Part 6/12:
The Biden administration continues to grapple with how aggressively to confront the cartels. The Trump administration notably designated some Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and floated plans for unilateral U.S. military strikes—measures that Mexico has fiercely opposed, especially considering its president, Claudia Sheinbaum, vows "no U.S. boots on the ground." Yet, the CIA’s footprint appears to be expanding. The agency has established a new counter-narcotics mission center, increased drone flights, and reassigned experienced counterterrorism personnel to Mexico.
The hunt for high-value targets like Guzmán’s remaining sons persists, with Ivoir Guzmán, another Guzmán family heir, slipping away through tunnels after Mexican commandos nearly captured him earlier this year.