Mexican lawmakers approve extending army's street presence until 2028

FILE PHOTO: Members of the Mexican National Guard and the Mexican army check a car at a military checkpoint, as part of a security operation to reduce violence, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, September 9, 2022. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo

Mexico's Chamber of Deputies on Thursday approved extending the role of the armed forces in public security tasks until 2028, a move seen by critics as another step in the militarization of the country.

The motion on the military's deployment, approved by a majority and backed previously by the lower chamber, had been due to expire in 2024 but is now set to carry through to 2028.