Infamous drug lord pens letters from U.S. prison, citing “cruel punishment”

Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison in Colorado, has requested to be transferred back to Mexico, citing his punishment as “cruel.” Extradited to the U.S. in 2017 after escaping Mexican prisons twice, Guzman was convicted on charges including drug trafficking and money laundering. In letters to the Eastern District Court of New York, he argued that the evidence in his case was insufficient and claimed his trial was unfair. Guzman has also complained about his prison conditions and the lack of family visits, appealing to Mexican authorities for help. His incarceration at the “Supermax” prison, known for its high security, has been a point of contention for him. Meanwhile, Mexican soldiers recently captured allies of his brother, Aureliano Guzman Loera, who remains at large with a U.S. bounty on his head. QUESTION: How might the transfer of El Chapo back to Mexico impact international relations between the U.S. and Mexico?