Peru's interim president José Jerí stated he would not hesitate to enter Mexico's embassy in Lima to arrest former minister Betssy Chávez, who was granted political asylum by Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum replied that such an action would violate international laws and sovereignty. Peru's prime minister clarified that entering the diplomatic premises is not possible.
José Jerí, 39 years old and born on November 13, 1986, in Jesús María, Lima, assumed Peru's presidency after Dina Boluarte's destitution. He entered Congress in 2021 as a substitute for Martín Vizcarra with 11,600 votes and became Legislative president on July 26, 2025. His political career started in 2013 with the Somos Perú party, though he lost Lima municipal elections.
Former Prime Minister Betssy Chávez sought refuge in Mexico's embassy in Lima after being accused of involvement in ex-President Pedro Castillo's 2022 coup attempt. Mexico granted her political asylum, sparking disagreement with Peru, which views the case as a common crime. Jerí voiced his frustration in an El Comercio interview: “Si se tiene que ingresar a la Embajada mexicana, se hará” (If it is necessary to enter the Mexican Embassy, it will be done). He added: “No vamos a pronunciarnos todavía, porque consideramos que se ha distorsionado un principio... hay compromisos internacionales que existen y cumpliremos en su momento” (We will not pronounce yet, because we consider that a principle has been distorted... there are international commitments that exist and we will fulfill them in due time).
In response to Colombia's threats to withdraw its embassy and Sheinbaum's criticisms, Jerí said: “no le tiembla la mano” (his hand does not tremble) and “a palabras necias, oídos sordos” (to foolish words, deaf ears). Sheinbaum, in her November 24, 2025, morning conference, warned: “El asunto es que si se comete una irregularidad internacional sería una violación a la soberanía. Podemos tener diferencias, pero siempre en el marco de la ley internacional” (The matter is that if an international irregularity is committed, it would be a violation of sovereignty. We can have differences, but always within the framework of international law). She compared it to Ecuador's raid on Mexico's embassy to capture Jorge Glas.
Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez reaffirmed that “no es posible” (it is not possible) to enter the embassy, as it breaches technical and diplomatic norms. Jerí reflects the sentiment of many Peruvians who reject the asylum, per Álvarez: “No es posible que una persona que está siendo investigada por un delito común... esté asilada en una embajada” (It is not possible for a person investigated for a common crime... to be asiled in an embassy). This diplomatic tension arises amid Jerí's scandals, including a dismissed sexual abuse accusation and social media conduct criticisms, but he has not resigned despite protests that included a demonstrator's death in October 2025.