Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed emphasized the importance of diplomatic efforts to address the influence of Mexican cartels. He attributed their strength to the availability of American-manufactured firearms. El-Sayed shared his views while appearing on ‘The Moment Podcast’ with co-hosts Jorge Ramos and Paola Ramos.
El-Sayed critiqued the Trump administration’s strategies, particularly the use of military force, in combating these cartels. He asserted, ‘Let’s be clear, American-manufactured guns are responsible for a lot of the cartels.’ This comment highlights his stance on the complicity of U.S. firearms in cartel activities.
“Containing cartels doesn’t mean that we go and do war-like actions south of the border. It means working alongside them to ask what is the flow of guns that might be turned into cartel behavior down the stretch.” – Abdul El-Sayed
During the discussion, El-Sayed stressed ‘working diplomatically’ with Mexican officials to manage the flow of drugs and firearms between the countries. He spoke against actions that resemble military engagements and instead promoted collaboration. ‘How do we address our side of things?’ El-Sayed questioned, urging a serious examination of cartel networks and the northward flow of fentanyl.
His campaign further elaborated this stance to Fox News Digital, highlighting collaboration with the Mexican government to limit illegal trafficking at the border.
Despite this, El-Sayed has faced criticism for his prior support for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His views come while the Trump administration, through the Treasury Department, intensified actions against entities like Los Mayos, part of the Sinaloa Cartel. The administration has been targeting cartels since Trump’s second term began.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remarked, ‘Our message is clear: The Trump administration will identify and disrupt any cartel actor who threatens our security or the integrity of our financial system.’