The United States is stepping up efforts to persuade the Mexican government to permit U.S. military and intelligence personnel to join operations against fentanyl production labs inside Mexico, according to American officials, according to a report from The New York Times.
The push, involving senior levels of the White House and U.S. national security agencies, was first raised early last year, largely set aside, and then revived following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026.
Under the current proposal, American Special Operations forces or CIA officers would accompany Mexican soldiers on raids targeting suspected fentanyl labs. Mexican forces would remain in the lead role, while U.S. personnel provide intelligence, advice, and support.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly rejected the idea of U.S. troops operating on Mexican soil. In a recent news conference following a phone call with President Trump, she stated that while the two countries would continue cooperating against the cartels, American military participation was not necessary.
President Trump has publicly emphasized the need for stronger action inside Mexico, stating in a recent Fox News interview that the U.S. would now focus on land-based cartel operations after disrupting much of the maritime drug flow.
Mexican officials have countered with alternative proposals, including expanded intelligence sharing and a larger U.S. advisory role inside Mexican military command centers — where American advisers are already present.
Fentanyl labs are difficult targets. Unlike larger meth or cocaine facilities, they often operate in small urban settings with basic household equipment, making them hard to detect.
Since the Biden administration, the CIA has conducted secret drone surveillance over Mexico to identify labs and track precursor chemicals. This intelligence is passed to Mexican military units — many trained by U.S. Special Operations forces — which then execute the raids.
The recent success in Venezuela has encouraged the Trump administration to press harder. U.S. officials have designated fentanyl a “weapon of mass destruction” and labeled several Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Mexico’s government, under Security Chief Omar García Harfuch, reports arresting cartel members and destroying labs at nearly four times the rate of the previous administration, with major deployments targeting the Sinaloa Cartel — the world’s largest fentanyl distributor.
The proposal remains highly sensitive due to historical U.S. interventions in Mexico and recent constitutional restrictions on foreign troops. Mexican officials stress that cooperation must fully respect sovereignty.
The Defense Department stated it stands ready to carry out the commander-in-chief’s orders, while the CIA and White House declined to comment on the ongoing talks.
