Mexico's Supreme Court upholds trafficking conviction in landmark ruling

Mexico’s Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of Claudia Ivonne Sánchez Mayorga for sexual exploitation. The ruling follows a lengthy legal battle that saw her briefly released in 2022 before a federal court ordered her re-arrest last year. The decision also reinforces the validity of a key anti-trafficking law.

Meanwhile, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has reaffirmed that national sovereignty remains a top priority for her administration.

The Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN) ruled in a 5–3 vote to confirm Sánchez Mayorga’s guilt. Justice Aristides Guerrero García led the opinion, stating she managed the living quarters of women at Solid Gold nightclub in Mexico City. Evidence showed she issued work orders, controlled housing rules, and threatened two foreign women with deportation to force them into prostitution.

The Court also upheld Article 13 of the General Law to Prevent, Punish, and Eradicate Human Trafficking. While the conviction stands, the justices ordered a review of the case file and a reduced sentence—shorter than the original 22 years. Separately, during Mexico’s First National Earthquake Drill of 2026, Justice Yasmin Esquivel Mossa stressed the importance of national unity. She backed President Sheinbaum’s stance that sovereignty is 'not up for negotiation' and praised the government’s efforts to protect the country’s independence.

The Supreme Court’s decision ensures Sánchez Mayorga will face a new sentencing hearing. The ruling also strengthens legal protections against human trafficking. At the same time, officials have reiterated their commitment to defending Mexico’s sovereignty in the face of external pressures.