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Sheinbaum questions unity for investigating US agents' presence in Chihuahua; "It was either the prosecutor or the state
🇲🇽 Mexico /Crime & Justice

Sheinbaum questions unity for investigating US agents' presence in Chihuahua; "It was either the prosecutor or the state government," she says

From El Universal · (11m ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum questioned the legitimacy of a special investigative unit created by the Governor of Chihuahua to probe the deaths of two US agents.
  • Sheinbaum stated that the investigation should have been handled by either the state prosecutor's office or the state security secretariat, not a new unit.
  • She emphasized the importance of respecting national sovereignty and adhering to Mexican laws and the Constitution in all collaborations, particularly concerning security matters.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has sharply questioned the creation of a special investigative unit by the Governor of Chihuahua, Maru Campos, to look into the deaths of two US agents in the state. This move by the state government is seen by the federal administration as an unnecessary complication and potentially an overreach, particularly given the sensitive nature of the incident involving foreign agents operating within Mexico.

O fue la Fiscalía o el gobierno estatal, no hay de otra.

— Claudia SheinbaumPresident Sheinbaum questions the necessity and legitimacy of the special investigative unit.

Sheinbaum’s stance is clear: such investigations fall under the purview of existing state institutions, namely the State Attorney General's Office or the State Security Secretariat. Her assertion that "it was either the Prosecutor's Office or the state government, there is no other way" underscores a federal insistence on established legal procedures and a skepticism towards parallel structures that could undermine or politicize the investigation.

Realmente no se requeriría tantas unidades investigaciones. O fue la fiscalía o fue el gobierno no hay de otra. O fue la Fiscalía General de Justicia del Estado de Chihuahua o fue el secretario de Seguridad (estatal). No hay pues muchas más opciones para poder colaborar con personas extranjeras sin seguir la Ley de Seguridad Nacional y la Constitución.

— Claudia SheinbaumShe explains her reasoning, emphasizing that existing state bodies should handle such matters in compliance with national laws.

The core of the federal government's concern lies in upholding national sovereignty and the rule of law. The presence and activities of foreign agents, even in collaboration with local authorities, must strictly adhere to Mexican law, including the National Security Law and the Constitution. Sheinbaum’s emphasis on this point reflects a broader principle of defending Mexico's sovereign rights, a stance that has been a hallmark of her administration's foreign policy approach.

Nosotros no politizamos la relación gubernamental y de los programas que desarrollamos conjuntamente, y menos la seguridad.

— Claudia SheinbaumShe criticizes the politicization of the issue by opposition parties.

Furthermore, Sheinbaum has criticized opposition parties for attempting to turn this incident into a political dispute. She reiterated her administration's commitment to depoliticizing governmental relations and security matters, stressing that the priority must be the safety and security of the Mexican people. The incident in Chihuahua, while tragic, must be handled with legal rigor and respect for national sovereignty, ensuring that such events do not become fodder for partisan conflict but are addressed through proper legal channels.

Entre todos tenemos que garantizar la seguridad del pueblo de México en cualquier entidad en la República, pero eso es muy distinto a lo que pasó en Chihuahua, en donde dos personas extranjeras a partir del accidente del trágico accidente, pues nos enteramos que tienen una colaboración incluso en operaciones en campo de gobierno de Chihuahua y esto pues no está permitido por las leyes y la Constitución y eso es lo que tenemos que defender, que todos los estados de la República, todos los municipios, seamos muy estrictos en el cumplimiento de la soberanía, de la defensa de la soberanía, del respeto a la soberanía y también del cumplimiento de la Constitución y las leyes. Eso es el estado de Derecho

— Claudia SheinbaumShe elaborates on the need to respect national sovereignty and constitutional laws, even in security collaborations.
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Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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