President Claudia Sheinbaum said two CIA agents involved in an operation in Chihuahua did not have permission to operate in Mexico [1].
This incident highlights the fragile nature of security cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico, as unauthorized intelligence activities can trigger diplomatic crises and undermine national sovereignty.
During a press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Sheinbaum addressed the status of the two agents [1, 2]. She said the agents lacked authorization to perform intelligence tasks within the country [3]. Consequently, the Mexican government requested that they leave the territory [3].
Sheinbaum said, "They withdrew from the country" [1]. She said, "We asked them to leave the country" [3]. The operation in Chihuahua reportedly took place in late 2024 [4].
However, reports regarding the fate of the agents remain contradictory. While the president said the agents departed Mexico, other reports indicate the CIA agents died in a car accident [4]. Separate reports link the accident to the deaths of two members of the AEI [5].
Sheinbaum said that the lack of official permission for the intelligence work was the primary driver for the government's demand that the agents exit the country [1, 3]. The incident has added tension to the bilateral relationship, specifically regarding the boundaries of intelligence gathering on Mexican soil [3].
“The agents did not have a permit to perform intelligence work in the country”
The discrepancy between the Mexican presidency's account of the agents' departure and reports of their deaths suggests a significant gap in public information or a deliberate effort to manage diplomatic fallout. This clash over sovereignty and unauthorized intelligence operations reflects a recurring tension in US-Mexico relations, where security collaboration often conflicts with Mexico's insistence on territorial autonomy.
