Extraditions, sanctions and canceled visas are some of the ways Mexico and the United States are attempting to show a hard line on cartels.
At a recent concert in the Mexican state of Jalisco, the band Los Alegres del Barranco displayed images of a notorious narcotrafficker on stage, sparking outrage in Mexico. U.S. officials confirmed to Mexican media outlet El Universal that the band members’ tourist and work visas have now been canceled for “promoting a group designated as a terrorist organization in the U.S.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters there will be an investigation into the band’s homage.
“This shouldn’t happen,” Sheinbaum said.
This comes at the same time as Mexico looks to stave off tariffs from the U.S. this week. President Donald Trump is expected to slap tariffs on its trading partner, an outcome Mexico hopes to avoid to protect its export-heavy economy.
Sheinbaum has been cooperating with Trump’s fight against drug cartels and extradited some key leaders recently. She said this week there’s a list of names for future extradition, but left the timing up in the air. Back in February, Sheinbaum also sent an additional 10,000 Mexican National Guard troops to the border after a conversation with Trump in which he agreed to delay the tariff.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury is also taking aim at cartels. The agency is sanctioning six individuals and seven companies accused of money laundering for the Sinaloa Cartel.
Trump is set to put in place a 25% across-the-board tariff on Mexico and Canada. That tariff has now been delayed twice, and was briefly in place last month. The import fee would not just be a blow to Mexico’s economy but could also raise prices for consumers in the U.S.
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