The U.S. government revoked the visa of Andrés Manuel López Beltrán, son of former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), in a move criticized by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum as politically motivated interference in Mexico’s affairs.
López Beltrán confirmed the revocation in a letter addressed to U.S. President Donald Trump, calling the decision “politically motivated and propagandistic, in the Hitlerian style.” He denied any wrongdoing, stating there was “no reason whatsoever” for the action. The U.S. State Department has not publicly disclosed the specific grounds for the revocation, citing confidentiality under U.S. law.
Sheinbaum, speaking at her regular morning press conference, called the visa revocations an attempt to “interfere” in Mexican politics. “These are attempts to interfere, to meddle in Mexican politics,” she said. “I always look for the best relations possible with the United States. Always. ... But I’m not going to bow my head, either.”
Background and Context
The visa revocation for López Beltrán follows a broader U.S. policy targeting Mexican officials linked to the ruling Morena party. According to reports, over 50 Mexican politicians—most affiliated with Morena—have had their U.S. visas revoked in recent months. The U.S. has not released the identities of all affected individuals, but some confirmed cases include Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila and other Morena officials.
López Beltrán’s letter to Trump accused U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Under Secretary Christopher Landau of orchestrating the revocation. He referred to Landau as “El Quitavisas” (“The Visa Taker”), a nickname Landau embraced during his tenure as U.S. ambassador to Mexico for aggressively reviewing and revoking visas of foreign citizens.
U.S. Policy and Allegations
The U.S. has not provided public details on the revocations, but reporting suggests the actions are tied to allegations of corruption or links to drug cartels. In June 2025, U.S. federal prosecutors in New York charged 10 current and former Mexican officials, including Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, with alleged drug trafficking ties. The Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG), designated as a terrorist organization, has also been linked in court documents to large-scale fuel smuggling.
López Beltrán has been publicly associated with a network of officials accused of engaging in “Huachicol Fiscal”—illegal fuel smuggling—though no criminal charges have been filed against him in Mexico. The U.S. has not confirmed whether sealed indictments exist against him.
Mexican Response and Broader Tensions
Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico’s stance that the U.S. should provide evidence for any allegations. “All we ask for is respect,” she said. She also noted that Mexico would not shield individuals accused of crimes but would not investigate based solely on a U.S. visa revocation.
The visa revocations coincide with broader tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, including increased deportations of Mexicans from the U.S. since Trump’s return to office in January 2025. According to Mexico’s National Migration Institute (INM), 271,193 Mexicans were repatriated between January 2025 and August 2026, with over 80% of air arrivals landing in Villahermosa or Tapachula.
Sheinbaum did not tie the visa revocations directly to the deportation figures but emphasized that Mexico seeks a non-confrontational relationship with the U.S. while defending its sovereignty.
Key Developments
- U.S. revokes visa of AMLO’s son, López Beltrán, without public explanation.
- Sheinbaum condemns revocations as foreign interference in Mexican politics.
- Over 50 Morena officials have had visas revoked in recent months.
- U.S. prosecutors charge Mexican officials with drug trafficking ties in June 2025.
- Mexico reports 271,193 deportations of its citizens from the U.S. since January 2025.