill will stifle information sharing between Mexico and the US as well as discourage potential informants from taking the risk of meeting with US agents.

Some observers believe the bill is in part retribution for the arrest of former Defense Minister General Salvador Cienfuegos who was arrested in the US in October on charges of drug trafficking and ties to the H-2 drug cartel. Mexican authorities were not aware that the US was conducting an investigation into Cienfuegos until his arrest. US authorities dropped charges in attempt to prevent any deterioration to US-Mexico relations. However, Cienfuegos is highly respected by the Mexican military, on which Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has relied on for infrastructure projects and COVID-19 relief. Other observers believe that López Obrador is looking to establish a favorable bargaining position with the incoming Biden administration.

In a press release, US Attorney General Bill Barr commented:

[W]e are troubled by legislation … which would have the effect of making cooperation between our countries more difficult. This would make the citizens of Mexico and the United States less safe. The passage of this legislation can only benefit the violent transnational criminal organizations and other criminals that we are jointly fighting.

Given that the bill has passed the Senate, and given López Obrador’s support, the bill will likely become law before the end of the month.