Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán sent a handwritten letter to a New York federal court requesting his extradition to Mexico [1].
The request represents a continued effort by the former drug lord to challenge the legality of his detention in the U.S. and shift the venue of his legal battles back to his home country.
In the letter dated April 23, 2026 [1], Guzmán addressed the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Brooklyn. He asked the court to annul his current legal process and facilitate his return to Mexico [1], [2].
Beyond the request for extradition, Guzmán asked for permission to receive family visits [2]. He also used the correspondence to criticize the evidence presented against him, questioning the solidity of the proofs used in his trial [3].
Guzmán said that the Mexican government is responsible for the violent crimes attributed to him [1], [3]. He further said that his reputation in Mexico is based on positive actions, which he believes justifies his desire to be judged within the Mexican legal system [1], [3].
This is not the first time the convict has attempted to communicate with the court regarding his status. The letter serves as a formal plea to overturn the current judicial trajectory in the U.S., and return to the jurisdiction of Mexico [1], [2].
“Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán sent a handwritten letter to a New York federal court requesting his extradition to Mexico.”
Guzmán's request is unlikely to result in a change of venue given the severity of his convictions and the existing extradition treaties between the U.S. and Mexico. However, the letter highlights his strategy to delegitimize U.S. evidence and pivot the narrative toward political accountability within the Mexican government.
