Reports that relatives of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán surrendered at the San Ysidro border crossing have raised new questions about cartel cooperation, U.S. prosecutions, and political fallout in Mexico. The case also has direct relevance for California as a key border gateway.
It has all been a surgical operation. One by one, the powerful Sinaloa Cartel—specifically the faction led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán—fell into the hands of the authorities. Faced with looming life sentences, the *capos*—those fearsome thugs who once terrorized the unsuspecting—began, one by one, to seek reduced sentences, plea bargains, and clemency in exchange for a deal that might, someday, allow them to see the light of day again.
It is illogical to imagine that, in the land of the *narcos*—the land of the great drug cartels—the authorities were either unaware of, or failed to cooperate with, these groups to some degree. But idle “gossip” is one thing; sworn statements from the *narcos* themselves are quite another.
Some might ask: Why believe people who are currently in prison and have cut deals with a foreign government? In the strictest sense of judicial logic, no one would believe them. But we are talking about the United States and its president, Donald Trump—entities that neither ask for permission nor require concrete evidence to strike out and seize whatever it is they desire. In Trump’s case, the objective is subjugation and control. In the country’s case, it marks a return to the colonialist instincts it has so assiduously cultivated throughout its history.
The Role of the “Chapos”
As of May 2025, reports emerged that 17 members of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s extended family had surrendered to U.S. authorities at the border, as part of an apparent negotiation involving cooperation and protection. Here are the key details regarding this cooperation:
Who are they? Among the relatives who surrendered is Griselda López Pérez, El Chapo’s ex-wife and the mother of Ovidio and Joaquín Guzmán López. Reports also confirmed the surrender of one of “El Chapo’s” daughters, several nephews, a grandson named Archivaldo, and a son-in-law. This massive handover is considered part of a plea bargain involving the sons of “El Chapo” (known as “Los Chapitos”)—particularly Ovidio Guzmán—who seeks to reduce his U.S. prison sentence in exchange for providing information.
The handover took place at the San Ysidro border crossing in California, where the individuals surrendered to the FBI following Ovidio’s extradition in 2023.
It is reported that both Ovidio and Joaquín Guzmán López are currently formalizing agreements to become cooperating witnesses. The surrendered family members benefit from federal protection given the violent climate in Sinaloa. Mexico’s Secretary of Security confirmed that the handover of these relatives occurred following negotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice.
This entire case file—dubbed “Sinaloa”—has been pieced together through these statements and is now ready to be utilized at the appropriate moment.
The accusations leveled against the current governor on leave, Rubén Rocha Moya, represent merely the tip of the iceberg. Two scenarios are possible: a negotiation between President Claudia Sheinbaum and Trump in exchange for halting extradition proceedings. What she would have to offer in return would be substantial—and potentially dangerous. The avaricious man will not be satisfied with scraps; he will demand the whole thing. The other option is to stand on legal principle and simply hold out. For how long? No one can predict.
What is certain, however, is that the people of Sinaloa will suffer the most; nothing will change there—things will remain exactly as they are, just as they have for all these years.
