Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed asserted on Wednesday that American-manufactured guns are largely responsible for the rise of Mexican cartels and advocated for diplomatic engagement over military intervention to address the issue.
During an appearance on "The Moment Podcast," El-Sayed responded to a question about the Trump administration's efforts to combat Mexican cartels, rejecting the use of troops or drones. "Let's be clear, American-manufactured guns are responsible for a lot of the cartels," he stated.
El-Sayed emphasized the need for diplomatic cooperation with Mexican counterparts to address the flow of drugs and guns across the border. "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," he explained. He also questioned how the U.S. can address its role in the complex system of cartel activity and stop the northward flow of fentanyl.
His campaign later clarified to Fox News Digital that El-Sayed was referring to working with the Mexican government to crack down on cartels and prevent the cross-border movement of guns and illegal drugs.
El-Sayed's comments come months after the Trump administration's Treasury Department sanctioned 21 individuals and 25 entities linked to Los Mayos, a faction of the Sinaloa cartel. At the time, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the administration would "identify and disrupt any cartel actor who threatens our security or the integrity of our financial system."
In the past, El-Sayed has also called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).