Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled constitutional reforms Thursday escalating the nation's response to Washington's controversial designation of six drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. The move follows U.S. President Donald Trump's January 20 executive order targeting eight Latin American criminal groups through enhanced sanctions.
The Mexican people will not accept interventions threatening our independence,Sheinbaum declared during her press briefing, signaling hardening diplomatic stances. Analysts warn the terrorism labels - typically applied to groups like ISIS or Al-Qaeda - risk justifying cross-border military actions rejected by Mexico.
The reforms focus on three critical areas:
- Constitutional bans on foreign law enforcement operations without Mexican oversight
- Maximum penalties for international gun trafficking networks
- Legal frameworks to challenge extraterritorial U.S. policies
Former President López Obrador previously restricted foreign agents' movements following the contentious 2020 arrest of ex-Defense Minister Salvador Cienfuegos. Sheinbaum now seeks to constitutionalize these rules, citing 73% public support for sovereignty protections in recent polls.
Simultaneously, Mexico demands stronger U.S. action against over 70% of firearms entering Mexico from American border states. Proposed amendments would impose life sentences on foreigners trafficking military-grade weapons.
While Sheinbaum's Morena party commands congressional supermajorities enabling reform passage, experts caution the measures may strain diplomatic relations. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged shared security challengesduring last month's bilateral meetings, though neither nation has detailed operational compromises.
