According to the Mexican news outlet Codigo Magenta, Trump administration officials are pressuring Mexico to investigate and prosecute politicians with alleged ties to organized crime, even requesting their extradition to the United States if charges are pending in the United States.
This request was raised on at least three occasions by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team during bilateral meetings with Mexican authorities, according to a Reuters report based on high-level sources.
A meeting in Washington on February 27 was attended by senior U.S. officials (including Attorney General Pam Bondi and representatives from Homeland Security, Justice, and Treasury) and Mexican officials (including Attorney General Alejandro Gertz and Secretary of Homeland Security Omar García Harfuch).
As a precursor to the meeting, Mexico sent 29 suspected cartel members to the United States in late February following Trump’s threats to impose widespread tariffs. Those talks also discussed expediting the capture or deportation of priority DEA and FBI targets.
Washington has floated ideas such as appointing a “fentanyl czar” to coordinate directly with the Mexican presidency and has also pushed for more rigorous inspections of cargo and travelers bound for the United States.
Why does it matter? Investigating current officials, especially those from Morena, represents an unprecedented escalation in the fight against cartel-related corruption, but it poses political risks for Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration by targeting her own party.
US pressure is accompanied by threats of more taxes or tariffs if no action is taken; This strains the Mexico-United States relationship and could impact trade flows and security cooperation.
Going after sitting officials breaches a tacit diplomatic “red line” in Mexico. The most significant precedent is the DEA’s arrest in Los Angeles of former Secretary of National Defense Salvador Cienfuegos in October 2020.
Details: At the February 27 meeting in Washington, the US delegation, which included Rubio, requested an investigation into several politicians, including five current Morena officials and a former senator, with mention of Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila. The revocation of visas for her and her husband was later confirmed.
Mexico referred 29 organized crime figures to be prosecuted in US courts. It was also proposed to expedite proceedings against priority targets of the DEA and FBI.
Washington proposed the creation of a “fentanyl czar” who would communicate directly with the Sheinbaum administration to report on progress in the fight against this synthetic opioid, as well as to intensify border inspections for cargo and people destined for the United States.
Although the Attorney General’s Office is independent from the Executive Branch, the Constitution provides that sitting governors and legislators enjoy immunity for most crimes and can only be prosecuted for serious federal crimes with congressional authorization.
The designation of current politicians for investigation and possible extradition to the US represents a break with past practices, as former officials were historically prosecuted only after their terms ended.
The revocation of visas for the governor of Baja California has increased the perception of Washington’s interference in security matters in Mexico.
Source: Codigo Magenta
