U.S. President Donald Trump has stated his readiness for military intervention in Mexico to combat drug cartels. His remarks have sparked concern along the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly in Ciudad Juárez. 'They are able to do it, but unfortunately, the cartels are very strong in Mexico,' the U.S. leader affirmed. Trump's words resonate especially among the more than one and a half million inhabitants of Ciudad Juárez, one of the largest Mexican border cities with strong cultural, social, and economic ties to El Paso, Texas. For Ernesto Alexander Vasconcelos, a criminal defense attorney and immigration law specialist with over two decades in Ciudad Juárez, what has happened represents an unprecedented event. 'I believe this is more of a historical watershed moment,' he stated during his morning conference. However, he added that sending troops 'would serve no purpose.' Reactions in Ciudad Juárez show that the prospect of U.S. intervention has opened a debate in Mexico about sovereignty, security, and the fear that unilateral decisions from Washington could extend to other countries, including Mexico. 'The public opinion on the streets reflects annoyance and a certain indignation at any suggestion of this type of action in Mexico,' Julio César González indicated. Another Juárez resident, who requested anonymity, questioned the U.S. approach and the lack of international consensus. 'For me, it was an invasion that should have been approved by the United Nations, because many countries do not agree,' he stated, while criticizing what he sees as a double standard in the fight against drugs. 'Let him start in his own house and then here in another country, because if they keep buying, I will keep selling,' he asserted. In response to Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated on Tuesday that any U.S. intervention in Mexican territory 'would serve no purpose' in reducing violence or drug trafficking. She defended Mexico's 'national sovereignty' and a bilateral relationship with Washington based on 'cooperation without subordination.' 'First, it is a matter of sovereignty, of national sovereignty,' Sheinbaum said. The recent U.S. military intervention in Venezuela to capture Nicolás Maduro is causing concern and unease along Mexico's northern border, especially in Ciudad Juárez, where residents are wondering if such actions could be repeated in Mexico following Trump's repeated threats.
