Texas Governor Greg Abbott has formally requested the immediate extradition of Reynaldo Mata-Rios, who is accused of murdering Texas Facilities Commissioner Eddy Betancourt. The alleged crime occurred on Saturday, after which Mata-Rios reportedly fled to Mexico.
Governor Abbott issued a statement expressing his condolences and calling for cooperation from Mexican authorities. “Cecilia and I are deeply saddened by the senseless murder of Commissioner Eddy Betancourt, whose life was tragically taken on Saturday,” said Governor Abbott. “Betancourt was a patriot who served as Texas Facilities Commissioner with integrity and professionalism. I am formally demanding that President Claudia Sheinbaum and the Mexican government coordinate with the U.S. government to extradite alleged murderer Reynaldo Mata-Rios to Texas so he can face justice. Those who harm Texans must not be allowed to flee ‘across the Rio Grande’ and from there ‘taunt and defy the citizens of Texas,’ as Governor Coke stated almost 150 years ago. Instead, the Mexican government—if it wishes to be deemed ‘a friendly power’—must refuse to be ‘a sanctuary and place of refuge’ for those who murder Texans and ensure that they will go through due process and face the consequences of their actions.”
The Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott is part of the executive branch of state government, led by Abbott since his election in 2014. The office supports border security efforts, economic development, education enhancement, and other initiatives across Texas (https://gov.texas.gov/). It also maintains its primary offices in Austin at the State Insurance Building (https://gov.texas.gov/).
Governor Abbott’s administration has been recognized for advancing initiatives such as Operation Lone Star for border security (https://gov.texas.gov/) and has received national attention; Greg Abbott was named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2024 (https://gov.texas.gov/).
The governor’s demand highlights ongoing concerns about cross-border crime and calls for international cooperation in criminal justice matters.
