Mexico vs. SpaceX: Government investigates Elon Musk for pollution

The Mexican government has targeted one of the world's most powerful companies. President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the start of a formal investigation into environmental pollution in Tamaulipas, allegedly caused by rocket debris from SpaceX, Elon Musk's company.

Mexico City. – In a move that heightens tensions between Mexico and U.S. tech giants, President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration has launched a legal and diplomatic offensive against SpaceX. The federal government is conducting a "general review" to determine whether Elon Musk's company has violated international laws following the fall of rocket debris on Mexican territory.

The investigation was triggered after a Starship rocket exploded on June 18 during a test at SpaceX's Starbase facility in South Texas, near the Mexican border. Following the incident, pieces of metal, plastic, and other rocket components were reportedly found in the state of Tamaulipas.

"There's a general review underway to determine which international laws are being violated... because there is contamination," President Sheinbaum declared at her press conference, making it clear that the government could take legal action.

This is not an isolated incident. Mexican authorities had already confirmed the presence of debris on a beach in Tamaulipas following another failed Starship launch on May 27.

Concern has escalated to the state level. Tamaulipas Governor Américo Villarreal has requested a study to verify whether SpaceX complies with regulations regarding the location of such facilities near population centers.

Beyond space debris, what's at stake is a principle of national sovereignty. The conflict raises a fundamental question: can a foreign private company physically impact Mexican territory without consequences? The Sheinbaum administration's response is a resounding no, and it seeks to set a legal precedent.

SpaceX's stance has added fuel to the fire. In a post on social media platform X, the company claimed that its attempts to recover the debris—which it referred to as "SpaceX property"—were hampered by "unauthorized parties trespassing on private property" in Mexico. This statement was seen as an affront to Mexican jurisdiction.

Furthermore, the environmental impact is a tangible concern. The NGO Conibio Global has collected nearly 2 tons of materials and has warned that the waste, which includes tanks containing phosphorus, could damage sensitive ecosystems such as Bagdad Beach, a key nesting site for the Kemp's ridley sea turtle, a critically endangered species.

"We are reviewing everything related to the launching of rockets very close to our border," President Sheinbaum stated, framing the problem as a matter of national security and international respect.

By confronting a global and often controversial figure like Elon Musk, the Sheinbaum administration projects an image of firmness in defending national interests. This strategy, combined with the response to U.S. banking sanctions, seeks to consolidate a brand of government that is unafraid to confront the powers that be in its northern neighbor, gaining political capital both domestically and internationally.