The Mexican state of Tamaulipas has developed a statewide AMBER Alert program, "Alerta AMBER-Tamaulipas", to help in the recovery of missing and abducted children in the state and across the U.S. – Mexico border. Tamaulipas is the second Mexican state to join the AMBER Alert network. Since it participated in the initial AMBER Alert Southern Border Initiative meeting held in San Diego, California, in September of 2009, Tamaulipas has made steadfast progress in developing the necessary resources to implement a successful program.
Even though the state is currently facing unprecedented levels of violence, it has made the establishment of an AMBER Alert program one of its top priorities. In 2009 Tamaulipas appointed a State AMBER Alert Coordinator, Willy Zúñiga Castillo, who is part of the Office of the State Attorney General. Mr. Zúñiga Castillo has taken the lead in educating the media, law enforcement, public safety, health and other stakeholders and partners across the state in the importance of AMBER Alerts and the criteria required to activate an Alert. He was also responsible for coordinating specialized AMBER Alert training for state personnel from Tamaulipas. Representatives from Tamaulipas and Texas met in Brownsville, Texas in July of this year to receive joint AMBER Alert training as part of the Department of Justice's efforts to establish greater cooperation among U.S. and Mexican border states in cases involving endangered, missing and abducted children.
Under the leadership of the State Attorney General, Jaime Rodriguez Inurrigaro, and the Principal Deputy Attorney General, Hernán De La Garza Tamez, Tamaulipas has developed the operational bases for its statewide AMBER Alert program and for the development of an agreement with Texas on the issuance of AMBER Alerts. The state will also be an important resource in providing training and technical assistance to other Mexican states that wish to establish an AMBER Alert program, including the neighboring state of Nuevo León.