Double storm for Sheinbaum: Gertz to the IACHR and the crisis in LA with the US

The start of Sheinbaum 's term is marked by a complaint against Gertz at the IACHR and tensions with the US over protests in Los Angeles . Discover how these challenges are impacting her administration.

The start of Claudia Sheinbaum's administration is being shaken by two critical fronts: the international complaint against Attorney General Gertz Manero and the escalating tensions with the United States stemming from the immigration protests in Los Angeles.

Barely beginning her term, President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration faces a complex outlook, with significant challenges both in the arena of domestic justice and in the delicate bilateral relationship with the United States. The formal filing of a complaint against Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) by Alejandra Cuevas, and the growing friction with Washington following the massive anti-immigrant protests in Los Angeles, constitute an early "test of the day" for the new government.

Alejandra Cuevas's decision to take her case against prosecutor Gertz Manero to the IACHR, accusing him of persecution and unjust imprisonment, represents a considerable blow to the image of the Mexican justice system. (See details in Última Hora México's article.) This move comes despite the fact that the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) had already ordered Cuevas's release, suggesting a deep distrust in the national system's ability to offer comprehensive reparations or guarantee non-repetition while the prosecutor, appointed during the previous administration but whose continuation could be an issue for Sheinbaum, remains in office.

The previous president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, had publicly expressed his support for Gertz Manero. This legacy could put considerable pressure on Sheinbaum's administration, which will need to define a clear position and, possibly, take concrete action if it seeks to distance itself from the controversies surrounding the prosecutor and reaffirm a genuine commitment to the rule of law.

Meanwhile, the situation in Los Angeles, California, has become a flashpoint. The massive protests against immigration raids ordered by the Donald Trump administration, which have included the deployment of Marines and the National Guard, have had a strong presence among the Mexican diaspora. The visible presence of Mexican flags at these demonstrations has been used by some sectors in the United States to fuel a narrative of a "foreign invasion."

In this heated atmosphere, direct accusations have emerged against President Sheinbaum. Republican figures such as South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem have accused her of "encouraging" the protests in Los Angeles, claims that Sheinbaum has categorically rejected, calling them "absolutely false." Meanwhile, Donald Trump has threatened to impose more tariffs on Mexico if Sheinbaum's administration does not act against Morena politicians allegedly linked to drug trafficking.

It's absolutely false. – Claudia Sheinbaum, on accusations of inciting protests in Los Angeles.

The Mexican government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has denied receiving pressure from the United States to investigate politicians for ties to cartels. In a meeting described as "courtesy," Sheinbaum expressed her disagreement with the immigration raids to U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar. Meanwhile, pro-government figures such as Gerardo Fernández Noroña have come to the president's defense, attacking the Mexican opposition for, he claims, echoing attacks originating in the United States. The situation became more serious with the federal charge against a Mexican citizen for attempted murder, after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at police officers during the riots in Los Angeles.

These two crisis fronts force the Sheinbaum administration to walk a tightrope. Internally, the Gertz-IACHR case tests its political will to confront corruption and impunity, even if it involves powerful figures inherited from the United States. Externally, the tension with the United States requires skillful diplomacy that defends the rights of its citizens and national sovereignty without escalating the conflict, especially in the face of the threat of trade retaliation.

The interconnectedness of Mexican domestic politics with U.S. dynamics is evident. Migration and security are recurrently politicized issues on both sides of the border, susceptible to being exploited for electoral purposes or to justify political agendas. How President Sheinbaum navigates these initial storms could define the early perception of her leadership and her ability to manage complex crises that have profound implications for Mexico's governance, justice, and international relations.