Trump Administration’s Alleged Deal for El Chapo Family Raises Questions

In May 2025, reports emerged of a purported deal by the Trump administration that allowed 17 family members of drug lord El Chapo to enter the United States. Mexican officials, including security chief Omar Hamid García Harfuch, suggested the arrangements were linked to negotiations involving Ovidio Guzmán. Despite some confirmation from authorities, many details about the deal and its implications remain unclear, leading to calls for transparency from officials.

In May 2025, a controversial claim surfaced regarding a deal struck by the Trump administration that allegedly permitted 17 family members of Mexican drug cartel leaders to cross into the United States. Reports stemmed from Mexican Security Chief Omar Hamid García Harfuch, who asserted that this arrangement was confirmed through discussions with the U.S. government, particularly involving the infamous Sinaloa Cartel.

The Associated Press reported that García Harfuch indicated family members of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the notorious Sinaloa leader currently imprisoned in the U.S., were allowed entry as part of negotiations led by his son, Ovidio Guzmán López. This cartel is recognized by the Drug Enforcement Administration as a primary player in drug trafficking to the United States.

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer responded vocally to the news, expressing concern over the implications of such a deal. “What kind of message does that send? Who the hell knows?” he stated, referencing an apparent lack of transparency around the entry of these family members into the U.S. The details of Schumer’s discontent were echoed in various social media platforms, prompting widespread discussion.

Notably, journalist Luis Chaparro was pivotal in breaking this story, claiming on his YouTube channel that the family, which included Guzmán’s mother and children, voluntarily surrendered to FBI agents at the San Ysidro border. The circumstances of this surrender, though unclear, seem intertwined with alleged negotiations involving Ovidio Guzmán, who was extradited to the U.S. in 2023 and is facing drug trafficking charges.

Chaparro also highlighted particular details, noting that the family reportedly carried substantial cash and arrived with multiple suitcases, suggesting preparation for their new lives. His assertions were supported by unnamed sources from U.S. law enforcement, suggesting that the immigration of these family members was not merely coincidental but rather facilitated by negotiations between the Trump administration and the cartel.

On subsequent days, García Harfuch maintained that the departure of the Guzmán family members was no mere surrender; they crossed into the U.S. freely, without active arrest warrants against them. He pointed to the involvement of U.S. authorities and insisted that the family appears to have acted of their own volition, which introduces questions of protective custody and safety for them in the U.S.

Compounding this mystery, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly called on the Trump administration for clarity regarding the deal’s nature. She emphasized a lack of advance warning or official information from the U.S. about this highly unusual agreement. “We do not have official or public information that says why this family entered,” Sheinbaum remarked during a news conference on May 14.

Various news outlets reported that U.S. officials, including the Department of Justice, declined to comment on the allegations. This has further muddied the waters concerning the legitimacy of the deal. Critics stress the need for immediate transparency regarding the administration’s actions, especially in dealing with recognized terrorist organizations linked to drug trafficking.

The situation remains fluid. As the May 2025 court date approaches for Ovidio Guzmán’s expected guilty plea, the complexities surrounding his family’s status in the U.S. continue to raise eyebrows. Right now, amid the lack of concrete confirmations and the evolving legal landscape, the truth behind this alleged deal remains elusive.

In summary, reports of a deal allowing members of El Chapo’s family entry into the U.S. have stirred considerable controversy and debate. While Mexican authorities confirm the crossing, details about the negotiations and the motivations remain unclear, with calls for transparency from both U.S. and Mexican officials. The implications for U.S. drug policy and international relations are significant, but answering these questions hinges on forthcoming disclosures from the Trump administration and other involved parties.

Original Source: www.yahoo.com