WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration has announced the extradition of 29 Mexican cartel members to the United States, including Rafael Caro Quintero, the cartel leader convicted of orchestrating the 1985 murder of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena.
According to a statement from the White House, President Trump directed the Department of Justice and the Department of State to secure the extraditions, with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio overseeing the effort.
“The Trump administration is declaring these thugs as terrorists, because that is what they are, and demanding justice for the American people,” the statement read.
Officials say the extradited cartel members will face prosecution on U.S. soil. The administration also criticized the previous administration for allegedly allowing cartel criminals to operate freely.
The move marks a significant step in the administration’s effort to combat transnational crime and hold cartel leaders accountable.