Mexican President Sheinbaum Says Extradition Of 26 Cartel Operatives Was About Mexico's Security, Not U.S. Pressure

On Tuesday, the Mexican government extradited 26 alleged cartel operatives to the United States, a move President Claudia Sheinbaum said was made in the interest of the country's public security.

Speaking during her morning press conference on Wednesday, Sheinbaum rejected claims that the extraditions were influenced by mounting pressure from the Trump administration, which for months has threatened Mexico with tariffs and other diplomatic and economic measures to push for a tougher stance on drug cartels.

"In all these cases of extradition or transfer of organized crime members, the decision is made for the security of our country and is a sovereign decision," Sheinbaum said.

She added that although this extradition was not tied to a specific request from the United States, other requests remain pending. The decision, she said, was made by the National Security Council based on national security concerns.

"These are sovereign decisions," Sheinbaum said. "They have nothing to do with the security agreement. These decisions are made in Mexico for the security of our country and are based on analysis by the National Intelligence and Investigation System and the National Security Council."

Sheinbaum's remarks were echoed by Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection Omar García Harfuch, who voiced support in a post on X.

"Today, the Security Cabinet, in bilateral coordination and with full respect for our sovereignty, transferred 26 individuals linked to criminal organizations to the United States. These individuals posed a threat to Mexico's security," Harfuch wrote.

According to Harfuch, those extradited were being held in five federal and four state prisons and faced extradition orders and were accused of serious crimes, including drug and human trafficking, homicide, money laundering and organized crime.

Tuesday's transfer was the second of its kind this year. In February, Mexican authorities extradited 29 cartel figures to the U.S., including infamous drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero and former Los Zetas leaders Miguel and Omar Treviño Morales.

The latest extraditions come as the Trump administration continues to pressure Mexico, not only with the threat of higher tariffs but also with talk of U.S. military involvement in the fight against cartels.

Last week, The New York Times reported that Trump had approved plans to authorize military force against Latin American cartels, particularly in Mexico — a proposal Sheinbaum promptly rejected.

"That is ruled out — absolutely ruled out — because we have made it clear in every call that such action is neither allowed nor part of any agreement," she said.

Sheinbaum also emphasized that any U.S. agencies currently operating in Mexico are under strict limitations. "I believe we're the country with the most regulation for foreign agents, whether they're from the United States or elsewhere," she added.

Experts warn that the extraditions could trigger violent retaliation from criminal organizations, including possible acts of narco-terrorism.

"There will be some reaction at some point from the drug traffickers in question. Some of them are true heavyweights in the criminal underworld and still have powerful allies," said David Saucedo, a security analyst for Infobae México. "They will surely respond to this threat from the United States government."