The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Archive: Stephanie Leutert on Violence in Mexico and Central America
Mar 1, 2026
Stephanie Leutert, Mexico Security Initiative Fellow at UT Austin and author of the "Beyond the Border" series, discusses the epidemic of violence in Mexico and Central America. She outlines how homicide and disappearance rates have surged. She explains blurred lines between cartels and gangs, why U.S. security often overlooks the crisis, and how violence fuels migration and policy dilemmas.
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Why U.S. National Security Misses Mexico's Violence
- U.S. national security overlooks Mexican violence because old stereotypes persist.
- Stephanie Leutert says the narco-kingpin paradigm and focus on ideology blind policymakers to profit-driven, decentralized violence.
The Scale Of Mexico's Murder Crisis
- Homicides in Mexico surged after 2005 and may total ~180,000 people plus disappearances since then.
- Leutert cites Mexican government data: ~150,000 murders and 25,000–30,000 disappearances since 2005, with recent upticks in yearly deaths.
Central America Has World Leading Homicide Rates
- Central American homicide rates far exceed Mexico and the U.S., with El Salvador especially extreme.
- Leutert gives rates per 100,000: U.S. 5, Mexico 13, Guatemala 30, Honduras 57, El Salvador 103.