President Claudia Sheinbaum said that Mexico's internal politics and national security remain the exclusive decisions of the Mexican people.

This stance comes as the administration balances the need for cooperation with the U.S. while resisting external pressure regarding judicial control and governance. The tension highlights a delicate diplomatic dance between the two neighbors over the handling of transnational crime.

During a press conference in Mexico City on July 15, 2026, Sheinbaum addressed comments made by Miller, a deputy director at the White House [1]. While she avoided a direct confrontation with the U.S. official, she said that "Mexico is governed by the people" [1].

Sheinbaum specifically defended the decision to hand over alleged members of criminal groups to U.S. authorities under the National Security Law [2]. This cooperation is part of a broader strategy to dismantle organized crime, though it often invites domestic criticism regarding sovereignty.

Regarding the specific risks associated with these extraditions, Sheinbaum said that the Security Cabinet evaluated the risks [2]. The president maintained that the legal framework of the National Security Law provides the necessary justification for such transfers.

Sheinbaum said that "the politics and the security of the country are in the hands of the Mexicans" [1]. By framing the issue as a matter of national sovereignty, the president seeks to insulate her administration from U.S. critiques of the Mexican judicial system — a point of contention raised by Miller.

Despite the rhetoric of independence, the continued delivery of suspects to the U.S. suggests that the bilateral security relationship remains functional. The administration continues to utilize the National Security Law to facilitate high-level arrests and transfers to the U.S. justice system [2].

“"The politics and the security of the country are in the hands of the Mexicans."”

Sheinbaum is attempting to maintain a 'dual-track' foreign policy: projecting strength and sovereignty to a domestic audience while continuing the practical, high-level security cooperation required by the US. By citing the National Security Law and the Security Cabinet's risk assessment, she provides a legal and institutional shield against accusations that Mexico is simply yielding to US pressure.