Sheinbaum denies criminal ties after revoking visas for governors

The morning began with political tension. Claudia Sheinbaum, now president of Mexico, was facing one of her first media scandals of international reach: rumors that the United States government was revoking visas for Morena governors due to alleged judicial investigations.

There were no beating around the bush. In her morning press conference, Sheinbaum described the story as a "rumor without evidence," emphasizing that the Attorney General's Office has not received any formal notification from the U.S. Department of Justice . But what seemed like a simple denial turned into a declaration of principles: her government would not protect anyone, but neither would it accept baseless accusations.

The spotlight fell on Marina del Pilar Ávila, governor of Baja California. Her tourist visa was revoked, a fact that, without clear context, fueled suspicions. Sheinbaum was emphatic: "Our support for Marina; she has done a good job. There is nothing in the Attorney General's Office that links her to an investigation."

The statements were directed not only at the public, but also at a narrative that sought to establish the idea of ​​criminal ties between members of the government and criminal networks, a narrative that—according to Sheinbaum—lacks evidence and responds to media and political interests.

When told that the author of the report was Tim Golden, Sheinbaum didn't hide her skepticism. She recalled that Golden was the same journalist who linked then-candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador to drug trafficking in 2006, also without conclusive evidence. "He has a history of providing information without sources," she said.

The president made it clear that the credibility of the messenger is as important as the message itself , especially when it comes to accusations that could damage the country's political stability and the image of her administration.

Sheinbaum also explained the legal procedure if the United States has information about Mexican officials: the Department of Justice must inform the Attorney General's Office (FGR) , and based on that communication, investigations can be initiated and, if appropriate, arrest warrants can be requested. None of that has happened so far.

This clarification is not insignificant. It serves to dispel the myth that decisions like revoking a visa automatically equate to guilt. "We're not going to cover up for anyone, but we're not going to act on gossip either," he stated.

The president went further, accusing a possible campaign by national and international media outlets with "identical" editorials that, according to her, appear to be acting along common lines. "It seems they were given a line. All the same," she stated, questioning the synchronicity with which the issue was addressed by different journalistic platforms.

For Sheinbaum, this phenomenon is not a coincidence , but rather a strategy to delegitimize the Morena government in a context where the opposition is seeking to regain political ground.

When asked specifically about the possibility of initiating a recall process against Marina del Pilar for the revocation of her visa, Sheinbaum was categorical: “She's doing her job. The people love her. Whoever disagrees, speak out. We are a free country.”

With this statement, the president reaffirmed her vision of a democratic government, where dissent is respected but decisions must be based on facts, not conjecture.

The narrative that seeks to link Morena governors to criminal networks or acts of corruption requires evidence, not spectacular headlines , Sheinbaum reiterated. The withdrawal of a visa, without an official explanation and without an ongoing judicial proceeding, is not enough to disqualify an official elected by the people.

In a context of high political sensitivity, where Mexico-United States relations are subject to multiple filters, the president's call is for prudence, legality, and respect for the truth . And in this regard, the president made it clear that her administration will not be held hostage by rumors.