Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán sent a handwritten English letter to U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan requesting extradition to Mexico [1].

The former Sinaloa Cartel leader is attempting to avoid serving his life sentence in the United States [2]. His request marks a continued legal effort to challenge the conditions and location of his incarceration.

Writing from a federal prison in Colorado, Guzmán addressed the letter to the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, New York [3]. This is the 11th handwritten letter he has sent to the judge [4]. In the correspondence, he demanded his extradition to Mexico, a new trial, or a review of his sentence [1].

Beyond his request for relocation or a new trial, Guzmán asked for fair treatment while incarcerated [1]. He specifically requested that he receive treatment equal to that provided under U.S. law [5].

Reports of the letter surfaced throughout May 2026, with initial reports appearing on May 4 [6]. Subsequent reporting on May 14 and May 27 detailed his demands for a sentence revision and his allegations regarding the authorities [7, 8].

Guzmán remains under the custody of U.S. federal authorities while serving a life sentence [2]. The court has not yet issued a formal response to the demands outlined in this latest letter [1].

“This is the 11th handwritten letter he has sent to the judge.”

Guzmán's repeated attempts to communicate directly with Judge Cogan reflect a strategy to maintain legal visibility and pressure the court for a venue change. By requesting extradition to Mexico, he seeks a legal environment where he might potentially face more lenient sentencing or different incarceration standards than the strict isolation of a U.S. federal supermax facility.