Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has voiced sharp criticism over the launch of a U.S.-funded police academy in the state of Querétaro, accusing local and international officials of bypassing federal authority.

The controversy erupted following a ceremony held on Friday, where U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson and Querétaro Governor Mauricio Kuri laid the cornerstone for the International Police Training Academy. The facility is designed to provide specialized training for law enforcement officers to detect narcotics, firearms, money laundering, and smuggling.

President Sheinbaum expressed significant displeasure that the federal government was neither notified of nor invited to the event. She emphasized that state governments lack the unilateral authority to establish international training institutions without federal approval.

“The governor cannot set up an international academy without the authorization of the Mexican government,” Sheinbaum stated.

The President further highlighted a jurisdictional conflict, noting that training regarding organized crime falls under the purview of federal authorities rather than state-level agencies. She has requested that the Foreign Minister contact both Ambassador Johnson and Governor Kuri to address the breach of protocol.

While Sheinbaum clarified that the unauthorized project does not constitute a legal crime, she insisted that the incident must be publicly addressed to uphold proper governmental procedure.