Amid growing diplomatic tensions between Mexico and the United States over ties between organized crime and political figures, a new warning has reportedly arrived from Washington: the Donald Trump administration is demanding the surrender of eight key figures in the current Mexican regime, accused of alleged ties to drug trafficking.
According to journalist Raymundo Riva Palacio’s most recent column in El Financiero, the United States government has sent a direct message to the National Palace demanding the surrender of eight Mexican government figures for alleged ties to drug trafficking.
According to Riva Palacio, this priority list was reportedly transmitted through a senior Mexican official who recently traveled to Washington.
According to the journalist, the message also reached Secretary of Security Omar García Harfuch and Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente.
Who would be on the list?
In his column, Riva Palacio asserts that the eight individuals sought by Washington are allegedly linked, directly or indirectly, to the Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generación cartels.
Although names are not revealed, their positions are specified:
Two generals, one of them active
Three governors, all members of the Morena party
Two members of the federal cabinet
A senior leader of the Morena party
According to the journalist, the case of the active general was the most surprising within the Mexican government.
He also highlights that, with the exception of the two military officers, all the others are part of the political circle close to former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
What is Trump seeking with this demand?
Riva Palacio points out that the Trump administration is accelerating pressure on Claudia Sheinbaum’s government to obtain a “big fish” from the regime.
The idea would be to replicate a scenario like that of Honduras in 2021, when former President Juan Orlando Hernández was extradited to the US after an agreement with his successor, Xiomara Castro.
In the Mexican case, the columnist suggests that Sheinbaum could be forced to negotiate given the risk of these figures being publicly named or brought to trial in US courts.
Sheinbaum’s reaction: “It’s absolutely false.”
During her morning press conference on Monday, July 28, 2025, President Claudia Sheinbaum responded directly to Riva Palacio’s report and categorically denied having received a list or any extradition request from the US government:
“It’s absolutely false, completely false… We do not accept interference.”
Sheinbaum explained that Mexico has mechanisms for collaboration regarding extraditions, but that at no point—neither in her calls with Donald Trump nor in conversations between her Foreign Ministry and the State Department—has any mention been made of specific Mexican politicians.
She also took the opportunity to criticize columnists who, in her opinion, are trying to “sell” the idea that they have privileged information without any real basis.
A longer list? Up to 300 names, according to the journalist
In previous columns, Riva Palacio has indicated that the United States government is investigating around 300 Mexican figures—including politicians, businessmen, and artists—for their alleged ties to drug trafficking or for implementing policies contrary to U.S. interests.
Some of the figures who have already been affected by immigration restrictions or investigations include:
Marina del Pilar Ávila, Governor of Baja California
Rubén Rocha Moya, Governor of Sinaloa
Américo Villarreal, Governor of Tamaulipas
Alfonso Durazo, Governor of Sonora
Norma Otilia Hernández, Mayor of Chilpancingo
Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Former Governor of Morelos
Ovidio Guzmán and His Key Role as a Collaborating Witness
The background to this diplomatic pressure is related to the recent plea agreement signed by Ovidio Guzmán López, son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, in a federal court in Chicago.
As part of the pact, “El Ratón” agreed to collaborate with the US government and could become a key witness incriminating Mexican officials.
Ovidio’s testimony could provide details about the possible complicity of political figures with the Sinaloa Cartel, which, according to Riva Palacio, would further increase the pressure on Sheinbaum.
Ovidio Guzmán Hearing
Could the US declare Morena a narco-terrorist organization?
Although there have been no official actions in this direction so far, some political actors such as Eduardo Verástegui, a Trump supporter, have hinted at this possibility.
Academic Ghaleb Krame has explained that there are legal mechanisms in the US that would allow Morena to be declared a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) or a specially designated global terrorist (SDGT), provided sufficient evidence is presented.
What options does Sheinbaum have in the face of this pressure?
According to Riva Palacio, Sheinbaum could choose to open internal investigations in Mexico against the designated officials, as a way to contain Washington’s demands and avoid direct extraditions.
This would allow the Mexican government to maintain some control over the judicial process and its timing.
However, the journalist warns that if the US decides to act unilaterally—for example, through prosecutor Pam Bondi—the scenario could become highly unfavorable for Mexico, placing the president in a situation of political and diplomatic vulnerability.
Growing tension between Mexico and the US
Although President Claudia Sheinbaum has denied any pressure from the US government, Riva Palacio’s column has revived the discussion about alleged links between members of Morena and drug trafficking, in a context where judicial cooperation between the two countries appears increasingly strained.
Ovidio Guzmán’s role as a cooperating witness and the ongoing investigations could be decisive for what happens in the coming months.
Source: politico
