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Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly blamed “Biden-era policies” in the United States for the bloody turf war that exploded inside the Sinaloa Cartel after the 2024 capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. It’s a bold claim coming from a leader whose government has repeatedly pushed back on American help to take on cartels — and who now finds herself defending allies under U.S. criminal indictment. The timing and the excuses deserve a closer look.
Sheinbaum blames Biden-era policies — but the facts are messy
At her morning briefings, President Sheinbaum argued that if U.S. officials had shared intelligence and allowed Mexican authorities to make the arrest of El Mayo, the Sinaloa Cartel would not have split and violence would not have followed. That sounds neat, but it ignores the real-world mess of cartel politics and corruption in Mexico. The arrest did come after a Chapitos operation handed El Mayo over to waiting U.S. agents. Leaked photos now show U.S. presence at the scene — not proof of orchestration, but certainly proof that the situation was chaotic and dangerous.
Leaked photos and DOJ indictments undercut her narrative
Meanwhile, a U.S. Department of Justice indictment has targeted the governor of Sinaloa, Ruben Rocha Moya, and top state officials for allegedly protecting Los Chapitos in exchange for bribes. That development punches a giant hole in Sheinbaum’s argument that outside interference is the main problem. When local officials are on cartel payrolls, blaming Washington for the fallout looks like convenient deflection. If anything, these indictments strengthen the case that Mexican institutions — not U.S. policy — are the weak link letting cartels thrive.
Refusing help while suing U.S. agencies? A strange posture
Sheinbaum has also announced legal action against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over migrant deaths in custody, while declining offers of U.S. assistance to fight organized crime — invoking sovereignty as if it’s a shield. Sovereignty is real; so is the fact that cartels exploit porous institutions. If the president won’t accept outside help to root out cartel collusion right now, criticism from Washington is predictable. The real victims are Mexicans trapped in cartel crossfire and migrants caught between two failing systems.
What this means for U.S.-Mexico relations and cartel violence
Blaming the Biden-era — or any U.S. administration — for cartel splits and murder sprees is politically handy but strategically hollow. Whether it was the previous administration or current pressure from President Trump, the hard truth remains: cartels grow where law enforcement is compromised and political leaders look the other way. Mexico needs honest accountability at home and real cooperation across the border. If Sheinbaum wants credibility when pointing fingers at Washington, she should start by cleaning house in her own backyard.
