Mexico Hands Over 26 Alleged Cartel Bosses to U.S. in Latest Trump-Era Deal

Mexico has handed 26 alleged high-ranking cartel members over to the United States — the latest move in its growing security cooperation with President Donald Trump’s administration.

The joint announcement came Tuesday from Mexico’s attorney general’s office and security ministry, confirming that the U.S. Justice Department had requested the extraditions. Washington also gave formal guarantees that none of the suspects would face the death penalty.

The transfers come as Trump keeps up the pressure on Mexico to crack down on the gangs driving drug smuggling and human trafficking north of the border. That pressure hasn’t been subtle — tariffs on some Mexican exports to the U.S. have been raised as part of what Trump calls holding Mexico “accountable” for the “extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has been walking a fine line: working with Trump on security issues while firmly rejecting any U.S. military boots on Mexican soil. Still, U.S. media recently reported that Trump has already signed a secret order authorizing military action against drug cartels in Latin America — a move that could put troops into play both at home and abroad.

Tuesday’s handover is the second big extradition deal in recent months. Back in February, Mexico sent 29 alleged cartel members to the U.S., including Rafael Caro Quintero — accused of killing a DEA agent in 1985. That one came under the shadow of Trump threatening blanket 25% tariffs on all Mexican imports, though the final tariff list ended up trimmed down.

Right now, the U.S. hits Mexican-made cars and non-USMCA goods with a 25% tariff, and steel, aluminium, and copper with a 50% tax. At the end of July, Trump gave a temporary 90-day extension for USMCA-covered goods to keep their tariff exemption.