MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said that she and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin agreed Thursday to maintain bilateral cooperation rooted in mutual respect, following a two-day visit to the Mexican capital.
The meeting at the presidential palace addressed recent tensions between the two nations, including the deaths of two CIA agents on April 19 along with two officials from the Chihuahua Attorney General's Office. The vehicle they were traveling in plunged into a ravine in the mountains between Chihuahua — which borders Texas — and Sinaloa state, where a clandestine synthetic drug lab had been dismantled.
Mullin assumed his position in March after Kristi Noem's departure. He also met with Mexico's Security Cabinet during his visit to discuss bilateral security cooperation.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive voices in Congress have raised concerns about U.S. operations on Mexican soil without proper coordination. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon said that incidents like the CIA agent deaths underscore the need for clearer protocols and greater transparency between the two governments. "Any operation that results in loss of life requires full disclosure and joint investigation," Merkley stated.
Human rights advocates have also focused attention on the 15 Mexican migrants who died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers since 2025. President Sheinbaum instructed consulates to make daily visits to detention facilities, and Mexico announced it would bring those cases before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Organizations including the American Immigration Council have called for independent oversight of ICE detention conditions.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have emphasized the importance of holding Mexican officials accountable for drug trafficking. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley praised the April indictments against Sinaloa Gov. Rubén Rocha, Culiacan mayor Juan de Dios Gámez, and eight other active and retired officials. "Drug cartels operate with impunity when local officials look the other way," Grassley said in a statement. "These indictments send a clear message."
Border security advocates have pointed to Mexico's success in reducing unauthorized crossings by Mexican citizens to a 50-year low as evidence that cooperation is yielding results. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green noted that continued collaboration is essential for disrupting cartel operations. "We cannot secure our border without a willing partner in Mexico," Green said.
What the Numbers Show
The State Department reported that Mexican unauthorized crossings at the U.S. southern border have reached their lowest level since 1976, according to data from Customs and Border Protection. The Mexican Foreign Ministry cited this figure as evidence of effective bilateral migration management.
Since October 2024, when Sheinbaum's administration took office, there have been 15 documented deaths of Mexican nationals in ICE detention facilities — a figure confirmed by the Mexican Foreign Ministry. This compares to 12 such deaths reported during the previous two-year period.
The April operation that resulted in CIA agent deaths involved a dismantled synthetic drug lab in the mountains between Chihuahua and Sinaloa states. The New York Attorney General's office has indicted 10 Mexican officials, including two current governors or mayors who have temporarily stepped aside to facilitate investigations.
The Bottom Line
Thursday's meeting produced no breakthrough on the most contentious issues but did establish that both nations will continue working together under what Sheinbaum called "coordination without subordination." Mexico's position remains firm that it was not informed of the CIA agents' presence or activities in Chihuahua, prompting a formal diplomatic protest.
The indictments of 10 Mexican officials remain unresolved, with two former Sinaloa government officials surrendering to U.S. authorities while others retain their positions pending legal proceedings. The migrant death cases are expected to proceed through international human rights channels.
Both governments have indicated they will continue regular high-level engagement on security and migration issues in the coming months.