Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday firmly rejected allegations that Mexican consulates in the United States are interfering in local politics, calling such claims "completely false" and insisting that consular operations strictly follow international diplomatic norms. Her denial comes amid reports that the US State Department is weighing an investigation into Mexican consulates — and potentially closing some of them.

What Sheinbaum Said

Speaking at her daily press conference in Mexico City, Sheinbaum drew a direct parallel with US diplomatic missions abroad. "This idea that Mexican consulates are engaging in politics in the United States is completely false," she said, adding that — just as the US consulate in Mexico or those of other nations do — Mexican consulates exist solely to "protect their citizens."

She further noted that Mexico's government has received no official notification of any review or possible closure of its consular network. Mexico operates more than 50 consulates across the United States, which provide assistance and protection to Mexican nationals in accordance with international law and standard diplomatic practice. "They are very respectful of US policy," Sheinbaum said.

Background: CIA Officers' Deaths and State Department Scrutiny

The scrutiny reportedly follows a CBS News broadcast revealing that the US State Department is considering investigating Mexican consulates, and possibly shuttering some, in the wake of the deaths of two American CIA officers during a counter-narcotics operation in northern Mexico last month. The episode has significantly strained bilateral relations, adding another pressure point to an already fraught diplomatic relationship.

This comes amid a broader pattern of escalating tensions: the US administration's aggressive immigration crackdown — including raids targeting undocumented migrants — has simultaneously pushed the Mexican government to expand and strengthen its consular services for nationals living in the US.

Sovereignty Rhetoric and the Cinco de Mayo Address

Sheinbaum's remarks also carry a pointed political undertone. On 5 May, she marked the Cinco de Mayo holiday — the 164th anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, when Mexican forces repelled a larger invading French army — by declaring that no foreign power should dictate Mexico's course. Speaking in the central state of Puebla, she warned that political opponents seeking foreign backing are "destined for defeat."

"Those who seek foreign support, as they lack the people's support, are destined for defeat... Those who think the president is bowing down: they are destined for defeat," she said.

Extradition Demands Add to the Pressure

The diplomatic friction deepened further after the US government formally requested the extradition of 10 Mexican citizens, among them the governor of Sinaloa state in northwest Mexico, Ruben Rocha Moya, on alleged charges linked to arms and drug trafficking. The extradition demand, coming in quick succession with the consulate controversy, signals a hardening posture from Washington toward Mexico City on security and law-enforcement cooperation.

How Mexico responds to the extradition request — and whether the US follows through on any consulate review — will be closely watched as a barometer of the two countries' increasingly strained relationship.