Seventeen family members of a powerful drug cartel group quietly entered the United States last week. This move was not random or accidental. During the Trump administration, it was a part of an agreement between the government and a leading cartel figure.
Secret Deal Leads to Cartel Families Crossing the Border
The news was confirmed by Mexico’s security chief during a radio interview. These family members are related to a major drug leader who was arrested and sent to the U.S. in 2023. This man was once part of a group that took over the Sinaloa Cartel after the original leader was captured and jailed.
A video surfaced showing the family members carrying suitcases as they walked across the border at Tijuana. On the other side, U.S. agents were seen waiting for them. According to reports, this crossing was arranged in exchange for help or information from the jailed cartel figure.
It is believed that this man has been sharing details about other criminal organizations. This might be a sign that he has agreed to work with U.S. officials. In return, his family may have been allowed to enter the U.S. for safety or other reasons.
The Mexican security official stated clearly that these individuals are not wanted for any crimes in Mexico. He also explained that this crossing was clearly part of a special arrangement. The jailed cartel figure had earlier started talks with U.S. officials, which could be why his family received this treatment.
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U.S. Charges Cartel Leaders with Narcoterrorism
On the same day this news broke, the U.S. Attorney General’s Office made another big announcement. For the first time in years, U.S. prosecutors have charged several top cartel leaders with “narcoterrorism.”
This serious charge means the U.S. sees some cartel actions as similar to those of terrorist groups. The announcement mentioned that cartels are now being treated like foreign terrorist organizations. This is a major step in how these groups are being handled by law enforcement.
Officials made strong statements directly addressing cartel members. They said that these groups would no longer feel safe and that they would be hunted down. A top U.S. attorney said that cartel leaders would be betrayed by their own people, chased by enemies, and would eventually be brought to court.
The warning also mentioned that the Sinaloa Cartel is being watched very closely. Prosecutors made it apparent that the U.S. government is serious about dismantling these criminal networks, even though they did not remark on the family’s entry video.
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Mexican Officials Left in the Dark
The Mexican security official who confirmed the crossing said something important. He pointed out that the U.S. government has not yet shared information about this deal with Mexican prosecutors.
According to him, the family’s safe entry into the U.S. shows that a special agreement must have been made. He noted that this kind of deal usually happens when someone is helping law enforcement in exchange for protection.
He emphasized that the family members were not under investigation in Mexico. That means there was no legal reason to stop them from leaving the country. However, Mexican officials still expect the U.S. government to explain why the crossing happened and what kind of deal was made.
This event has raised questions about how closely the two governments are working together. If one side is making secret deals, it could cause trust issues between the two countries. Still, no official statements from the U.S. side have explained the full details.
The only solid confirmation came from the Mexican side, where it was made clear that the crossing was part of a negotiation involving the jailed cartel figure. That person had started talks with U.S. authorities months earlier, which may have led to this special arrangement.
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For now, the story remains centered on the fact that 17 family members from one of the world’s most feared drug cartels were allowed to walk into the U.S. in full view of border agents. They were not stopped. They were not arrested. They were received as part of a planned move, likely in return for cooperation from a key insider now sitting in a U.S. jail.
This development marks a rare and secretive moment where powerful criminal ties and international law enforcement efforts appear to have collided behind closed doors.