The Trump administration is pushing Mexico to open criminal investigations into elected officials suspected of ties to drug cartels and to extradite any who face charges in the United States, according to a 11-12 June Reuters report that cited four people familiar with the matter. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised the demand at least three times this year, warning that Washington could impose further tariffs unless President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government acts. Sources told Reuters that five current Morena officials and a former senator were discussed, including Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Avila, whose office rejected the allegations. Mexico’s Foreign Ministry called the account “absolutely false,” and on 28 July Sheinbaum personally denied receiving any request from President Donald Trump or U.S. agencies to pursue Mexican politicians. She noted that Mexico had already extradited 29 cartel defendants in February and said bilateral talks with Washington focus on migration, security and trade, not on handing over political figures. The dispute adds to tensions already strained by the United States’ sweeping tariffs and sanctions on Mexican goods. While Washington wants a tougher stance on narco-corruption, Mexico insists it will not allow foreign pressure to shape domestic investigations, leaving uncertainty over whether the U.S. threats will translate into concrete legal action or further economic measures.