Mexico Threatens to Escalate Lawsuit Against US Gunmakers with Terror Charges

• Feb 17, 2025

Claudia Sheinbaum warns of reciprocal legal action if Washington designates Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations

Mexico’s president has issued a strong warning to U.S. gunmakers, signaling that they could face new legal action as accomplices to organized crime if the U.S. classifies Mexican cartels as terrorist groups.

Under increasing pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump to tackle illegal drug trafficking, Mexico is demanding that the United States address the flow of firearms into the country. Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico, stated that if the U.S. proceeds with designating Mexican cartels as terrorist groups, her government would expand its lawsuit against U.S. gun manufacturers.

Sheinbaum explained that the new charge would potentially hold gunmakers responsible for complicity with criminal organizations. “Our lawyers are reviewing the situation, and they could be considered accomplices,” she said during a press briefing.

Sheinbaum pointed out that the U.S. Justice Department has acknowledged that 74% of the firearms used by Mexican criminal groups originate from the United States.

Recent reports, including one from The New York Times, reveal that the U.S. State Department is preparing to label criminal organizations from several Latin American countries—including Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, and Venezuela—as “terrorist organizations.” This would include the two most prominent drug cartels in Mexico, the Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa cartels.

On January 20, former President Trump signed an executive order that began the process for designating these cartels as national security threats, beyond the scope of traditional organized crime.

Mexico has long complained that between 200,000 and 750,000 weapons are smuggled into the country each year from the U.S., many of which are found at crime scenes. The Mexican government argues that these firearms fuel the ongoing violence and instability within its borders.

In response to the situation, Mexico filed a $10 billion lawsuit against six U.S. gun manufacturers, seeking to hold them accountable for the consequences of arms trafficking. However, a U.S. judge dismissed the case due to a lack of jurisdiction. Despite this, Mexico indicated that it would continue its legal action against two specific manufacturers, Smith and Wesson and Interstate Arms.

Additionally, a separate lawsuit in Arizona seeks penalties against gun dealers who sell firearms used in crimes linked to drug trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border. In Mexico, the government tightly controls firearm sales, making it nearly impossible for civilians to obtain legal weapons.

The escalating violence in Mexico, driven by drug trafficking and organized crime, has claimed the lives of approximately 480,000 people since 2006, when the government began deploying the military to combat drug cartels.

Earlier this month, Sheinbaum firmly rejected U.S. accusations that her government is allied with drug cartels. "We categorically reject the slander from the White House regarding alleged alliances with criminal organizations," she wrote on social media. She further criticized the U.S., stating, “If such alliances exist, they are in the U.S. gun shops that sell high-powered weapons to these criminal groups.”

Tensions between the neighboring countries have heightened recently, especially after the White House threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods over illegal immigration and drug smuggling. However, these tariffs were temporarily suspended for 30 days.

The situation remains fluid as both nations navigate the complex issue of firearms trafficking and drug violence.