El Chapo is playing the Trump card.
Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera, the notorious drug kingpin captured last week after several months on the run in the mountains of Mexico (and one odd interview with actor Sean Penn), is citing Donald Trump in an attempt to fight his extradition to the U.S.
Lawyers for El Chapo filed a legal injunction back in August arguing that Trump's rhetoric on the presidential campaign trail has contributed to a "hostile environment" for Mexicans in the U.S., according to a report from the The New York Times.
As a result, El Chapo's legal team argues it would be impossible for the cartel leader to receive a fair trial in the country.
Trump, a real estate mogul and reality TV star, kicked off his presidential campaign in June with a rambling speech that included controversial unscripted remarks about Mexican immigrants.
"When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best," Trump said during his campaign announcement. "They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists."
The remarks were widely derided and cost Trump numerous business partnerships -- but did nothing to hurt his momentum in the presidential race. Since then, he has only doubled down on this rhetoric, frequently referencing El Chapo.
I love the Mexican people, but Mexico is not our friend. They're killing us at the border and they're killing us on jobs and trade. FIGHT!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 30, 2015
Mexico's biggest drug lord escapes from jail. Unbelievable corruption and USA is paying the price. I told you so!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2015
The U.S. will invite El Chapo, the Mexican drug lord who just escaped prison, to become a U.S. citizen because our "leaders" can't say no!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2015
Can you envision Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton negotiating with 'El Chapo', the Mexican drug lord who escaped from prison? ....— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2015
...Trump, however, would kick his ass!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2015