Mexico City, Feb. 22 -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warned Friday that any foreign national conducting security-related activities without authorisation will face severe penalties and immediate imprisonment.

"Any foreigner engaging in activities outside the framework of collaboration, coordination and the National Security Law will receive the harshest possible penalty if detained," Sheinbaum said at a press conference.

"We are protecting Mexico," she said, reiterating that the U.S. designation of Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organisations should not serve as a "pretext for intervention in Mexico."

On Thursday, Sheinbaum introduced two constitutional reform proposals aimed at strengthening national security and sovereignt...