President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that the United States has denied 36 extradition requests from Mexico due to a lack of evidence [1], [2].
The announcement signals a potential escalation in diplomatic tensions over judicial cooperation and the transparency of criminal investigations between the two nations.
Sheinbaum said the U.S. rejected the petitions to detain individuals for extradition purposes because the provided evidence was insufficient [1]. The president said she will make the specific cases public to provide transparency regarding why Washington denied the captures [2].
As part of this effort, Sheinbaum said she will demand formal evidence from the U.S. regarding these denied requests [2]. This move comes amid ongoing legal and political scrutiny, including accusations against Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya.
Regarding the governor, Sheinbaum said she will leave the decision on how to proceed in the hands of the Attorney General's Office [3].
While the president highlighted the 36 denied requests, other reports indicate that 37 prisoners were extradited on Jan. 20 [4]. Sheinbaum said the current focus is on the cases where the U.S. refused to cooperate based on evidentiary grounds [1].
“"The United States has rejected 36 petitions to detain for extradition purposes due to lack of evidence."”
This public challenge by the Mexican presidency suggests a strategic shift toward highlighting U.S. judicial refusals to counter narratives regarding Mexico's own legal shortcomings. By demanding formal evidence for the 36 denials, Sheinbaum is placing the burden of proof on Washington, which may complicate bilateral security cooperation if the U.S. views the move as a political maneuver rather than a legal inquiry.
