Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government sent a diplomatic note to the United States insisting the unauthorised participation of U.S. officials in a Chihuahua anti-narcotics operation must not be repeated. The issue emerged after an April 19 crash that killed two U.S. and two Mexican officials; sources told Reuters the Americans were CIA officers. Mexico's security cabinet said the U.S. personnel lacked formal accreditation and one entered on a tourist visa. Sheinbaum affirmed she supports intelligence sharing but rejects U.S. agents taking part in operations on Mexican soil.
Sheinbaum: U.S. Presence in Chihuahua Anti-Drug Operation Must Not Be Repeated — Diplomatic Note Sent
FILE PHOTO: Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum addresses the media in her daily press conference, in Mexico City, Mexico March 30, 2026. REUTERS/Quetzalli Nicte-Ha/File Photo
MEXICO CITY, April 27 — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday her government has formally informed the United States, via a diplomatic note, that the unauthorised presence of U.S. personnel during an anti-narcotics operation in the northern state of Chihuahua must not happen again.
The incident came to light after a car crash on April 19 killed two U.S. officials and two Mexican officials following the operation. Mexican authorities have said the federal government was not aware those U.S. personnel were involved; sources told Reuters the Americans were CIA officers.
"What we told (the U.S.) was that the federal government didn't know about the involvement of these people (in the operation) and we hope that it's an exception," Sheinbaum said at her regular morning press conference.
Sheinbaum added that Mexico requested that "from now on, as has been done, our constitution and national security law should be followed," and said Washington had signalled its agreement with that position.
On Saturday, Mexico's security cabinet issued a statement saying the U.S. officials did not have formal accreditation to take part in security activities in Mexico and that one of the Americans had entered the country on a tourist visa. The lack of formal accreditation has renewed debate in Mexico over how foreign partners should be authorised to operate on Mexican soil.
The deaths have heightened tensions over bilateral security cooperation. The presence of U.S. personnel in anti-cartel operations is a politically sensitive issue in Mexico: Sheinbaum has consistently supported intelligence sharing and cooperative measures, but she has drawn a firm line against U.S. agents or forces participating directly in operations on Mexican territory.
By contrast, the report notes that U.S. President Donald Trump has frequently advocated for greater use of U.S. military power against Mexican cartels and has warned that Washington could act independently if it judges Mexico is not doing enough.
Reporting by Raul Cortes; writing by Kylie Madry; editing by Stephen Eisenhammer.
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