Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Monday that her Government will seek explanations from Chihuahua state and U.S. authorities regarding the participation of two U.S. security agents in an operation conducted on Mexican territory.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum explicitly recalled this April 20 that the presence of any foreign personnel on Mexican territory is subject to specific and stringent regulations. These guidelines clearly stipulate that any collaborative efforts must receive prior authorization from the federal government and must strictly adhere to predefined protocols.

In this context, Sheinbaum underscored that the responsibility for security coordination rests solely with the Federation, not with individual state entities. This constitutional principle forms the bedrock of Mexico’s approach to international cooperation in law enforcement matters.

“The relationship is federal, it is not state. They must have federal authorization for this collaboration that occurs at the state level, as established by the Constitution”, she asserted with clarity, emphasizing the hierarchical structure of Mexico’s legal and security framework. Her statement serves as a clear reminder to both domestic and international partners about the boundaries of permissible engagement and the necessity of respecting Mexico’s internal legal order.

The President’s pronouncement follows a distressing report concerning an accident that resulted in the tragic deaths of two U.S. agents and two members of Chihuahua’s State Investigation Agency. The incident occurred as they were returning from an operation reportedly targeting alleged drug laboratories. This unfortunate event brought to light the unapproved presence of foreign personnel and prompted Mexico City’s immediate demand for clarification.

Sheinbaum further indicated that the Federal Government had no prior knowledge of the participation of any foreign personnel in these specific actions. In this sense, the Head of State reiterated that the decision for this operation, including the involvement of U.S. agents, would have been made by the State Government led by Governor Maru Campos. Consequently, detailed information has been formally requested to fully clarify the facts surrounding the operation and the subsequent accident.

Sheinbaum also conveyed her sincere condolences for the lives lost in the tragic event and confirmed that active communication channels are open with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, ensuring diplomatic engagement throughout this sensitive period.

President Sheinbaum insisted that while there is established cooperation and exchange of intelligence information between the two countries, there are strictly no joint operations on the ground. She emphasized that all collaboration, regardless of its nature, must be conducted with the utmost respect for national sovereignty and the fundamental principles of territorial integrity.

According to this ephisode, Sheinbaum assured the public that once all necessary data is obtained, it will be made public, ensuring transparency without compromising the security of individuals or ongoing investigative actions. She also indicated the possibility of addressing the matter directly with U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson during a scheduled meeting.

This proactive diplomatic approach aims to resolve the issue amicably while reiterating Mexico’s unyielding commitment to its sovereign rights and the rigorous enforcement of its laws regarding foreign presence on its soil.

IN THIS ARTICLE