Convicted drug trafficker Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán has once again appealed to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to intervene on his behalf and seek his transfer from the United States to Mexico, where he hopes to serve the remainder of his prison sentence.

Guzmán, the former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, is currently serving a sentence of more than 50 years in the United States after being convicted in 2019 on multiple charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering.

According to reports, the latest request was made in a letter dated June 2, one of several messages that Guzmán has reportedly sent to Sheinbaum in recent months in an effort to secure his repatriation. In the letter, he expresses hope that the Mexican government can support the efforts of his legal team.

Written in English and by hand, the letter asks that he be allowed to complete his sentence in Mexico, arguing that such a transfer would enable him to receive visits from family members more easily.

Guzmán is currently being held at the United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility in Florence, Colorado, commonly known as the “Alcatraz of the Rockies,” one of the most secure prisons in the United States.

As in previous communications, the former cartel leader complained about his prison conditions, stating that he remains in near-total isolation and has little to no contact with other inmates.

He also reiterated his long-standing claim that he did not receive a fair trial in the United States and argued that the Mexican government bears responsibility for much of the violence associated with organized crime in the country.

In the letter, Guzmán maintains that his actions were motivated by a desire to protect himself and his family amid the violence linked to criminal organizations in Mexico.

Mexican authorities have not publicly indicated whether they plan to respond to the request. Guzmán remains one of the most notorious figures in the history of international drug trafficking and is serving his sentence under some of the strictest security measures in the U.S. prison system.

The United States is making progress in restoring oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, with approximately 7 million barrels of oil and fuel now passing through the critical maritime route each day, according to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

Speaking at the Bloomberg Energy Security Executive Briefing in Houston on Friday, Wright said the United States is committed to fully reopening the waterway, regardless of whether Iran cooperates with those efforts.

The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy transit corridors, experienced severe disruptions at the onset of the conflict with Iran. According to Wright, nearly 20 million barrels of oil per day were initially affected when traffic through the strait was largely halted.

While some shipments were redirected to alternative ports outside the Persian Gulf, roughly 14 million barrels per day remained stranded, creating what Wright described as a major disruption to global energy flows.

“That was a significant interruption of supply,” he said, emphasizing that the United States intends to restore normal shipping operations independently if necessary.

Industry analysts noted that the recovery of approximately 7 million barrels per day has exceeded many market expectations. Dan Pickering, chief investment officer at Pickering Energy Partners, said the faster-than-expected return of supply has helped explain why oil prices have remained lower than some analysts had predicted.

Wright also reiterated his goal of rebuilding the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which has been used in recent years to help cushion the impact of supply disruptions linked to geopolitical conflicts and market volatility.

In addition, the Energy Secretary dismissed the possibility of imposing restrictions on U.S. energy exports, arguing that maintaining open markets remains essential for both domestic energy security and global supply stability.

The comments underscore Washington’s determination to restore confidence in international energy markets and ensure the uninterrupted flow of oil through one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes.

Senior officials from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday criminal charges against three Guatemalan citizens accused of using false information to sponsor migrant children who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without a parent or guardian.

According to an indictment filed in Ohio, Maritza Cahuec Coc allegedly submitted at least 12 sponsorship applications, several of which were filed under aliases or contained materially false statements intended to secure custody of the minors.

Under U.S. procedures, unaccompanied migrant children apprehended at the southern border are placed in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services, which is responsible for their care until they can be released to a qualified sponsor, such as a parent or relative living in the United States.

Prosecutors allege that Cahuec Coc, who reportedly entered the United States illegally in 2018, received payments between late 2020 and 2023 for helping bring 12 migrant minors into the country. Authorities claim she submitted fraudulent documents and misleading information to obtain approval for the sponsorship requests.

The case was announced during a joint press conference led by Acting Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. However, officials provided limited details about the investigation and instead focused much of their remarks on criticizing immigration policies implemented under the previous administration.

Republican lawmakers and Trump administration officials have frequently pointed to the increase in unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border during President Joe Biden’s term, arguing that the government failed to adequately oversee their care and placement.

During Thursday’s briefing, A. Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, alleged that Cahuec Coc used the identities of other individuals and falsely claimed family relationships in order to obtain custody of the children.

“Maritza submitted sponsorship applications using other people’s identities and falsely represented that the minors were the children of close relatives in order to secure their release,” Duva said.

The case remains under investigation, and federal authorities have not yet disclosed additional information regarding the other two Guatemalan nationals charged in connection with the alleged scheme.