In response to the US indictment of Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and nine officials for Sinaloa Cartel ties (see prior coverage), Movimiento Ciudadano filed a request with Mexico's Congress to remove their immunity, allowing investigations without constitutional protection. MC leader Jorge Álvarez Máynez demanded they face US accusations head-on amid a bilateral relations crisis.
Building on the April 29 US charges against Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, Senator Enrique Inzunza, Culiacán Mayor Juan de Dios Gámez Villamil, and seven other officials for conspiring with the Sinaloa Cartel's Los Chapitos faction on drug and machine gun trafficking since 2021 (see prior coverage: 'US charges Sinaloa governor and nine officials with cartel ties'), Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) submitted a request to Mexico's Congress to strip their immunity.
MC national leader Jorge Álvarez Máynez declared: “Lo mínimo que pueden hacer los funcionarios de Sinaloa que han sido formalmente acusados por las autoridades norteamericanas es enfrentar este proceso sin fuero” (The minimum Sinaloa officials formally accused by US authorities can do is face this process without immunity).
MC highlighted the accusations' damage to Mexico-US ties. Mexico's Attorney General's Office (FGR) had previously noted insufficient evidence in the extradition request (see prior coverage). Morena Senator Gerardo Fernández Noroña hit back on social media: “Quien debe pedir el desafuero es la FGR, en este caso. Ustedes no pintan de nada con su oportunismo” (The FGR should request immunity removal. You have no role with your opportunism).
The process requires Congress to declare proceedings before penal actions can advance.
