At least 17 relatives of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel have entered the United States in what appears to be part of a deal struck during Donald Trump’s presidency, according to a report by The New York Times.
The group includes family members of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the infamous drug lord behind one of the most violent cartels in history. The deal was likely connected to a plea bargain or negotiation involving U.S. authorities, the Times reported, citing a top Mexican security official.
“For days, rumors had spread that 17 relatives, including one of the ex-wives of the crime boss known as El Chapo, had flown from a cartel stronghold to Tijuana, Mexico, and then crossed into the United States,” wrote Times reporter Alan Yuhas. Now, it’s confirmed.
Omar García Harfuch, Mexico’s secretary of security, told Radio Fórmula: “The family that left were not targets and were not being sought by the Mexican authorities,” adding, “It is evident that his family is going to the U.S. because of a negotiation or a plea bargain that the Department of Justice is giving him.”
El Chapo is serving a life sentence in the U.S., but his empire is still active. The Sinaloa Cartel, now splintered into rival factions, remains a major player in the drug trade. The relatives who crossed the border are believed to be tied to one of El Chapo’s sons, Ovidio Guzmán López, a rising figure in the cartel who is reportedly cooperating with U.S. authorities.
The secretive nature of the deal is raising serious concerns in Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum is demanding answers from the Trump administration. She’s pushing for full transparency, saying the public deserves to know the terms of any agreement with a criminal group responsible for thousands of deaths—including the lives of Mexican soldiers killed during El Chapo’s capture.
The Trump administration has yet to comment on the report.
