Politics · Mexico · 3 hrs ago
Mexico's lower house approves forced-recruitment penalties of up to 30 years
Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved a bill to make recruiting people for organized crime a specific federal crime.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Until now, federal law had no separate offense for forced recruitment, which lawmakers said made it harder to identify, investigate and punish.
The bill sets prison terms of 10 to 20 years for recruiting people to join organized crime, with fines also proposed.
If a victim is under 18, the sentence can rise to up to 30 years, and the child’s claimed consent would not protect the recruiter from prosecution.
Recruitment carried out through threats, intimidation, coercion, violence or abuse of power would count as forced, and penalties could rise by up to half in certain cases involving officials or vulnerable groups.
Lawmakers said children are among the main victims, and that the new offense is intended to protect them and others from exploitation by criminal groups.
Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved a bill setting prison terms of up to 30 years for forced recruitment into organized crime.
The measure passed with 419 votes and was sent to the Senate.
It proposes 10 to 20 years in prison for recruiting people to join organized crime, with the maximum rising to 30 years when victims are under 18.
The bill also provides for increased penalties in cases involving certain public officials or victims from vulnerable groups.
Lawmakers said the measure addresses a federal legal gap and aims to protect children and other people at risk.
- Who
- Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies approved the bill.
- What
- It would make forced recruitment into organized crime a federal crime, with prison terms of up to 30 years.
- When
- The approval was reported on October 20, 2026.
- Where
- Mexico.
- Why
- Lawmakers said a specific federal offence was needed to identify, investigate and punish forced recruitment and protect victims.
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- Vote
- 419 in favour
- Standard prison term
- 10 to 20 years
- Maximum prison term
- 30 years when victims are under 18
- Proposed fines
- 5,000 to 50,000 days’ worth of fines
- Bill status
- Sent to the Senate
What people are saying
La falta de una tipificación específica no significa que el reclutamiento no exista; significa que durante años hemos enfrentado un vacío jurídico que ha dificultado el poder identificarlo, investigarlo y sancionarlo como realmente es
Y esos niños no son delincuentes están ahí porque es eso o los matan, y esos niños son víctimas no solamente de trata sino de un secuestro abierto
Cuando el crimen organizado recluta a un niño no solamente le arrebata su libertad, le roba su infancia su inocencia y su futuro