El Chapo’s Family Crosses U.S. Border in Secret Trump Deal: What’s Really Going On?

Introduction: A Cartel Family’s Unexpected U.S. Entry

In a shocking revelation that has sparked intrigue and controversy, Mexico’s Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch confirmed on May 13, 2025, that 17 family members of Sinaloa Cartel leaders, including relatives of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, crossed into the United States last week. The move, reportedly part of a clandestine deal between the Trump administration and El Chapo’s son, Ovidio Guzmán López, has raised eyebrows on both sides of the border. Video footage of the family members casually walking across the Tijuana-San Diego border with suitcases in hand, greeted by U.S. agents, has fueled speculation about the motives behind this unprecedented arrangement. What does this mean for U.S.-Mexico relations, the fight against cartels, and the future of the Sinaloa Cartel? Let’s dive into the details and unpack this complex story.

The Deal: A Cartel Plea Bargain?

Ovidio Guzmán López, one of El Chapo’s sons and a key figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, was extradited to the U.S. in September 2023 to face drug trafficking charges. Known as “El Ratón” (The Mouse), Ovidio is part of the “Los Chapitos” faction, the group of four Guzmán brothers who took over the cartel’s operations after their father’s 2017 extradition and 2019 conviction. Recent reports indicate Ovidio is set to plead guilty on July 9, 2025, in a Chicago federal court, likely as part of a plea deal with the U.S. Department of Justice. According to García Harfuch, the entry of 17 family members—including El Chapo’s ex-wife, Grisselda López Pérez, and her daughter—appears tied to these negotiations.

“It is evident that his family is going to the U.S. because of a negotiation or an offer that the Department of Justice is giving him,” García Harfuch stated in a Radio Fórmula interview. While details of the deal remain under wraps, speculation abounds that Ovidio may be providing information on rival criminal organizations or even factions within the Sinaloa Cartel itself in exchange for leniency or protection for his family. The family members were not wanted by Mexican authorities, suggesting their crossing was not an escape from prosecution but a strategic move.

Who Crossed the Border?

Among the 17 individuals were Grisselda López Pérez, El Chapo’s former wife and mother of Ovidio and his brother Joaquín Guzmán López, who is also in U.S. custody. The group reportedly carried $70,000 in cash and was seen crossing the border with suitcases, met by U.S. agents in what appeared to be a coordinated operation. The current whereabouts of these family members remain unclear, with speculation they may be in protective custody due to the ongoing violence within the Sinaloa Cartel. The cartel has been embroiled in a bloody internal conflict, with over 1,200 deaths and 1,400 missing in Sinaloa state since the arrests of Ovidio and Joaquín intensified factional rivalries.

The Timing: Narcoterrorism Charges and Trump’s Hardline Stance

The confirmation of this deal came on the same day the U.S. Attorney General’s Office announced “narcoterrorism” charges against several Sinaloa Cartel leaders, marking the first such charges since the Trump administration designated the cartel a foreign terrorist organization. U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California issued a stark warning: “To the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, you are no longer the hunters, you are the hunted. You will be betrayed by your friends, you will be hounded by your enemies, and you will ultimately find yourself in a courtroom.” This aggressive rhetoric contrasts sharply with the apparent leniency of allowing cartel family members into the U.S., raising questions about the administration’s strategy.

The Trump administration’s designation of Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations has been controversial, with critics arguing it oversimplifies the complex dynamics of organized crime and could strain U.S.-Mexico relations. The decision to allow El Chapo’s relatives into the U.S. without prior notification to Mexican authorities has further irritated Mexico’s government, with President Claudia Sheinbaum expressing surprise and demanding transparency.

Why This Matters: The Bigger Picture

The Sinaloa Cartel, co-founded by El Chapo and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, remains one of the world’s most powerful criminal organizations, notorious for trafficking cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana into the U.S. The 2023 indictment against the Chapitos detailed gruesome tactics, including torture and feeding victims to tigers, highlighting the cartel’s brutality. The internal power struggle following the arrests of Ovidio and Joaquín, alongside El Mayo’s capture in July 2024, has destabilized the cartel, creating a power vacuum that has fueled violence in Sinaloa state.

This deal could signal a strategic shift in U.S. efforts to dismantle the cartel. By securing cooperation from Ovidio, the U.S. may gain critical intelligence to target rival factions or other cartels, potentially disrupting the flow of drugs like fentanyl, which has driven the U.S. opioid crisis. However, the optics of allowing cartel family members into the U.S. while cracking down on illegal immigration have sparked outrage on platforms like X, where users question why “regular families can’t come, but Chapo’s can.”

The Mexican Perspective: Blindsided or Complicit?

Mexican authorities appear to have been caught off guard by the operation, with García Harfuch’s confirmation coming only after journalist Luis Chaparro broke the story. President Sheinbaum’s vague response—“there is no more information” than what she had seen—suggests a lack of coordination between the U.S. and Mexico. This echoes a previous incident in July 2024, when Joaquín Guzmán López allegedly kidnapped El Mayo and delivered him to U.S. authorities, a move Mexican officials claimed was orchestrated by the U.S. without their knowledge.

Mexico’s frustration highlights a broader tension in U.S.-Mexico cooperation on combating cartels. While Mexico has extradited high-profile figures like Ovidio, the lack of transparency in this deal could complicate future joint efforts. Security experts in Mexico also note that the family members’ relocation may protect them from the ongoing cartel violence, but it raises questions about whether they’ll face scrutiny in the U.S. or simply live under protection.

Public Reaction: Outrage and Speculation

Social media, particularly X, has been abuzz with reactions to the news. Some users view the deal as a betrayal of Trump’s hardline immigration stance, with one post exclaiming, “REG. FAMILIES CAN’T COME, BUT CHAPO’S CAN?? WTF!!” Others see it as a pragmatic move to weaken the cartel, with one user suggesting it’s a “calculated organizational decision” by one faction to secure protection through cooperation. The polarized reactions reflect broader debates about immigration, national security, and the ethics of negotiating with criminals.

What’s Next?

Ovidio’s upcoming guilty plea and the narcoterrorism charges signal an aggressive U.S. push against the Sinaloa Cartel, but the decision to allow family members into the U.S. complicates the narrative. Will Ovidio’s cooperation lead to significant blows against the cartel, or is this a symbolic gesture with limited impact? The lack of transparency from the Trump administration and the Justice Department leaves many questions unanswered, and the Mexican government’s demand for clarity may force further disclosures.

Conclusion: A Deal Shrouded in Mystery

The entry of El Chapo’s family into the U.S. under a secret deal with the Trump administration is a bombshell that blends crime, politics, and international intrigue. While it may be a tactical move to weaken the Sinaloa Cartel, it risks fueling distrust between the U.S. and Mexico and igniting domestic backlash. As the situation unfolds, the world watches to see whether this deal will dismantle a criminal empire or merely shift its power dynamics. For now, the sight of cartel relatives crossing the border with suitcases in hand remains a provocative image in a saga far from over.

Thought-Provoking Questions:

1. Is the U.S. justified in negotiating with cartel members like Ovidio Guzmán López to gain intelligence, even if it means allowing their families into the country?

2. How might this deal impact U.S.-Mexico relations, especially given Mexico’s apparent exclusion from the decision-making process?

3. Does the Trump administration’s hardline rhetoric against cartels align with the decision to grant entry to El Chapo’s relatives, or does it undermine their credibility?

4. What are the ethical implications of prioritizing cartel family members for entry over other immigrants seeking safety in the U.S.?