Overview

• The New York Times reported on August 8 that President Trump secretly signed an executive order empowering the Pentagon to carry out direct military operations against cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
• Mexico’s presidency and Foreign Affairs Ministry have categorically denied any U.S. military incursion and reaffirmed cooperation under strict sovereignty rules.
• Opposition leaders in Mexico’s Congress have demanded urgent briefings from the federal government to clarify any security arrangements with U.S. forces.
• On August 5, Judge Brian M. Cogan received a handwritten letter from Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán accusing ADX Florence of psychological torture, extreme isolation and nearly ten months of blocked communication with his U.S. attorney.
• Legal experts warn that extraterritorial strikes without congressional authorization could violate international law and amount to extrajudicial killings.