Seventeen direct relatives of Ovidio Guzmán López, son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, crossed the border into the United States under the protection of the FBI on Friday. According to journalist Luis Chaparro, they arrived at the San Ysidro border bridge from Culiacán via Tijuana, where they were greeted by FBI agents.
Among the family members were Guzmán’s mother, Griselda López Pérez, his sister, Griselda Guzmán López, and a grandson named Archivaldo, along with other close relatives, including nephews and cousins. The operation was meticulously coordinated with U.S. authorities, and all relatives were allowed entry through a special migratory scheme known as parole, which permits legal entry for humanitarian reasons.
Chaparro reported that the family arrived with significant personal belongings, including luxury suitcases from brands such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel, and they carried over $70,000 in cash, suggesting their relocation could be permanent rather than temporary. The security measures around the crossing were heightened due to concerns for the safety of the Guzmán family, including the deployment of a sniper nearby.
This event coincides with Ovidio Guzmán’s decision to change his plea to guilty on June 6 in a U.S. court, which suggests his family’s relocation might be part of his plea deal negotiations, leading to cooperation with the prosecution and entry into the witness protection program.
Chaparro indicated that Ovidio’s shift to a guilty plea and the relocation of his family could signal a rift within the Guzmán family, particularly concerning his half-brothers, who remain in Mexico and are engaged in ongoing conflicts. He suggested that this could favor rival factions previously allied with the Guzmán family.
During a morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed inquiries about the family’s entry into the U.S., noting that the federal government had yet to receive official information from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the relatives, despite ongoing investigations by the Mexican Attorney General’s Office against several members.
This situation raises questions about the dynamics within the Guzmán family and ongoing tensions in Sinaloa. The protection and relocation of the family may provide them with a fresh start away from the escalating violence in Mexico.
As the Guzmán family navigates these changes, it may present opportunities for reformation and transformation in their lives, even amid the challenges they face.