Background on US-Mexico Drug Enforcement Agency Relations
For decades, American television series and films have painted a distorted picture: the United States as the good country waging just battles against “the bad guys,” with FBI and DEA agents portrayed as heroes acting extralegally anywhere in the world. This narrative, for internal propaganda purposes, conceals an essential fact: no sovereign country allows foreign agents to operate freely on its territory.
Historical Context of DEA Operations in Mexico
From 1988 to 2018, the DEA operated in Mexico with near-autonomy, conducting operations, field investigations, and acting in border zones without prior notification. In some cases, DEA agents entered armed as if they had their own jurisdiction. The most serious incident occurred in 1999 in Matamoros, where a DEA operation led to confrontation with Mexican forces unaware of their presence.
Under Felipe Calderón, cooperation deepened, and with Enrique Peña Nieto, relations continued but with greater discretion. Essentially, the DEA enjoyed broad operational margins, acting in Mexico with similar freedom as in the US.
Tension Under AMLO’s Administration
With Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), relations became strained. In 2020, the arrest of former Defense Secretary Salvador Cienfuegos in Los Angeles without prior notification to the Mexican government prompted legal changes severely limiting foreign agent presence. Since then, bilateral cooperation has been marked by distrust.
Constitutional Reforms Under Claudia Sheinbaum
Claudia Sheinbaum, as President, reformed Articles 19 and 40 of the Constitution to prohibit foreign agent actions in Mexico, except with formal authorization and direct national authority supervision. This move effectively closed the DEA’s previous operational loopholes.
The “Proyecto Portero” Controversy
The US DEA’s “Proyecto Portero” initiative, presented as a joint effort against cartels, sparked controversy in Mexico. President Sheinbaum denied any agreement with the DEA, emphasizing Mexico’s sovereignty and independence.
Sheinbaum reiterated that limits on foreign agents remain in place, stressing Mexico’s collaboration without subordination. She also noted that any foreign agent disregarding the Constitution and the National Security Law faces sanctions.
From Fiction to Reality: DEA’s Juridical, Diplomatic, and Institutional Barriers
What once might have been a mere technical disagreement transformed into a diplomatic dispute. The contrast between media fiction and reality is clear: while the DEA can still appear in series as a global force crossing borders at will, it now faces juridical, diplomatic, and institutional barriers.
“Proyecto Portero” is not a bureaucratic misunderstanding but the outcome of accumulated friction and constitutional changes marking a new era. Mexico has drawn a clear line: cooperation is possible, but sovereignty is non-negotiable.