In Mexico, in the early years of the “war on drugs” under Felipe Calderón administrarion (2006-2012), the military deployment led to notable increases in lethality in the use of force and other human rights violations. By the end of his administration and during the following six-year term, there were some reductions in numbers of both violations and use of lethal force, although levels did not return to pre-2007 levels. In this study, we identify territorial patterns -especially in Tamaulipas- where instances remain in worrisome numbers, and a shift in violence toward state police, some with abuse rate higher than the Army. The chapter emphasizes that direct and indirect militarization continues to pose high risks to human rights and that reducing abuses requires strengthening institutions with democratic civilian control and transparency.