MEXICO CITY (CN) - In a press conference Wednesday morning, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum defended her decision to send 37 prisoners with suspected ties to organized crime to the U.S. - the first transfer of its kind this year and third during both Sheinbaum and President Donald Trump's presidential terms.

Sheinbaum clarified that even though the transfer was a request from the U.S. Department of Justice, the decision was analyzed from a perspective of national security and protection of Mexican sovereignty and with bilateral security considerations between both countries in mind.

"It's not just, 'they ask and there they go.' There is an analysis of whether it is important for Mexico, if there is cooperation and what their criminal profiles are. It is a relationship of coordination and collaboration, but the decision is made with sovereign considerations," Sheinbaum said.

"The decision made in the National Security Council is analyzed and it is a decision that, first of all, works for Mexico. It is important for the country in terms of its national security and in terms of public security. That is, Mexico is put first above all, even if they ask for what they have to ask, it is a sovereign decision."

Sheinbaum added that the decision was based on Mexico's National Security Law, which the Senate passed in July 2025. The law allows the Mexican government to skirt formal extradition processes of suspected criminals, specifically those involved in organized crime.

Sheinbaum also cited this law after her government transferred 26 prisoners to the U.S in August 2025.

Tuesday's transfer occurred after an agreement that the U.S. would not seek the death penalty for any of the transferred prisoners. The prisoners were transferred by Mexican armed forces aircraft to Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, California and the District of Columbia.

This is the first time terrorism charges have been sought by the U.S. for any of the prisoners sent in the three transfers over the last year.

Maria del Rosario Navarro, known as "La Senora," is wanted for "providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization," according to the U.S. Department of Justice for her links to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, deemed a terrorist organization by the Trump administration.

She was arrested by Mexican authorities this past May in Jalisco for gun running, human trafficking and drug trafficking.

Tuesday's transfer also includes figures linked to what is known as the Sinaloa Cartel and Gulf Cartel and other figures in the Jalisco New Generation Cartel including Abraham Oseguera Cervantes aka "Don Rodo," brother of Nemesio Oseguera, better known as "El Mencho," leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Mexico's security chief Omar Garcia Harfuch made a statement on X following the handover, saying that the prisoners "posed a real threat to the security of the country."

On Jan. 19, a U.S. military aircraft touched down in Toluca - a city close to Mexico City - raising concerns of U.S. military intervention during heightened tensions after Trump threatened Mexico with ground attacks during a Fox interview if the country can't get its cartel problem under control

Sheinbaum said at the time the Ministry of Defense authorized the flight in October as part of a routine military training operation. She has downplayed threats of U.S. military intervention and vows cooperation free from subordination to its northern neighbor.

In her Jan. 12 morning press conference Sheinbaum said she and Trump had discussed security options and that Trump offered to send U.S. soldiers to fight cartels, an offer that Sheinbaum declined.

"He insisted that the United States can help, but we said that it is not necessary, for the sovereignty of Mexico," she said.

In total, Mexico has sent 92 suspected criminals to the U.S.

Source: Courthouse News Service