President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed Monday that former Sinaloa governor Rubén Rocha Moya has been granted federal security protection [1].
The move comes as Rocha Moya faces a U.S. extradition request, raising questions about the use of state resources for a political figure under legal scrutiny.
During a morning press conference on May 4, 2026 [2], Sheinbaum said that Rocha Moya requested the protection and it was granted after a formal risk analysis [3]. The president said that the former governor is currently on license from his position [4].
Sheinbaum said that the decision was not based on political affiliations. "The assignment of security does not respond to political criteria, but to a procedure based on risk assessment," she said [5].
To ensure the necessary measures were in place, the president said she asked the Security Cabinet to provide support according to his specific situation [6]. The protection is being provided by the Guardia Nacional [7].
Rocha Moya's request for federal security follows his transition to a leave of absence. The Mexican government said that the security allocation process is standardized and follows established protocols for individuals facing verified threats [3].
"Rubén Rocha Moya already has federal security," Sheinbaum said [8].
“The assignment of security does not respond to political criteria, but to a procedure based on risk assessment.”
The provision of federal security to a former governor facing U.S. extradition requests underscores the complex intersection of national security and legal disputes between Mexico and the U.S. By framing the decision as a technical risk assessment rather than a political favor, the Sheinbaum administration seeks to avoid accusations of shielding a political ally from the legal consequences of international indictments.
