By Fausto Carbajal Glass, Partner, Miranda Delphi Solutions
This compendium delves into the Mexico-U.S. relationship. Mexican Navy and Defense Secretaries conducted their first joint visit to USNORTHCOM, emphasizing “collaboration without subordination” while discussing security cooperation and joint training programs. Simultaneously, tensions emerged as U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi grouped Mexico with Iran, Russia, and China as adversaries, citing drug trafficking concerns. Shortly thereafter, the Treasury Department designated three Mexican financial institutions as cartel money laundering facilitators under the FENTANYL Act. Domestically, Mexico dismantled a major fuel theft network, arresting 32 individuals and seizing significant assets. The UN expressed concerns over new National Guard laws consolidating military control and privacy implications. Senate committees approved biometric CURP legislation establishing a unified identity platform, despite opposition claims of potential surveillance capabilities.
Mexican Navy and Defense Secretaries Visit U.S. Northern Command: First visit under Sheinbaum and Trump administrations as part of military cooperation.
From June 23-25, Mexican Navy Admiral Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles and Defense Secretary General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo conducted an official visit to the U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) headquarters in Colorado Springs as part of the bilateral military cooperation strategy between Mexico and the United States. The high-ranking Mexican officials held meetings with General Gregory M. Guillot, USNORTHCOM commander who also heads the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), addressing priority matters regarding defense and border security. President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed this visit represents ongoing coordination between her administration and President Trump’s, emphasizing “collaboration without subordination”. Key discussion topics included: security information exchange, joint training programs, coordinated responses to shared threats, and mutual respect for national sovereignties. The secretaries also toured Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station and the U.S. Air Force Academy, marking the first occasion both Mexican Armed Forces leaders jointly visited these facilities.
El Imparcial, 6/26/25, Ana Karen Celaya: Secretarios de Marina y Defensa de México visitan el Comando Norte de EEUU: La primera visita bajo gobiernos de Sheinbaum y Trump como parte de la cooperación militar.
U.S. Attorney General includes Mexico on enemies list alongside Iran, Russia and China.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi implicitly included Mexico in a new “axis” alongside enemy nations China, Iran, and Russia during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, signaling potential future military intervention on Mexican soil targeting cartel bases. This follows President Trump’s first foreign attack order against Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. During the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the 2026 budget, Bondi declared they would “do everything in our power thanks to his leadership to keep America safe” and “will not be intimidated”. When Senator Lindsey Graham questioned her about Iran, Bondi responded emphatically that Trump has made clear they won’t be intimidated by Iran, Russia, China, or Mexico. She referenced foreign adversaries who “want to kill us physically or by overdosing our children with drugs”, alluding to cartels trafficking cocaine and fentanyl. While Trump holds final decision-making authority, recent criticism over the Iran bombing may temper immediate intervention plans.
La Crónica, 6/25/25, Fran Ruiz Perea: La fiscal general de EU incluye a México en la lista de enemigos junto a Irán, Rusia y China.
U.S. Treasury flags CIBanco, Intercam and Vector for cartel money laundering.
The U.S. Treasury Department launched its first major strike against Mexico’s financial system by designating three institutions –CIBanco, Intercam, and Vector– as facilitators of money laundering associated with fentanyl trafficking and other synthetic opioids by drug cartels. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared these “financial facilitators are helping poison countless Americans by moving money for cartels, making them key pieces in the fentanyl supply chain”. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued actions under the FENTANYL Act, directly targeting Mexico’s financial system. CIBanco allegedly laundered money for Beltrán Leyva, Jalisco New Generation, and Gulf cartels, processing over $2.1 million in payments to Chinese precursor suppliers between 2021-2024. Intercam executives reportedly met directly with CJNG members to discuss laundering schemes, while Vector facilitated financial operations for Sinaloa and Gulf cartels.
La Jornada, 6/25/25, Dora Villanueva: Tesoro de EU señala a CIBanco, Intercam y Vector de lavar dinero de cárteles.
Strike against fuel thieves: Government dismantles criminal network and arrests leaders.
The Mexican government struck a major blow against fuel theft, known as “huachicoleo”, by dismantling a significant criminal network operating in the country’s central region and arresting 32 individuals. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch announced the simultaneous operation across Mexico City, Estado de México, and Querétaro resulted from six months of intelligence work. Key arrests included criminal leaders Cirio Sergio ‘N’ and Luis Miguel ‘N’ “El Flaco de Oro,” plus logistics operator Diego ‘N’. The network operated by drilling pipeline taps to extract LP gas and gasoline, storing them in warehouses and gas stations through illegal distribution channels. Authorities seized 12 properties, 21 trucks, 14 semi-trailers, 48 vehicles (including armored and luxury cars), 36 firearms, exotic animals, controlled drugs, and 16 million pesos in cash. Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero indicated investigations will examine potential protection networks. Unlike typical cases, these detainees have no connections to major cartels like Jalisco Nueva Generación or Santa Rosa de Lima.
El Economista, 6/29/25, Paul Constantino: Golpe a huachicoleros: Gobierno desarticula red criminal y detiene a líderes.
UN-HR Mexico expresses concern over National Guard laws and National Security System.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Mexico (UN-HR Mexico) expressed serious concerns regarding the new National Guard Law and reforms to the General Law of the National Public Security System and the National Investigation and Intelligence System Law. The organization warned that these initiatives consolidate the National Guard’s inappropriate military nature while granting broad investigation and intelligence powers without adequate oversight and accountability mechanisms. UN-HR Mexico highlighted particular concerns about granting the Army intelligence processing capabilities and other provisions that, without proper safeguards, would risk privacy rights protected under Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The reforms propose creating a National Information System integrating databases on weapons, arrests, criminal incidents, and stolen vehicles, while establishing technological platforms interconnecting public and private databases including vehicular, biometric, telephone, fiscal, and weapons records. The UN office reiterated that public security should remain civilian authorities’ responsibility, subject to democratic controls and conducted with full human rights respect.
Sin Embargo, 6/27/25, Redacción: La ONU-DH México expresa preocupación por leyes de GN y Sistema Nacional de Seguridad.
Senate committees approve law on biometric CURP and Unified Identity Platform.
The Mexican Senate advanced legislation establishing the Unique Population Registry Code (CURP) as official identification with biometric data. Joint Senate committees approved amendments to the General Population Law and General Law on Forced Disappearance by majority vote, with opposition abstaining. The decree mandates the Interior Ministry and Digital Transformation Agency create a Unified Identity Platform within 90 days, consolidating all Mexican CURPs. This platform will interconnect with databases including the National Registry of Disappeared Persons, National Forensic Data Bank, and private sector records from financial services, transportation, healthcare, telecommunications, education, and religious establishments. Authorities face fines of 10,000-20,000 times the measurement unit value for refusing CURP acceptance. Opposition members accused the government of creating “massive espionage tools”, claiming authorities could access citizens’ purchases, hotel stays, real-time geolocation, and personal activities. Despite Article 91 requiring consent, critics argue mandatory identification makes refusal practically impossible, potentially legalizing government surveillance while inadequately addressing disappearances.
El Financiero, 6/26/25, Diana Benítez: Comisiones del Senado aprueban ley sobre CURP biométrica y Plataforma Única de Identidad.
If you would like to talk to Fausto about our services in risk and security consulting, please email him at fausto.carbajal@miranda-partners.com
More information can be found at: https://miranda-partners.com/jvs-delphi-solutions/
Download PDF: MI-SecurityChatter-070225