Candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s Stance on Mexican Cartels
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed recently shared his views on Mexican cartels during an appearance on “The Moment Podcast.” He emphasized the importance of a diplomatic approach to address the issue.
When co-hosts Jorge Ramos and Paola Ramos asked about efforts to combat cartels since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term in 2025, El-Sayed criticized relying on military force. He attributed the rise of cartels to the proliferation of American-made guns.
“American-manufactured guns are responsible for a lot of the cartels,” El-Sayed stated.
El-Sayed stressed the need for diplomatic collaboration to manage the flow of drugs and firearms across the border. This collaboration aims to address what he describes as “cartel behavior” resulting from the influx of U.S. firearms.
Discussing solutions, El-Sayed remarked, “We need to be working with Mexican counterparts to support them in an effort to contain cartels.” He explained that effective containment does not necessitate military actions. Instead, it requires cooperating with Mexico to monitor gun trafficking and its potential links to cartel activities.
He raised key questions about stopping fentanyl trafficking northward and controlling U.S. contributions to the problem. El-Sayed’s campaign highlighted his view to Fox News Digital, advocating for collaboration with the Mexican government to curb drug and gun trafficking.
Previously, El-Sayed pushed for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His recent remarks come after sanctions on 21 individuals and 25 entities tied to Los Mayos, a Sinaloa Cartel faction, by the Trump administration.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commented on the sanctions, “Today’s action underscores that no cartel actor, corrupt official, or facilitator is beyond the reach of Treasury’s authorities.” This aligns with the administration’s consistent strategy to address cartel threats and secure the financial system.
For more insights from Lindsay Kornick, reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter: @lmkornick.