Sheinbaum Cites Cartel Crackdown, Meth Seizures to Deter Trump’s Threats of U.S. Strikes in Mexico
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico’s cartel and migration crackdown — highlighted by joint U.S.–Mexico operations that seized more than 1,500 pounds of meth from clandestine labs and accompanied by a steep drop in homicides, reduced migration and lower fentanyl seizures at the U.S. border — shows “very compelling results” and makes U.S. strikes on Mexican soil unnecessary to protect Mexico’s sovereignty. After a call with U.S. leaders, U.S. and Mexican officials issued a joint statement saying more must be done to confront shared threats, and Sheinbaum urged Washington to curb southbound arms trafficking and treat drug consumption as a public‑health problem.
📌 Key Facts
- President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly touted Mexico’s cartel and migration crackdown as producing “very compelling results,” citing a steep drop in homicides, lower fentanyl seizures at the U.S. border, and reduced northbound migration.
- Sheinbaum confirmed a Monday phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump in which she said Mexico’s efforts were going well, argued U.S. intervention was “not necessary” because of Mexico’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity,” and said Trump “understood.”
- Sheinbaum linked Mexico’s recent seizures — including more than 1,500 pounds of meth seized from clandestine labs — to joint U.S.–Mexico operations.
- Sheinbaum urged the United States to curb southbound arms trafficking and to treat U.S. drug consumption as a public‑health problem rather than a solely enforcement issue.
- After a separate Thursday call, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mexican Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente issued a joint statement saying “more must be done to confront shared threats.”
- Sheinbaum publicly framed the seizure data and joint operations as evidence that Mexico’s approach is working — a position presented amid Trump’s threats of possible U.S. strikes in Mexico and used to argue that U.S. military intervention is unnecessary.
📊 Relevant Data
The number of U.S.-sourced firearms recovered in Mexico and submitted to ATF for tracing increased by 63% from 2017 to 2022, with over 10,000 firearms traced annually in recent years.
Firearms Trace Data: Mexico - 2017-2022 — Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Cartels in Mexico employ between 160,000 and 185,000 people as of 2022, making them the fifth largest employer in the country, with recruitment often targeting vulnerable youth in areas with high poverty and limited job opportunities.
New Study Identifies Cartels as the Fifth Largest Employer in Mexico — Justice in Mexico
The Mexican drug war has led to increased migration to the U.S., with estimates showing that a 10% increase in homicide rates in Mexican municipalities correlates with a 1-2% rise in emigration, particularly affecting working-age populations from violence-prone areas.
Migration and U.S. Labor Market Effects of the Mexican Drug War — W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
U.S. immigration policies since 2000, including the lack of comprehensive reform and programs like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in 2012, have influenced Mexican migration patterns, with economic opportunities in the U.S. remaining a primary pull factor amid Mexico's economic challenges.
Timeline: U.S.-Mexico Relations — Council on Foreign Relations
Mexican immigration to the U.S. from 2021-2024 has had modest long-run effects on local wages, with studies indicating small reductions in wages for low-skilled U.S.-born workers in high-immigration areas, offset by overall economic growth contributions.
Migration and U.S. Labor Market Effects of the Mexican Drug War — W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly framed Mexico’s cartel and migration crackdown as showing 'very compelling results', including a 'steep drop' in homicides, lower fentanyl seizures at the U.S. border, and reduced migration north.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mexican Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente issued a joint statement after a Thursday call agreeing that 'more must be done to confront shared threats.'
- Sheinbaum confirmed a Monday phone call with President Trump, saying she told him Mexico’s efforts were going well and that U.S. intervention was 'not necessary' given Mexico’s 'sovereignty and territorial integrity,' and that Trump 'understood.'
- Sheinbaum explicitly tied Mexico’s seizures — including the 1,500-plus pounds of meth from clandestine labs — to joint U.S.–Mexico operations, while urging Washington to curb southbound U.S. arms trafficking and treat its 'consumption crisis' as a public health problem.