US DHS denies special parole for Mexican governors Durazo and Villarreal

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Mexican governors Alfonso Durazo of Sonora and Américo Villarreal of Tamaulipas do not hold a “Significant Public Benefit Parole” permission that would allow them special entry to the United States. The response, issued after a request from media outlets, stated that no record of such a parole exists in the databases of USCIS, CBP, or ICE.

The clarification came after a Los Angeles Times report claimed the two officials had their visas cancelled and were granted the parole. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the DHS statement, calling earlier reports “completely apocryphal” and suggesting they were driven by right‑wing factions seeking to damage US‑Mexico relations ahead of the 2026 US elections and Mexico’s 2027 elections. The US Department of State noted that visa eligibility is continuously reviewed and can be revoked if adverse information arises, but it did not confirm any visa cancellations.

Overall, the DHS denial dispels rumors of a special immigration benefit for the governors and underscores ongoing political sensitivities between the two countries.