In what represents a new shock to Mexican politics and bilateral relations, State Department sources confirmed that the visas of the Mexican governors of the Morena party Alfonso Durazo Montaño (Sonora) and Américo Villarreal Anaya (Tamaulipas) are formally revoked in the consular system of this country.
However, the same sources indicated that Both would physically keep the documents because they have not recently attempted to enter US territory.a situation that would prevent the authorities from directly removing the document.
The revelation, initially confirmed by the weekly ZETA of Tijuanasharply contradicts the strong public denials issued by both state leaders, who publicly rejected the versions that claim that the United States government revoked their visas as part of investigations related to alleged links with organized crime.
The denials from both leaders occurred on the same day that various newspaper reports indicated that US authorities are keeping open investigations into Mexican officials. and that, in some cases, said investigations have led to immigration restrictions.
If this immigration status is officially confirmed, Durazo and Villarreal would join a list of Mexican officials linked to Morena who have faced similar measures in recent years. Among them is the governor of Baja California, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, who acknowledged in 2025 that her US visa had been canceled.
? In the case of the Sonoran president and former Secretary of Security during AMLO’s six-year term, he would be being investigated for links to organized crime, while the Tamaulipas president would have an investigation open for alleged huachicol networks.
? About it so much? pic.twitter.com/93g0mPsWHZ
— Politico MX (@politicomx) June 4, 2026
Governors reject accusations and demand evidence
During a press conference in Sonora, Durazo described the accusations as an “infamy” and assured that he has not received any official notification related to an investigation or the revocation of his visa.
The president maintained that he has acted with transparency throughout his public career and stated that the publications lack verifiable evidence. Likewise, he pointed out that it would be up to the US authorities to clarify any information that involves his name.
Separately, Villarreal broadcast a video message in which he categorically rejected the accusations and assured that there is no judicial procedure, formal accusation or official communication from authorities in Mexico or the United States that supports the versions disseminated in the media.
The Tamaulipas governor maintained that the accusations are false and criticized the dissemination of allegations that, according to him, lack documentary evidence.
The published versions indicate that Durazo would be the subject of an investigation related to alleged links with criminal groups, while Villarreal would be investigated for alleged activities linked to fuel smuggling.known in Mexico as “huachicol”.
Growing pressure from Washington on Mexican officials
The controversy develops in a context of increasing pressure from President Donald Trump’s government against Mexican criminal organizations and alleged collaborators within political structures.
Since his return to the White House in 2025, Trump has promoted a more aggressive strategy against drug trafficking cartelsincluding the designation of several organizations as terrorist groups and the strengthening of cross-border investigations.
Previous reports from international media have indicated that dozens of Mexican politicians and officials have faced immigration restrictions or reviews of their visas by US authorities, although many of these cases have not been officially confirmed.
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, affirmed that it is up to the governors to clarify their situation before public opinionbut also questioned the leak of information related to possible immigration measures adopted by Washington.
The president suggested that the disclosure of these reports could respond to political interests and asked to analyze the context in which they are made public.
Meanwhile, neither the State Department nor other US agencies have issued an official confirmation about the immigration status of Durazo or Villarreal, so the versions continue to be the subject of debate in both Mexico and the United States.
Keep reading:
- Government of Sonora rejects that Alfonso Durazo is investigated by the US.
- The US is investigating two other Mexican governors, according to LA Instances
- Sheinbaum asks the US ambassador, Ronald Johnson, to “respect the internal affairs” of Mexico
