The Trump administration has been pressing Mexico to investigate and prosecute politicians suspected of ties to organized crime and, where appropriate, extradite them to the U.S., according to individuals familiar with the discussions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team have reportedly brought up the issue multiple times in meetings with Mexican officials, urging President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration to take unprecedented steps against narco-linked corruption — including investigating elected officials, even from Sheinbaum’s own Morena party. Two sources said the U.S. even warned of potential tariffs if Mexico failed to act.

These talks, not previously disclosed, were denied publicly by Mexican authorities. Mexico’s foreign ministry and President Sheinbaum have rejected claims that the U.S. demanded specific names of politicians. While the U.S. State Department did not deny urging action against cartel-linked politicians, it emphasized no trade concessions were offered in return. It stated the U.S. and Mexico share a mutual interest in combating cartels and corruption.

Reuters could not verify whether the U.S. supplied names or evidence to Mexico, but two sources mentioned six individuals, including current Morena officials and one ex-senator, among them Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Avila. Avila denied any links to organized crime and said her administration had made progress in curbing violence. Neither the Mexican government nor various U.S. agencies responded to requests for comment prior to publication.

Trump’s administration has previously linked Mexico's trade tariffs to cartel influence, and any prosecution of high-ranking politicians could be politically sensitive for Sheinbaum, particularly since members of her own party are implicated. The push began in a February meeting in Washington attended by high-level U.S. and Mexican officials. Following U.S. pressure, Mexico extradited 29 cartel suspects — the largest such move in years — and discussed expedited capture of DEA and FBI targets.

The U.S. also proposed naming a fentanyl coordinator to work directly with Sheinbaum and pushed for stricter border inspections of goods and travelers. Despite Mexico’s constitution granting prosecutorial independence, Washington has long accused the country of shielding corrupt politicians. In Mexico, high-ranking officials have legal immunity and can only be prosecuted for serious federal crimes with Congressional approval.