White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been criticised for suggesting a border wall would have stopped Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman bringing drugs into the US.

Ms Sanders implied the conviction of the Mexican drug lord – found guilty of 10 charges related to narcotics trafficking in a US court on Monday – proved the threat posed by cartels south of the border was “real”.

The senior Trump administration official tweeted: “El Chapo’s reign of terror is over. He’ll spend the rest of his life in a maximum security prison. The threat from violent drug cartels is real – we must secure our border.”

Yet some commentators ridiculed her attempt to connect the court case with the border wall issue, pointing out Guzman constructed underground tunnels and flew drugs into the US – methods a wall would do nothing to stop.

Others on social media noted his arrest was not the result of a hard border, but co-operation between US and Mexican authorities. The cartel leader was arrested in Los Mochis, Sinaloa in 2016, then extradited to stand trial in Brooklyn, New York.

Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen Show all 20 1 /20 Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen Supporters yell as protesters are removed at Trump rally in Texas on February 11 Getty Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen A supporter dressed as a border wall before the rally Reuters Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen A man is restrained after assaulting members of the media including a BBC cameraman at the rally AP Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen President Trump arrives for a rally in El Paso AFP/Getty Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen Trump supporters react as a couple are escorted from their seats Reuters Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen A supporter shows off a Trump doll while waiting for the rally Reuters Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen Linda Padilla Dewiler, originally from Mexico, poses with a sign as Trump supporters gather to attend his rally AFP/Getty Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen A supporter sports political badges on his cap Reuters Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen Supporters hold signs, one holds an Israel flag, as they cheer for the president AFP/Getty Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen President Trump addresses the rally AP Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen President Trump addresses the rally in front of a large "FINISH THE WALL" banner AP Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen President Trump addresses the rally as supporters hold pro-border wall signs Getty Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen President Trump addresses the rally as supporters hold pro-border wall signs AP Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen Supporters cheer at the rally AFP/Getty Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen Supporters cheer during the rally AP Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen Supporters cheer at the rally AFP/Getty Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen Supporters cheer at the rally AFP/Getty Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen Supporters cheer the president AFP/Getty Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen Supporters cheer the president AFP/Getty Trump Texas rally: Lies, executing babies and attacks on BBC cameramen Supporters wait for the president to arrive at the rally Getty

Despite the objections to Ms Sanders’ tweet, Senator Ted Cruz also tried to link Guzman and the border wall agenda.

The Republican lawmaker has drafted a bill entitled “Cruz’s Ensuring Lawful Collection of Hidden Assets to Provide Order (EL CHAPO) Act” that would direct money forfeited by convicted drug lords to building “border security assets”.

Mr Cruz tweeted: “I urge my Senate colleagues to take swift action on this crucial legislation.”

Lawmakers tentatively agreed Monday night to a deal that would provide nearly $1.4bn (£1.1bn) for border barriers and keep the government funded for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends on 30 September.

The agreement would allow 55 miles of new fencing – constructed using existing designs such as metal slats – but far less than the 215 miles the White House demanded in December. The fencing would be built in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley.

Full details were not expected to be released until Wednesday. But Republican leaders have urged Mr Trump to agree to the deal.

Meanwhile, experts predicted Guzman would be sent to a “supermax” federal prison in Florence, Colorado known as ADX – a facility so bleak and remote that it has been dubbed the “Alcatraz of the Rockies”.

“El Chapo fits the bill perfectly,” said Cameron Lindsay, a retired warden who ran three federal prisons. “I’d be absolutely shocked if he’s not sent to the ADX.”

Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui and Oklahoma City bombing accomplice Terry Nichols are among the inmates at the jail.