Mukasey Urges Congress to Approve Crime Bill for Central America

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Michael Mukasey urged Congress yesterday to approve more than $500 million to help fight crime in Mexico and Central America.

In a speech to justice ministers of the Organization of American States, Mr. Mukasey called drugs, gangs, and other violent crime located south of the American border "a joint problem — and we must face it jointly."

"By working together, we can strengthen the rule of law and the administration of justice, and we can combat transnational criminal threats," Mr. Mukasey said during his 11-minute speech.

The Bush administration has asked Congress to send $500 million to Mexico, and an additional $50 million to Central American countries as part of a crime fighting program knows as the Merida Initiative. The multiyear program would ultimately cost $1.4 billion and focuses mostly on combating drug trafficking.

Mr. Mukasey said he is "very hopeful" that Congress will fund the program.

The attorney general chaired the meeting of justice ministers from 34 American nations, from Canada to Argentina. He also made a pitch for the other counties to adopt tougher laws against international organized crime, which the Justice Department recently identified as a top global threat.