In a week marked by political turbulence and public spectacle, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and her ruling party, Morena, found themselves at the center of controversy and celebration. With the United States imposing sanctions on a sitting federal deputy, internal party tensions rising, and Sheinbaum herself rallying thousands in mass events, the story of Mexico’s current leadership is one of both formidable power and persistent challenge.
On September 18, 2025, the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Hilda Araceli Brown Figueredo, a federal deputy from Morena and former mayor of Playas de Rosarito, Baja California. According to OFAC, Brown was targeted for her alleged ties to the La Mayiza faction of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, accused of facilitating contracts and providing protection to criminal-linked companies during her mayoral tenure between 2019 and 2021. The sanctions, which included freezing her assets in the U.S. and prohibiting American citizens from doing business with her, were part of a broader crackdown that swept up 22 individuals and companies across Mexico, all linked to the cartel’s sprawling financial network.
The news landed like a thunderclap in Mexican political circles. As reported by Mexican outlets, Brown’s inclusion on the U.S. blacklist immediately sparked discomfort within Morena’s parliamentary group. Leaked internal chats revealed Brown boasting about spending weekends in the U.S. and her family’s frequent border crossings, a revelation that only heightened the unease among her colleagues. The party’s leadership quickly moved to address the issue, with Ricardo Monreal, Morena’s coordinator in the Chamber of Deputies, summoning Brown to a closed-door meeting to demand accountability. "No one is above the law and the movement must be consistent with its principles," Monreal’s team asserted, signaling that Morena’s commitment to zero tolerance for corruption would be put to the test.
President Claudia Sheinbaum, meanwhile, struck a tone of caution during her morning press conference on September 19. She reminded the nation that, "so far there is no firm evidence" supporting the accusations against Brown. Sheinbaum emphasized that it was the responsibility of Mexican institutions to investigate and determine any wrongdoing, not foreign governments or rumor mills. "Mexico is a state of law; we will not act based on rumors or external pressure," she insisted, underscoring the importance of national sovereignty even amid close security cooperation with the United States. Sheinbaum’s message was clear: while she welcomed international collaboration, it must always "respect national sovereignty and guarantee the rights of Mexicans."
This episode arrives at a time when Morena, the party founded by Andrés Manuel López Obrador, stands as a political behemoth. With around nine million members as of September 2025, the party commands legislative majorities and governs three-quarters of the nation’s states. Its rapid ascent over just a decade has transformed Mexico’s political landscape, but also created a complex web of loyalty and dissent within its ranks. As one columnist observed, Morena is like "a vast machine that combines the political and governmental," inhabited by both "faithful and traitors."
President Sheinbaum’s authority is unprecedented in recent Mexican history. Not only does she enjoy robust political legitimacy and territorial control, but she also presides over an extensive operational apparatus that blurs the lines between party and government. Yet, such power brings its own hazards. The same machinery that propels her agenda is also vulnerable to the "toxicities" of Mexican politics—entrenched interests, bureaucratic infighting, and the ever-present threat of corruption.
To navigate these waters, Sheinbaum has pursued a dual strategy. On one front, her administration has aggressively targeted criminal networks, with the security cabinet regularly presenting progress in her morning briefings. On the other, she has worked to contain damaging narratives that seek to link Morena to organized crime, especially as opposition forces and international actors probe for weaknesses. This approach, as analysts note, allows Sheinbaum to showcase tangible security gains while also insulating herself from the fallout of "toxic allies"—members whose actions or associations threaten the party’s image.
The case of Deputy Brown is emblematic of this balancing act. For Sheinbaum and Morena, the challenge is not only to address the specific allegations but to demonstrate that the party’s stated commitment to integrity is more than just rhetoric. The internal divisions within Morena are real, with Sheinbaum leading a faction that embodies the "present and future," while so-called "black sheep"—those seen as liabilities—persist on the fringes. The party’s ability to manage these tensions could well determine its longevity and credibility.
Amidst the controversy, Sheinbaum has continued to project confidence and resilience. On September 20, she addressed thousands in Parque Tabasco, declaring, "I am very happy, very satisfied with this year of government. There is still much to do in our country, but know that your President does not give up, that we will always be together in this great struggle." She acknowledged the efforts of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, calling him "the best president Mexico has had," and highlighted the socioeconomic progress achieved under the Fourth Transformation. According to Sheinbaum, 13.5 million people have escaped poverty during these administrations, and by next year, welfare programs will distribute one trillion pesos directly to citizens through the Banco de Bienestar.
The optics of these events were carefully managed. In Campeche, buses and collective transport units, organized by Morena, ferried supporters from various neighborhoods to the Concha Acústica, ensuring a packed venue for Sheinbaum’s official report. Such mobilizations reflect both the organizational muscle of the party and its determination to maintain a visible, enthusiastic base in the face of adversity.
For now, the spotlight remains fixed on how Morena and Sheinbaum will handle the allegations swirling around Deputy Brown, and whether the party can uphold its pledge of transparency and accountability. With the United States intensifying its crackdown on cartel-linked networks amid the fentanyl crisis, and internal opposition eager to exploit any sign of weakness, the stakes for Mexico’s ruling party could hardly be higher.
As Mexico’s transformation project enters its next phase, the coming months will reveal whether Sheinbaum’s blend of political savvy, operational control, and public resolve is enough to steer her movement through the storms that lie ahead.
