Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda presided over the selection and swearing-in of new honorary members of the State Citizen Security Council on May 25. The new council replaces the previous group of civilian advisors, which had served since December 2021.
The Citizen Security Council is a civilian oversight and advisory body that provides recommendations on state security policy. Its members are unpaid volunteers drawn from civil society who review law enforcement strategies and propose community safety measures. The council’s input feeds into broader public safety planning across Baja California’s municipalities, including Tijuana, Mexicali, Ensenada, Tecate, Rosarito, and San Quintín.
Governor Calls for Shared Responsibility
During the ceremony, Ávila Olmeda said public safety can only be achieved through shared responsibility between government institutions and citizens. The governor framed the new council as part of her administration’s ongoing effort to keep civil society engaged in the state’s security strategy.
The swearing-in comes roughly two months after the governor led the council’s first ordinary session in March 2025. At that session, she cited the federal government’s deployment of additional security personnel to Baja California under the “Construcción de Paz Duradera” (Building Lasting Peace) strategy backed by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
Security Context in Baja California
Baja California, particularly Tijuana, has faced persistent security challenges tied to drug cartel activity and organized crime. The state government has pursued a multi-level approach combining federal military support, state police operations, and civilian advisory bodies like this council.
In 2024, the governor appointed General Leopoldo Aguilar Durán as Secretary of Citizen Security, replacing General Gilberto Landeros Briseño. The state also expanded specialized units such as Escuadrón Violeta, which focuses on gender-based violence cases. State officials have said crime rates in Baja California showed a weekly downward trend earlier this year.
The new council members are expected to submit proposals on law enforcement strategy and community safety in the coming months. The previous council served for approximately three and a half years before being replaced.
First reported by La Jornada BC.