Sometimes, international agreements aren’t just about trade or diplomacy — they’re also about where prisoners serve their time.
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed it had sent 14 Mexican nationals, all serving sentences for drug distribution crimes, back to Mexico to finish their prison terms.
A Move That Saves Millions
According to Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti, this single transfer will save the United States over $4 million in prison costs.
Collectively, the 14 inmates had 96 years left to serve, and completing those sentences in Mexico means the U.S. won’t foot the bill for their incarceration.
Galeotti added that the Justice Department plans to keep using these transfers to cut costs and ease overcrowding in federal prisons.
How the Transfer Happened
This wasn’t a sudden decision — it’s part of a formal prisoner transfer treaty between the United States and Mexico.
The inmates themselves asked to be moved, and both governments signed off on the arrangement.
Once transferred, they’ll remain in custody in Mexico and serve out the rest of their sentences under local prison authorities.
Part of a Larger Program
The exchange falls under the United States’ International Prisoner Transfer Program, which is run by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
Specifically, its International Prisoner Transfer Unit (IPTU) manages and coordinates these treaty-based moves.
Global Reach of the Program
The U.S. doesn’t just have this arrangement with Mexico.
It has 10 other bilateral prisoner transfer agreements and is also part of two multilateral conventions.
In total, these agreements cover more than 85 countries, allowing eligible foreign nationals in U.S. prisons to serve their time back home — and vice versa.
Where to Learn More
For anyone curious about how the International Prisoner Transfer Program works, the Justice Department provides detailed information on its official website: justice.gov/criminal/criminal-oia/iptu.