Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya lost his constitutional immunity after requesting a license to take a temporary leave from office [1].

This legal shift removes the protective barrier known as *fuero*, which typically shields high-ranking Mexican officials from prosecution while in power. Because the immunity protects the office rather than the individual, the leave of absence renders the governor susceptible to legal actions [2].

Arturo Zaldivar, a retired minister, said on May 2, 2026 [3], that the governor's request for a license effectively ended his constitutional protection. This means the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) now has the authority to investigate, cite, or detain Rocha Moya [1], [4].

Other officials have reinforced this position. Omari Harfuch said that Rocha Moya no longer possesses the *fuero* and confirmed that the FGR will determine his legal situation [5]. According to these reports, Senator Enrique Inzunza is currently the only individual maintaining such protection in the relevant context [5].

Despite these assertions, some reports have presented a different view. El Imparcial reported on May 3, 2026, that Rocha Moya might still be protected by the *fuero* despite the license request [5]. However, legal experts and retired judicial officials maintain that the protection ceases once the official is no longer actively exercising the functions of the office [2], [4].

The process of taking a license is a standard administrative move in Mexican politics, but its intersection with constitutional immunity often creates legal disputes. In this instance, the loss of immunity allows federal prosecutors to move forward with any pending inquiries without needing the Senate to first vote to remove the official's protection [1], [4].

“The governor's request for a license effectively ended his constitutional protection.”

The loss of *fuero* for a sitting governor is a significant legal vulnerability in the Mexican political system. By taking a license, Rocha Moya has effectively stepped out of the legal shield that prevents federal authorities from executing arrests or formal charges. This transition shifts the power from the political sphere—where the Senate would normally decide if immunity should be lifted—directly to the judiciary and the FGR.