Behind the Border Deal: Why El Chapo’s Family Was Allowed into the U.S. Under Trump’s Watch

Category: Deep Dives | Sub-Category: Behind the Headlines

Introduction: A Cartel Family’s Surprising U.S. Entry

On May 13, 2025, Mexico’s Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch dropped a bombshell: 17 family members of Sinaloa Cartel leaders, including relatives of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, crossed into the United States last week as part of a secretive deal with the Trump administration. Video footage showing these relatives, suitcases in hand, walking across the Tijuana-San Diego border to meet U.S. agents has sparked intense debate. The deal, reportedly tied to plea negotiations with El Chapo’s son Ovidio Guzmán López, raises critical questions about U.S. anti-cartel strategies, immigration policies, and diplomatic relations with Mexico. In this deep dive, we peel back the layers of this clandestine operation to uncover what’s really at stake.

The Deal: A Strategic Bargain with a Cartel Heir?

Ovidio Guzmán López, known as “El Ratón,” is one of El Chapo’s four sons leading the “Los Chapitos” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Extradited to the U.S. in September 2023 to face drug trafficking charges, Ovidio is set to plead guilty on July 9, 2025, in a Chicago federal court. According to García Harfuch, the entry of 17 family members—reportedly including El Chapo’s ex-wife, Grisselda López Pérez, and her daughter—is linked to these plea negotiations. Speaking on Radio Fórmula, García Harfuch noted, “It is evident that his family is going to the U.S. because of a negotiation or an offer that the Department of Justice is giving him.”

While specifics remain undisclosed, analysts suggest Ovidio may be offering intelligence on rival cartels or internal Sinaloa factions in exchange for leniency or protection for his family. The group crossed the border with $70,000 in cash, suggesting a coordinated operation rather than a desperate flight. This move aligns with a broader U.S. strategy to exploit divisions within the cartel, which has been rocked by violence since the arrests of Ovidio and his brother Joaquín Guzmán López, alongside the capture of co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in July 2024.

Who Are the Family Members?

The 17 individuals include close relatives of the Guzmán family, with Grisselda López Pérez, El Chapo’s former wife and mother of Ovidio and Joaquín, among the most prominent. None were wanted by Mexican authorities, indicating their crossing wasn’t an escape from prosecution but a calculated relocation. Their current status in the U.S.—whether in protective custody or under investigation—remains unclear. The Sinaloa Cartel’s ongoing internal war, which has claimed over 1,200 lives and left 1,400 missing in Sinaloa state since 2024, suggests these family members may have sought safety from retaliatory violence.

The Timing: Narcoterrorism Charges and Political Optics

The announcement of the family’s entry coincided with the U.S. Attorney General’s Office unveiling “narcoterrorism” charges against Sinaloa Cartel leaders on May 13, 2025—the first such charges since the Trump administration labeled the cartel a foreign terrorist organization. U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon declared, “You are no longer the hunters, you are the hunted,” signaling an aggressive crackdown. Yet, the decision to allow cartel relatives into the U.S. seems at odds with this hardline stance, especially given Trump’s vocal anti-immigration rhetoric.

The move has drawn sharp criticism on platforms like X, where users question the contradiction: “Why can El Chapo’s family waltz in, but regular immigrants get turned away?” one post read. Others speculate it’s a pragmatic trade-off, with one user noting, “This is a calculated move—Ovidio’s intel could take down bigger players.” The deal’s secrecy, without prior notification to Mexican authorities, has also strained U.S.-Mexico relations, with President Claudia Sheinbaum expressing surprise and calling for transparency.

The Sinaloa Cartel’s Power Struggle

To understand the deal’s significance, we must examine the Sinaloa Cartel’s current state. Once led by El Chapo and El Mayo, the cartel has fractured since El Chapo’s 2017 extradition and 2019 life sentence. The Chapitos, including Ovidio and Joaquín, control one faction, while El Mayo’s loyalists form another. The July 2024 arrest of El Mayo, allegedly orchestrated by Joaquín in a betrayal that saw him kidnapped and handed to U.S. authorities, deepened the rift. The resulting violence has turned Sinaloa state into a battleground, with beheadings, mass graves, and forced displacements reported.

This deal may exploit these divisions. By securing Ovidio’s cooperation, the U.S. could gain insights into the cartel’s operations, fentanyl trafficking networks, or rival groups like the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. However, it risks legitimizing one faction over another, potentially prolonging the conflict.

Mexico’s Reaction: A Diplomatic Snub?

Mexican officials were blindsided by the operation, learning of it only after independent journalist Luis Chaparro broke the story. President Sheinbaum’s terse response—“there is no more information”—underscores Mexico’s frustration. This isn’t the first time the U.S. has acted unilaterally; the 2024 El Mayo incident similarly caught Mexico off guard, with officials labeling it a U.S.-orchestrated kidnapping. The lack of coordination could hinder future extraditions or joint anti-cartel efforts, especially as Mexico grapples with its own security crisis.

Security experts suggest the family’s relocation may protect them from cartel violence, but it raises questions about their status in the U.S. Are they witnesses, informants, or simply beneficiaries of a deal? Without clarity, Mexico’s trust in U.S. intentions may erode further.

The Broader Implications

The Sinaloa Cartel’s role in the U.S. opioid crisis, particularly through fentanyl trafficking, makes this deal a high-stakes gamble. The 2023 indictment against the Chapitos detailed their brutal tactics, from torture to feeding victims to tigers, underscoring the urgency of dismantling their network. If Ovidio’s cooperation yields actionable intelligence, it could disrupt drug flows and save lives. However, the optics of granting entry to cartel relatives while enforcing strict immigration policies for others fuel accusations of hypocrisy.

Moreover, designating cartels as terrorist organizations risks oversimplifying a complex issue. Cartels operate as businesses, not ideological groups, and such labels may complicate negotiations or alienate Mexico. The deal also highlights the ethical gray zone of negotiating with criminals to achieve strategic goals, a tactic that may yield short-term gains but long-term consequences.

What’s Next?

As Ovidio’s plea hearing approaches, the U.S. may reveal more about the deal’s terms. Will his cooperation lead to significant arrests or merely cosmetic victories? The family’s presence in the U.S., whether in witness protection or under scrutiny, will likely remain shrouded in secrecy. Meanwhile, the Sinaloa Cartel’s internal war shows no signs of abating, and Mexico’s demand for answers could force the U.S. to clarify its strategy.

Conclusion: A Deal That Raises More Questions Than Answers

The decision to allow El Chapo’s family into the U.S. under a covert Trump administration deal is a bold, controversial move. It reflects the complex interplay of law enforcement, diplomacy, and politics in the fight against cartels. While it may yield critical intelligence, it risks alienating allies and fueling public distrust. As the world watches this saga unfold, one thing is clear: the border crossing of 17 cartel relatives is more than a headline—it’s a window into the murky world of anti-cartel warfare.

Thought-Provoking Questions:

1. Does the U.S. risk undermining its anti-cartel efforts by negotiating deals that grant safe passage to cartel family members?

2. How should the U.S. balance transparency with Mexico against the need for secrecy in sensitive operations like this?

3. Is the designation of cartels as terrorist organizations an effective strategy, or does it oversimplify the challenge of combating organized crime?

4. What are the ethical implications of prioritizing cartel relatives for entry into the U.S. over other vulnerable immigrants?