Sheinbaum rejects Argentina's cartel terror labels

Reporting and context

President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected Argentina's designation of the Sinaloa Cartel and La Nueva Familia Michoacana as terrorist organizations, warning that the label must not become a pretext for foreign intervention in Mexico, according to Luces del Siglo.

Sheinbaum said her government treats the groups as organized crime and works against them daily to improve security. She drew a distinction between organized crime and terrorism and linked her opposition to the designation to the defense of Mexican sovereignty.

Luces del Siglo reported that she cited a change to Article 40 of Mexico's Constitution, which she said was intended to restrict foreign intervention. She argued that a terrorist designation could not justify an invasion or interference by another country.

Argentina's government announced the designation of five organizations, including the two Mexican groups, on October 21, the outlet reported. The government of Javier Milei added them to its register of entities linked to terrorist acts and their financing.

Argentine authorities said the organizations posed a real or potential external threat to national security because of their operational capacity, regional expansion and illicit activities across borders. The report also noted that Milei's government had designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a terrorist organization in March 2026.

Original report: Luces del Siglo.