Lawyers Accuse Mexico Of Illegally Sending Cartel Members To U.S.

Lawyers and family members accused Mexico's government of breaking Mexican law by sending 37 detained cartel figures to the United States last week and a total of 92 since last February without extradition orders, they said.

The Sheinbaum administration has defended the transfers as legal measures taken in the name of national security and said many of the transferred suspects were wanted in the United States, officials said.

Yarey Sánchez Lagunas, defense lawyer for Itiel Palacios García and Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuño, said in a press conference that his clients were denied due process when they were sent without extradition orders.

Since last February Mexico has transferred 92 cartel suspects in three separate flights, including 37 in the most recent handover, records show and U.S. officials said many had outstanding U.S. extradition requests.

Vanesa Guzmán filed a criminal complaint accusing Mexican Security Minister Omar García Harfuch and other officials of "treason" with Mexico's Attorney General's Office, and lawyers said detainees lack legal recourse in Mexico now that they are in U.S. custody.