Francisco Javier García Cabeza de Vaca, former Tamaulipas governor, formally renounced his US nationality in 2001 to opt for Mexican citizenship, according to a recently revealed document. Morena deputy Sergio Gutiérrez Luna presented the affidavit in which Cabeza de Vaca declares his renunciation of any foreign protection. This revelation comes amid accusations that the ex-governor, considered a fugitive, sought a plurinominal deputy position in 2024.
Francisco Javier García Cabeza de Vaca, born on September 17, 1967, in McAllen, Texas, to Mexican parents, processed a Mexican Nationality Certificate by Birth with the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs in 2001. In that document, dated July 23, 2001, he expressly renounced 'all submission, obedience, and fidelity' to any foreign state, particularly the United States, and to the protection of its laws or authorities, in accordance with Article 30 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States and the Nationality Law.
Morena deputy Sergio Gutiérrez Luna disclosed this affidavit on February 18, 2025, explaining that Cabeza de Vaca submitted it to the National Electoral Institute (INE) in 2024 when attempting to assume a federal plurinominal seat for the PAN. 'Here is the document I exhibited this morning regarding the spontaneous statement made by Cabeza de Vaca, which he presented to the INE in 2024, where he declares his renunciation to the Government of the United States, foreign laws, and any treaty or convention that protects foreigners,' Gutiérrez Luna stated.
This revelation occurs amid accusations against Cabeza de Vaca, who is outside Mexico and considered a fugitive by Mexican authorities. He faces arrest warrants issued in October 2022 and February 2024 for alleged crimes of organized crime, operations with illicit proceeds, and tax fraud. Last week, he lost an amparo aimed at halting these orders, issued by judges in the State of Mexico. Gutiérrez Luna accused the ex-governor of operating a judicial protection scheme coordinated by lawyers such as Juan Ramón Collado, Javier Coello Trejo, and Juan Pablo Coello Suárez, to whom he allegedly paid over 15 million pesos.
The Mexican Government recently requested his detention from the United States, but no actions have been reported. Cabeza de Vaca has claimed judicial protection and stated that his legal team will appeal the resolution to a higher court. Morena had asked the INE to deny his registration in 2024 for being a fugitive and for alleged drug trafficking ties.
