American Detainees in Mexico [View all]

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Mexican inmates. (Photo: Reuters)


There are less than 100 Americans wrongfully detained overseas in Russia, China, and Venezuela, and considered political prisoners. AMCITs are also legitimately convicted and imprisoned overseas for crimes such as drug trafficking or violent crime. The State Dept website was unable to provide these numbers.

During Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum's daily press briefing on Thursday, she confirmed a journalist's inquiry about American detainees in Mexico with a staggering number.


President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo

President Sheinbaum stated that over the past six years, 2,600 American citizens were arrested in Mexico for offenses related to organized crime — including the smuggling of drugs and firearms — since Dec 2018. She added that the US government asked for “many” of them to be extradited to face charges in the US.

“In the United States, there is also organized crime, and there are US citizens who come to Mexico … to carry out these illicit activities. Why do we say there is organized crime in the US? Because if there wasn’t, who would distribute fentanyl in US cities?” Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum reiterated that Mexico is willing to collaborate with the US government on security issues. However, she stressed that Washington also has to “do its work” to “avoid the trafficking of drugs in their country.”

In 2023, Mexico suffered 31,062 homicides. There is only one gun shop in the entire country of Mexico which is located on a military base near the capital. Between 200,000 and 750,000 weapons manufactured by US gunmakers are smuggled across the border into Mexico every year, many of which are found at crime scenes. The Mexicans call this the 'Iron River.' American drug use and weapons manufacturing are driving up deaths in the US and Mexico and President Sheinbaum is considering lawsuits against US gunmakers.



Sources:

https://www.gob.mx/presidencia/en#14885

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98q8y1gl4xo

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/14/mexico-gunmakers-lawsuit-terror

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Americans_wrongfully_imprisoned_or_detained_abroad