The United States government has reportedly opened criminal investigations into two prominent Mexican governors—Alfonso Durazo of Sonora and Américo Villarreal Anaya of Tamaulipas—according to a joint report by the Puente News Collaborative and the Los Angeles Times.
Journalists Steve Fisher and Kate Linthicum revealed that Durazo, 71, is one of the highest-profile Mexican officials currently under U.S. scrutiny. A key political figure, Durazo previously served as Mexico’s Secretary of Public Security under former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
According to the report, the U.S. government revoked Durazo’s visa last year amid an active probe into his alleged links to organized crime. Despite the cancellation, sources state that Durazo continues to travel frequently to the United States for medical treatment through a specialized legal mechanism known as “Significant Public Benefit parole.” This federal program allows non-citizens into the country if they are cooperating with public safety or law enforcement processes, which can include testifying before a federal grand jury to mitigate potential legal liabilities. Durazo’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The investigation marks another major U.S. judicial move targeting Mexican state leadership, drawing comparisons to the case of Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, who was recently indicted by a New York grand jury, prompting an official U.S. extradition request.
Simultaneously, Tamaulipas Governor Américo Villarreal Anaya is facing a separate U.S. federal probe. Villarreal’s investigation is reportedly tied to huachicol—the illegal siphoning and trafficking of fuel, a lucrative black market heavily controlled by Mexican drug cartels.
Like Durazo, Villarreal reportedly holds a Significant Public Benefit parole and is accompanied by U.S. federal authorities whenever he enters the country. Unlike his counterpart in Sonora, Villarreal addressed the allegations directly, firmly denying any wrongdoing or involvement in illicit activities when questioned by reporters.
As U.S. prosecutors continue to present evidence to grand juries, the unfolding investigations threaten to further strain bilateral relations and intensify scrutiny over corruption within Mexico’s regional governments.
Source: Los Angeles Times
