State Department Reviews All Mexican Consulates After Indictments of Senior Mexican Officials and Deaths of U.S. Embassy Staff

U.S. official said. The review, reported on Thursday, could lead Secretary of State Marco Rubio to consider ordering the closure of some consular posts.

U.S. states and maintains the largest foreign consular network in the United States. S.

Foreign policy with the Trump administration's priorities. The action follows a series of security disputes between the two countries. S. Embassy employees who were CIA operatives and two Mexican law enforcement officials died in a car crash during a drug raid in a remote area of the northern state of Chihuahua last month.

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson announced the deaths of two embassy staff members in a post on X on April 19. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum requested an explanation from the Trump administration after saying her government was unaware of the CIA’s involvement in the mission.

Sheinbaum is seeking answers from the northern state of Chihuahua and is considering sanctioning the regional government. The Department of Justice unsealed an indictment last week against 10 current and former Mexican officials related to drug trafficking. S.

In return for political support and bribes. S. announced drug trafficking and weapons charges against top Mexican political figures and issued multiple extradition requests, including one for Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya.

U.S. Justice Department regarding the allegations against Rocha and other senior officials. S.

Before Mexico’s attorney general investigates the matter and grants the DOJ’s request to extradite the indicted officials. Rubén Rocha Moya denied the accusations, calling them false, and said he would temporarily leave office to focus on his defense and cooperate with Mexican authorities. S.

Embassy in Mexico said combating corruption and transnational organized crime remains a shared priority for both governments. S. " The CIA declined to comment.

U.S. consulate closures have usually reflected rising tensions with rival countries rather than routine diplomatic changes. In 2020 the Trump administration ordered China's consulate in Houston to close.

U.S. ordered Russia to close its consulate in San Francisco along with diplomatic facilities in Washington and New York.