The National Association of Circuit Judges and District Judges of the Federal Judiciary (Jufed) has accused the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, of making unfounded accusations against federal judges in order to divert attention from international pressures. In a statement, Jufed categorically rejected the official's statements and asserted that they aim to discredit the work of the Judiciary.
"Security and justice in Mexico cannot be built with speeches that seek to delegitimize the Judiciary nor with attempts to weaken institutions, but rather by addressing the root causes, actions that have not been undertaken until a complaint from a foreign Government," the association pointed out.
The accusations by García Harfuch regarding supposed agreements between judges and drug lords were rejected by Jufed, considering them baseless and part of a strategy to divert attention from alleged irregularities pointed out by the United States Government. The association's stance follows García Harfuch's statements where he mentioned the transfer of 29 Mexican drug traffickers due to a risk of release by judges or possible delays in their extradition processes.
Jufed insisted that the claims about agreements with judges to favor illegal interests are false and lack evidentiary support, as no accusations have been presented regarding this. Additionally, the association demanded respect for judicial work and called on representatives of the Executive Power to act responsibly and in accordance with the Constitution.
In this context, the president of the Federal Judiciary Council and the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, Norma Piña, also rejected that judges had agreements with the recently extradited drug lords and reaffirmed the Judiciary's commitment to justice and the rule of law.
The Mexican Association of Female Judges A.C. expressed its concern over the statements made by members of the Security Cabinet regarding the drug traffickers being transferred to the United States, demanding that appropriate complaints be filed to clarify responsibilities and provide clear information to Mexican society.
These situations occur amid the implementation of a judicial reform that seeks to elect half of the judges and magistrates of the Mexican Judiciary by popular vote on June 1, which has intensified the debate on judicial independence in the country. Furthermore, there are added pressures from the United States to combat drug trafficking and migration, in a context where 29 high-profile Mexican drug lords were sent to the United States.
