In a press conference marked by conflicting narratives and a notable lack of focus on specific topics, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo took a stand against the recent actions of what she described as an “office” of the U.S. Department of Justice. The meeting also served to announce that the Security Cabinet will travel to Sinaloa to coordinate with interim Governor Yeraldine Bonilla, following the leave of absence requested by Governor Rubén Rocha Moya.
Regarding the physical safety of the governor on leave, Sheinbaum confirmed that the state is providing him with active protection through National Guard escorts after conducting a risk assessment. The president explained in detail the criteria for granting this security:
“Yes, normally in these cases, as in any other, whether it’s for a governor, a governor on leave from any state, a congressman, a senator, or even a citizen who considers themselves at risk, they request security support from the National Guard or the Security Cabinet. A risk analysis is conducted, and based on that, security is either provided or not. At this moment, security is granted given the condition established by the Cabinet itself.”
The president lashed out at the media narrative suggesting that her administration is cornered between the surrender of its allies or an international crisis. Sheinbaum characterized these interpretations as part of a campaign orchestrated by political adversaries and media figures.
“It’s evident in a media campaign, on social networks, promoted mainly by certain outlets that will always speak ill of us and the Mexican right wing, of our political adversaries. And the pundits and the media—not all of them, just some—and the international right wing, the Mexican government, has ties to drug trafficking, as we’ve been saying for some time. Who else?
“The President is in a terrible dilemma. Either she hands over Rocha or we face an invasion. Oh, well, calm down, relax. Please. The President is in a terrible dilemma. Either she protects the Morena governors or she hands over Rocha.”
He also emphasized the exceptional nature of the situation, highlighting that there are no records of an attempted arrest of this nature against a sitting governor in the country’s past.
“Never in history, never have they urgently requested an arrest warrant against a sitting governor. Never. What is my responsibility? Sovereignty. Sovereignty. Justice.” “Well, I was saying truth, justice, and sovereignty.”
The mayor severely questioned the legitimacy and hierarchy of the international request, reducing it to a procedure initiated by a local agency in New York. Sheinbaum emphasized that the process lacks immediate evidentiary support, focusing her defense on the lack of evidence regarding the alleged “urgency” of the arrests of 10 Mexican citizens.
“What do we do? As the law dictates… I tell the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to request an opinion from the Attorney General’s Office to see if there is evidence of the urgency of a provisional detention. Who is making this request?
“Because we also have to consider that not everything is the same there. Is it an office of the U.S. Department of Justice, in New York, an office in New York, that is requesting the urgent, urgent detention, for extradition purposes, of 10 Mexican citizens?”
He reaffirmed that Mexico will not accept a subordinate relationship, also denouncing the violation of confidentiality in the process for the sake of journalistic impact:
“We need to explain to all the authorities of the United States government that we are not a protectorate of the United States, that we are not a colony of the United States, that we are a free and sovereign country, and we understand each other as equals. But this, in addition, violated confidentiality. What was the objective? To get it out on the front page.”
The new legal advisor to the Presidency, Luisa Alcalde, detailed the technical status of the case and questioned the United States’ urgency in detaining Rocha Moya. She explained that the request for provisional arrest for extradition purposes, regulated in Article 11 of the Extradition Treaty, is not justified at this procedural stage due to the lack of evidence demonstrating a risk of flight or obstruction of justice.
“What is requested is provisional arrest for extradition purposes, and if this is found to be justified, then the arrest is carried out, and a 60-day period is opened before a formal extradition request can be submitted. What is happening in this case?
“In this case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has not submitted a formal extradition request.” What was presented was a request for provisional arrest for extradition purposes… it needs to attach supporting evidence to establish the urgency.”
The advisor concluded that, since the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) determined that no evidence was provided to demonstrate the urgency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) must request additional information from the requesting country before presenting the case to a Mexican judge, who is the only one authorized to determine the precautionary measure.
KEY POINTS OF THE OFFICIAL POSITION
Security for Rocha Moya: The governor on leave has National Guard protection following a formal request and a risk analysis conducted by the Security Cabinet.
Rejection of the Media “Dilemma”: The mayor dismissed claims that she is being forced to “hand over” governors, characterizing these ideas as pressure from the “international right wing.”
Unprecedented Event: Sheinbaum emphasized that never before in Mexican history has the arrest of a sitting governor been urgently requested from abroad.
Questioning the Urgency: The Mexican government maintains that the New York office has not provided sufficient evidence to justify immediate provisional arrest under the Extradition Treaty.
Defense of Sovereignty: It was emphasized that Mexico is neither a colony nor a protectorate of the United States and that it must act in accordance with truth and sovereign justice.
Lack of Substantiation: The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) determined that the U.S. request lacks the necessary elements to demonstrate the procedural urgency of the requested arrests.
Breach of Confidentiality: The Executive Branch accused the U.S. of breaching the confidentiality of the judicial process for the sole purpose of generating sensational media scandals.
Source: emeequis
