This week, Mexico transferred 26 prominent cartel leaders to the United States as part of an agreement with the Trump administration.
The group was set to fly to the U.S. on Tuesday.
Attorney General Pam Bondy stated, “Today reflects the Trump administration’s ongoing commitment to dismantling cartels and foreign terrorist organizations. Each of these 26 individuals has contributed to the violence and drug trade affecting the U.S. Under this Department of Justice, they will face significant repercussions for their actions against this country. We appreciate President Sinbaum and the Mexican government’s cooperation.”
Among those extradited, Abigael Gonzalez Valencia, known as the leader of the “Los Quinis” cartel, is associated with the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and Roberto Salazar, who is implicated in the 2008 murder of a Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy.
The Trump administration has labeled the CJNG a terrorist group.
The Mexican Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Security noted that the U.S. Department of Justice agreed not to pursue the death penalty, which facilitated the handover.
This arrangement aims to address Mexican cartels that threaten border security, as the Trump administration seeks to tackle drug trafficking across the border.
In a previous statement, White House assistant reporter Anna Kelly remarked, “President Trump’s top priority is ensuring safety in his hometown. That’s why he took decisive action to categorize several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations.”
On Friday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum asserted that U.S. troops would not enter Mexico, dismissing reports of potential military actions against the cartels. “We collaborate closely, but an invasion is absolutely not on the agenda,” she emphasized.
Moreover, reports indicated that Trump had covertly authorized military options against Latin American cartels classified as terrorist groups.
The situation unfolds amid Trump’s impending 25% tariff on Mexican goods bound for the U.S. He recently told Sheinbaum that he would pause the 30% tariff for negotiations over the matter.
Mexico also highlighted the role of prosecutors in the torture and killing of DEA agents back in 1985.
