President Claudia Sheinbaum said Governor Maru Campos did not provide necessary information to Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch after the death of U.S. agents [1].
The dispute highlights a growing tension between the Mexican federal government and state leadership over national sovereignty and the legality of foreign intelligence operations on Mexican soil.
Sheinbaum addressed the issue on April 24, 2026, and said that the established protocols for security coordination were ignored [6]. The president expressed concern regarding the collaboration between the Chihuahua state government and U.S. agents, specifically those from the CIA [4].
According to Sheinbaum, the lack of transparency from Campos following the deaths of the agents hindered the federal government's ability to manage the crisis [1]. She questioned how a state government could allow a violation of law that subsequently compromises national sovereignty [5].
"No se siguió el procedimiento," Sheinbaum said [6].
While some reports suggest that Campos will eventually provide the requested details to García Harfuch, the president emphasized that the initial failure to share information was a breach of procedure [6]. The administration is now demanding a full explanation of the collaboration that led to the agents' presence and subsequent deaths in the state [3].
"¿Cómo se presta un gobierno estatal a la violación de una ley que a su vez vulnera la soberanía nacional?" Sheinbaum said [5].
The incident underscores the friction regarding the operational boundaries of U.S. intelligence agencies within Mexico, particularly when they operate through state-level agreements rather than federal channels [5].
"Maru Campos no compartió más información con Harfuch tras muerte de agentes de EU," Sheinbaum said [1].
“"No se siguió el procedimiento"”
This confrontation reveals a significant rift in Mexico's security architecture, where state governors may maintain independent, informal, or legally ambiguous relationships with U.S. intelligence agencies. By publicly questioning Governor Campos, President Sheinbaum is asserting federal authority over national security and signaling that the administration will not tolerate 'back-channel' foreign operations that bypass the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection.
