**Sheinbaum Vows to Prevent DEA Director’s Interference**
President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo declared on February 12, 2025, that she will not allow interference from Terrance C. “Terry” Cole, the new head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The DEA is part of the U.S. Department of Justice. “We will not permit interference or violations of our sovereignty. Coordination and collaboration with U.S. government agencies and departments, including the State Department, the White House, and President [Donald] Trump himself, are essential,” Sheinbaum affirmed at her morning press conference in the Treasury Room of the National Palace.
President Trump announced on February 11, 2025, that Cole, a 21-year DEA veteran with experience in Colombia, Afghanistan, and Mexico City, will lead the DEA. Terry Cole presently serves as the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security in Virginia, overseeing 11 state public safety agencies with more than 19,000 employees. He retired from federal service in 2020, having last served as the interim DEA Regional Director for Mexico, Canada, and Central America. Cole’s appointment follows Chad Chronister’s withdrawal from the nomination in December 2024.
Previously, former Republican legislator Matt Gaetz withdrew his candidacy for the role of U.S. Attorney General amid scrutiny from a federal investigation into sex trafficking. Terry Cole replaces Annie Milgram, who served as DEA Administrator under President Joe Biden from June 28, 2021, to January 20, 2025.
**Secondary Article: China Criticizes U.S. Over Fentanyl Accountability**
In parallel to discussions about the new DEA leadership, the Chinese Embassy in Mexico sparked a diplomatic debate by stating that the United States should not blame other countries for its fentanyl crisis. The Embassy emphasized that fentanyl abuse is primarily a domestic issue for the U.S., and international cooperation should be sought through mutual respect rather than finger-pointing. This statement comes amidst global conversations on joint efforts to combat drug trafficking, intensifying the ongoing dialogue between Mexico, the U.S., and China on cross-border drug control and its implications for international relations.