Rubio’s praise for Mexico’s cooperation on crime draws scrutiny over cartel ties

An opinion column published on Fox News this week quotes U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio praising the Mexican government for its cooperation in fighting crime, describing it as unparalleled among U.S. partners. The column places the remarks in the context of a heated border security debate and concerns about migrants who cross into the United States, including reports cited by opponents that hundreds of thousands of children have disappeared after crossing the border. It frames Rubio’s remarks as part of a broader argument about how Washington should engage with Mexico while pursuing tougher border enforcement and the extradition of cartel leaders.

According to the op-ed, the comments were presented as coming from Mexico City, with the country’s political elite signaling support. The piece argues that such displays matter because they could indicate a shift in the bilateral security posture, even as specialists note a long and complicated history between the two governments.

Historically, the U.S.–Mexico security relationship was close under earlier Mexican administrations but cooled under the Peña Nieto era and then under López Obrador. The op-ed contends that corruption and cartel influence have long been embedded in Mexican politics, and it notes that while President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration has moved to project a tougher posture—such as border controls and increased extraditions—those steps do not fully tackle what the author describes as a state–cartel alliance that remains central to power in parts of Mexico.

Treviño lays out three possibilities about the significance of Rubio’s praise: it could be a bid to flatter Mexico in hopes of securing better cooperation; it could reflect a level of coordination that the United States deems sufficient for now; or there could be more happening behind the scenes that is not yet visible. He argues that the United States should demand verifiable commitments and require public acknowledgment from Mexico that cartels do not enjoy sanctuary in state institutions.

Mexico’s governance under Sheinbaum—often described as pursuing sovereignty while confronting cartel influence—has yielded some hard actions, but observers warn that the underlying state–cartel nexus remains a core challenge. The column suggests that without addressing those ties at high levels, broader cooperation could remain fragile and reversible.

The author, Joshua S. Treviño, is identified as the chief transformation officer at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and a senior fellow for the Western Hemisphere Initiative at the America First Policy Institute.

U.S. policymakers continue to press for stronger border controls and more robust extradition arrangements, while migration and national-security considerations keep reshaping U.S. political discourse.