Mexico says US agents killed in crash weren't permitted to operate there

Two US agents died in a car crash in northern Mexico while returning from an operation targeting illegal drug labs in Chihuahua. The Mexican government confirmed that the agents, reportedly affiliated with the CIA, were not authorized to conduct operations on Mexican soil and lacked formal accreditation. The crash also claimed the lives of two members of the Chihuahua State Investigation Agency. Mexican authorities emphasized that federal officials had not been informed of the US agents’ presence or activities. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between Mexico and the United States over counter-narcotics efforts. Mexican officials, including Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, have maintained that foreign agents must receive prior authorization to operate within the country, underscoring the importance of national sovereignty. Despite pressure from the Trump administration to intensify crackdowns on drug trafficking, Mexico has resisted US-led operations on its territory, preferring intelligence sharing and training collaborations instead. Mexican immigration records showed that one agent entered as a visitor and the other held a diplomatic passport, but neither had official approval for operational roles. Chihuahua State Attorney General César Jáuregui described the US agents as “instructor officers” involved in training activities as part of routine cooperation with US authorities. However, Sheinbaum reiterated that no joint ground or air operations were authorized, reflecting Mexico’s cautious stance on foreign involvement in its security matters. This event follows previous revelations of covert CIA operations in Mexico aimed at dismantling drug cartels, which have been conducted with varying degrees of Mexican government approval. While Mexico continues to combat drug trafficking aggressively, it remains wary of allowing direct US operational presence, balancing cooperation with sovereignty concerns amid complex bilateral relations on security and law enforcement.