Rubio Demands ‘Decisive Measures’ From Mexico on Cartels, Fentanyl and Migration

Washington — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanded “decisive measures” from Mexico to halt fentanyl trafficking and dismantle drug cartels during a private meeting Wednesday with Mexican Foreign Secretary Roberto Velasco.

The Trump administration also urged Mexico to take action to end illegal immigration and the flow of illicit drugs into the United States, according to a statement from the meeting.

The State Department said the two officials met “to advance cooperation on shared regional priorities.”

Rubio later said on X: “Met with Mexican Foreign Secretary @r_velascoa to discuss decisive actions to end illegal immigration, halt fentanyl trafficking, and dismantle Foreign Terrorist Organizations and cartels.”

The meeting came a day after the United States handed over to Mexico 10 people wanted by Mexican authorities on serious criminal charges.

Velasco was in Washington at the same time as Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, who is negotiating a deal to avoid further U.S. tariffs.

In May, President Donald Trump again claimed that drug cartels “govern Mexico, and nobody else,” two days after saying that if Mexico did not do “its job” to fight them, Washington would.

Trump said his administration had reduced maritime drug trafficking by 97 percent but insisted that narcotics were still arriving by land through Mexico.

“You will see how it keeps going down, although the drugs are arriving mainly through Mexico. We have a problem because the cartels govern Mexico, and nobody else. It is simply the cartels who govern,” Trump said at the time.