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American counterterrorism officials are meeting Friday with officials from other allied nations to coordinate efforts against what the U.S. calls "deadly threats from terror groups and non-state actors." But the recently released U.S. strategy to fight terrorism contains some unusual targets. William Brangham speaks with Colin Clarke, executive director of The Soufan Center, for more.
Sources: PBS News Hour, Borderland Beat Archives
On May 6, 2026, the White House issued the annual United States Counterterrorism Strategy, a presidential memorandum outlining how the U.S. government identifies, prioritizes, and plans to neutralize terrorist threats facing the country worldwide during the year.
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The President highlighted a reduction in homicides, the destruction of clandestine laboratories, and a decrease in fentanyl trafficking toward the United States.
President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to recent statements by Donald Trump regarding the fight against drug trafficking, asserting that Mexico is maintaining continuous actions against organized crime and drug trafficking.
During her morning press conference on May 7, 2026, the President reacted to comments made by the U.S. leader, who warned that if other countries "won't do the job, we will."
In response, Sheinbaum emphasized that Mexico *is* indeed taking action and presented figures related to the security strategy implemented by her administration.
"This isn’t the first time he has made such statements, but we are taking action," the President stated.
The President highlighted that there is currently a reduction of nearly 50% in intentional homicides, in addition to the destruction of approximately 2,500 clandestine laboratories linked to the production of synthetic drugs.
"There is a reduction of almost 50% in intentional homicides; 2,500 laboratories disabled or destroyed; and arrests made... There is a reduction in the flow of fentanyl from Mexico to the United States," she affirmed.
During the conference, Sheinbaum also addressed the new anti-drug strategy promoted by the United States, noting the significance of the U.S. government publicly acknowledging the problem of domestic drug consumption.
She explained that the plan seeks to build a drug-free society through preventive campaigns and initiatives aimed primarily at young people and schools.
"For the first time in a U.S. strategy for combating drugs, they have included this theme: creating a United States of America free of drugs through social norms," she remarked.
The President also recalled a previous conversation with Trump, during which they discussed the differences in drug consumption levels between the two countries. As she recounted, she explained to the U.S. leader the importance of family values and the preventive campaigns developed in Mexico. Finally, Sheinbaum reiterated that Mexico will maintain bilateral cooperation regarding security and the fight against drug trafficking, although she insisted that the illegal trafficking of weapons from the United States into Mexican territory must also be curbed.
Source: El Siglo de Torreón
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The notorious drug lord El Chapo has made an outrageous request in a new handwritten letter, meanwhile, questions have emerged about whether the drug kingpin has been trying to run his drug cartel from inside America's most secure prison.
Source: NBC Chicago
By "Karamazov" for Borderland Beat
Audias Flores Silva, a.k.a “El Jardinero,” “Gabriel Raigosa Plascencia,” “Comandante,” “El Bravo 2,” “Audi,” and “Mata Jefes,” is a senior regional commander of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent transnational criminal organizations. He was captured by Mexican security forces during a major military operation in Nayarit on April 27, 2026.
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Following the controversy sparked by the presence of CIA agents in Chihuahua—a presence revealed by the deaths of two agents in a road accident—the state government is currently assessing the legal propriety of allowing U.S. security agencies to be stationed on the 18th floor of the Centinela Tower.
As recently as April 13, Chihuahua’s Secretary of Public Security, Gilberto Loya, announced that U.S. personnel would be stationed on that specific floor of the agency’s headquarters building with the aim of improving coordination and information sharing—a stance that has since shifted.
“Nothing has been finalized yet, but yes, that was indeed supposed to be the idea,” Adrián Eduardo Chavira, Undersecretary for the Centinela Platform, told *MILENIO*.
For their part, state officials confirmed to this media outlet that the legal and logistical feasibility of the project was indeed being analyzed.
What is known about the Centinela Tower?
Against this backdrop, Gilberto Loya sidestepped confirming the stationing of U.S. agencies within the tower, limiting his remarks to stating that all operations are being conducted in strict accordance with established coordination protocols.
“The key issue here is collaboration—as the President [Claudia Sheinbaum] herself stated: ‘Collaboration is a legal practice,’ provided that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is represented in all our meetings. This applies to all working groups—since we operate under the Border Security Protocol program—which include the participation of all relevant authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs among them,” he replied when questioned on the matter, before abruptly taking his leave.
Doubts regarding the presence of agencies from that country within this tower—a structure that has been a source of controversy since its very construction—have intensified following the deaths of two CIA agents who had participated in an operation to dismantle a drug laboratory in Chihuahua. Days before the accident, Loya announced that one of the top floors of the Tower—the headquarters of Chihuahua’s Secretariat of Security—would be allocated for offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Chihuahua Governor Maru Campos sought to transform the *Torre Centinela* (Sentinel Tower) into a security operations hub equipped with over 10,000 cameras.
Ever since the CIA’s presence in a state-led operation was confirmed, an investigation was launched to determine whether the country's sovereignty had been violated. Consequently, questions have arisen regarding whether such sovereignty can be guaranteed given the presence of foreign agents within the *Torre Centinela*—known on social media as "Maru Campos’s Mini-Pentagon" and serving as the flagship project of the program bearing the same name.
MILENIO toured three floors of the new headquarters for the Secretariat responsible for security and police intelligence in Chihuahua. The headquarters is situated in Ciudad Juárez—a location chosen because this border city previously recorded the highest rates of criminal activity in the state—and has since yielded positive results.
“The indicators we have been tracking include, in fact, the ranking of the world’s most dangerous cities. Previously—if I recall correctly—we were ranked 12th when we first arrived; now, we have dropped out of the top 15, currently sitting at 17th place... That was one of the key factors behind the decision to relocate the Secretariat here,” explained Chavira.
Technology that Chihuahua hopes will strengthen its position
The official is in charge of managing the technological tools for the *Centinela* (Sentinel) program; he highlighted the resources currently available for combating both local delinquency and organized crime.
“There are 13 sub-command centers—which we refer to as C7 centers—equipped with Artificial Intelligence. In other words, the entire state is divided into 13 regions, and each region possesses its own command center. Additionally, there is the central state command center—the *Torre Centinela* (Sentinel Tower). We have access to over 10,000 cameras, distributed across 3,065 video-surveillance poles, 102 highway arches, and 11 checkpoints situated along the state’s highways and roads.
“Furthermore, we possess 75 drones, 25 anti-drone systems, and 40 trailers equipped with cameras that can be deployed anywhere within the state—connecting via satellite—or positioned specifically to help prevent crimes in targeted zones,” he explained.
Located on the 15th floor is the operational hub for the Center for Command, Computing, Control, Coordination, Citizen Contact, Quality, and Communications (C7), from which thousands of streets across Chihuahua’s 67 municipalities are monitored.
Chihuahua Governor Maru Campos sought to transform the *Torre Centinela* into a security operations center equipped with a network of over 10,000 cameras.
The State Police maintain a 24-hour watch; however, the National Guard and the Ministry of Defense are also stationed on this same floor. Through the coordinated efforts of federal and state forces, joint operations have been conducted to combat arms and narcotics trafficking—operations that have even garnered recognition from the federal government for the resulting increase in fentanyl seizures.
“Through the Secretariat of Public Security, we have participated in operations leading to the seizure of fentanyl and other narcotics. Specifically, the Undersecretariat for Police Deployment and the Undersecretariat for General Staff Operations have been the key entities driving this work, achieving highly successful results.” "The operation is staged here; we coordinate that joint operation... In terms of public security, what we have represents a transformation—a shift from the approach previously employed to the one currently in place; it was a complete 180-degree turn," commented Pablo Nava, Director of Operations and Emergency Management at the C7.
From a distance—even from certain areas of El Paso, Texas, in the United States—the Centinela Tower in Ciudad Juárez is clearly visible. It rises imposingly from the center of the municipality, featuring a distinctive structure designed to withstand strong winds.
It remains in the final stages of construction, and currently, only the three floors housing the C7 and the Centinela Program are operational. MILENIO requested permission to visit the 18th floor, but the request was denied. Inquiries were also made regarding the Secretariat's current stance, as well as for confirmation regarding which agencies would maintain a presence at the site.
Source: Milenio
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The Governor of Chihuahua questions the criticism directed at her administration, contrasting it with the defense of Rubén Rocha Moya—who has been implicated in alleged ties to drug trafficking.
Governor María Eugenia Campos stated that it seems strange for her administration to face criticism for dismantling a massive synthetic drug laboratory, while other public figures are defended tooth and nail.
This remark came in response to questions regarding the situation in the state of Sinaloa, specifically concerning its governor—currently on leave—Rubén Rocha Moya, whom the U.S. government has implicated in alleged ties to drug trafficking.
“I just want to make one thing very clear: one person is spoken ill of for dismantling a laboratory and for preventing drugs from reaching families—our girls and boys—while the other is defended tooth and nail,” she asserted.
Campos Galván reiterated comments she made last week, noting that it is time for the citizenry to recognize who is truly who.
Furthermore, she emphasized that the Mexican people possess a decades-long history of democratic struggles, and that the residents of Chihuahua have a clear understanding of the conduct of their elected officials.
It is worth noting that the Attorney General's Office is currently conducting an investigation into an operation in which a drug laboratory was dismantled; subsequently—hours later—two U.S. officials died in a road accident in the mountainous region.
Sources: El Herldo de Chihuahua, Borderland Beat Archives, Borderland Beat Archives
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Grecia Quiroz, Mayor of Uruapan, denounces that organized crime in Michoacán exercises the real power, affecting merchants and transport workers.
The Mayor of Uruapan, Grecia Quiroz, asserted that in Michoacán, real power is wielded by organized crime, arguing that the daily dynamic of violence and extortion makes it evident who truly controls the territory.
In an interview with *El País*, she affirmed that the citizenry perceives this reality firsthand, noting: “If we look at the actions taking place day-to-day involving citizens—[it is] organized] crime.” She added that sectors such as merchants and transport workers continue to operate under pressure.
She explained that this situation is reflected in acts of intimidation, stating: “When the butcher, the tortilla maker, the taxi driver, or the minibus operator report that they continue to be extorted, abducted, or intimidated, you realize that *they* are indeed organized—and *we* are not.”
The municipal president warned that the problem is exacerbated when ties exist between authorities and criminal elements, declaring:
“The moment a mayor, a governor, or a legislator has links to organized crime, that is when support for the citizenry ends; you are no longer the one governing—*they* govern through you.”
In this context, she rejected any form of agreement with criminal groups, emphasizing: “I do not need them to act as my patrons, nor to fund my campaign; I never want to make a pact with these kinds of people.” She also called for the necessary conditions to be established so she could properly carry out her public duties.
Doubts the progress made in Carlos Manzo case
Six months after the assassination of her husband—former mayor Carlos Manzo—his widow maintained that the investigations have failed to shed light on the facts, stating: “They have not gotten to the bottom of it.” She raised the possibility of a political motive, noting: “Carlos was going to be the governor of Michoacán; there are reasons to believe they wanted to get him out of the way.” She also referred to specific political figures who, she stated, ought to be investigated.
She also questioned the conduct of the authorities, declaring: “I do not see the authorities giving this the necessary attention,” and called for the investigations to be deepened.
**Grief and Security Conditions**
The mayor described the personal impact of the crime, noting: “My life has changed completely; not a single thing remains the same.”
She indicated that fear has become a part of her daily reality, stating: “I think about what would happen if the same thing happened to me—my children would be left adrift.” Nevertheless, she maintained that she would continue her public service.
Regarding her personal grieving process, she acknowledged that she has not been able to pause and process it, saying: “There hasn’t been any time to fully assimilate it.”
**Strategy Against Violence**
Quiroz explained that her approach to combating crime has defined limits, stating: “I am not going to go up into the hills—as Carlos used to do—to uncover clandestine labs or weapons caches.”
She noted that she would opt for institutional reporting rather than direct confrontation, declaring: “Of course [I will take action], but I am not going to confront them directly; I am the only thing my children have left.”
She acknowledged the presence of federal forces in the area, though she maintained that the perception of insecurity persists within the municipality.
**Political Ambitions**
The municipal president confirmed her intention to seek the governorship, stating: “Yes, I am ready.”
She asserted that her political project offers a distinct alternative, noting that “Michoacán needs something different,” and linked her aspiration to the growth of the *Movimiento del Sombrero* (The Hat Movement).
Finally, she made her participation contingent upon personal factors, declaring: “May God grant me life; if God grants me life, we will fight the battle.”
Sources: Contra Muro, Borderland Beat Archives
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