London-UK, August 14, 2025 – In a significant move highlighting the intense pressure from the United States, Mexico has expelled 26 alleged cartel members to face justice north of the border. This mass transfer, the second of its kind in recent months, comes amid ongoing negotiations over trade and security with the Trump administration, which has used the threat of tariffs to compel greater cooperation from its southern neighbor.
The 26 individuals, flown to the U.S. on Tuesday, include high-ranking figures from some of Mexico’s most notorious criminal organizations, such as Abigael González Valencia, a leader of the “Los Cuinis” group, which is closely aligned with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Also among the expelled was Servando Gómez Martínez, known as “La Tuta,” a former school teacher who rose to become the head of the Knights Templar cartel. These individuals are wanted in the U.S. for a range of crimes including drug trafficking, murder, and money laundering. The Mexican government, in a joint statement from its attorney general’s office and security ministry, framed the decision as a “strategic measure to ensure public safety” and a way to prevent these criminals from continuing to operate their networks from within Mexican prisons.
The deal with the Trump administration, however, was predicated on a key condition: the U.S. Justice Department has agreed not to seek the death penalty for any of the 26 individuals. This agreement is seen by some as a crucial component for Mexico in avoiding a violent and retaliatory backlash from the cartels, a reaction often seen after such high-profile captures and expulsions. This is the second such transfer in a year; in February, Mexico extradited 29 other cartel figures, including the infamous drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the 1985 killing of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agent. That initial transfer came just days before the threat of a 25% U.S. tariff on all Mexican imports was set to take effect.
While Mexican officials, including Security Minister Omar García Harfuch, have publicly stated that the recent transfer of the 26 alleged criminals was not directly linked to the current tariff negotiations, the timing suggests otherwise. The Trump administration has been increasingly vocal about the need for Mexico to take more aggressive action against cartels and the flow of fentanyl into the United States. In early 2025, the U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on Mexican-made cars and non-compliant products, with even higher duties on steel and aluminum. In late July, the two countries agreed to give their teams another 90 days to negotiate and avoid even higher tariffs, meaning that the threat of a 30% tariff still looms over Mexico.
The Trump administration has explicitly tied these economic measures to its security demands, with the president describing the import tax as necessary to hold Mexico “accountable” for the “extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs.” Under President Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican government has attempted to walk a fine line, cooperating on some security issues while drawing a clear line on matters of national sovereignty. This has included a firm rejection of any U.S. military intervention on Mexican soil, a position Sheinbaum has repeatedly emphasized is “off the table, absolutely off the table.”
Nevertheless, a shift in Mexico’s approach is evident. The Sheinbaum administration has shown a greater willingness to pursue the cartels than its predecessor, a change that has been acknowledged by U.S. officials. This recent mass expulsion is seen as the latest example of this new strategy. Security analyst David Saucedo commented that “little by little, Mexico is following through with this demand by the Americans to deliver drug capos,” suggesting a strategic capitulation to avoid the devastating economic impact of more widespread tariffs.
The dual-pronged approach from the U.S.—combining tariff threats with a clear focus on drug trafficking—has placed Mexico in a difficult position. While Mexico must address its internal security issues, it is also being compelled to do so under external pressure that could have severe consequences for its economy. The expulsions of the 26 cartel members are a powerful signal of Mexico’s commitment to tackling organized crime and its willingness to cooperate with the U.S. on this front. However, as the clock ticks on the ongoing tariff negotiations, the true nature of the relationship between the two nations will be revealed in the coming months.
