On Tuesday, Sheinbaum also noted the positive overall perception of the Mexican Army, Navy and Air Force. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum fielded questions about a range of issues at her Tuesday morning press conference, including one on people’s perceptions of the Mexican military and another on a claim in a newspaper column that her security minister was targeted in a recent armed attack.
Here is a recap of the president’s Oct. 28 mañanera.
Sheinbaum: ‘The people trust the armed forces of Mexico’
Asked about the reasons for their high standing, Sheinbaum said that one significant factor is the work the armed forces carry out “at the time of natural disasters,” including this month when flooding affected several states.
“The acclaim, the affection, the recognition of the people” when the navy or army arrives to attend to the aftermath of a natural disaster is “very big,” she said.
“And, in addition, their dedication, as I have said, is enormous,” Sheinbaum said.
The president asserted that “the people trust the armed forces of Mexico.”
“And that is very important,” she said, adding that the same can’t be said about the military of every other country in the world.
Sheinbaum rejected the “idea” that Mexico has been militarized, an argument that has been made for a variety of reasons, including the government’s reliance on the armed forces for public security tasks, the approval of legislation that placed the National Guard under army control and the decision to give the military control of airports and customs.
Although the latest ENSU results show that the Mexican Army and Navy are widely trusted, the institutions are certainly not beyond reproach. Members of both the army and the navy have faced criticism and criminal allegations in recent years, including in cases involving extrajudicial killings and alleged fuel smuggling-related corruption.
Sheinbaum describes claim that security minister was targeted in recent attack as ‘fiction’
A reporter noted that journalist and columnist Raymundo Riva Palacios claimed in a column published in the newspaper El Financiero on Monday that federal Security Minister Omar García Harfuch was targeted in an armed attack allegedly perpetrated on Sept. 14.
Security Minister Omar García Harfuch was targeted in an armed attack allegedly perpetrated on Sept. 14. (Omar García Harfuch/X)
He noted that García Harfuch denied that an attack targeting him had been carried out, and asked the president her “opinion about the lack of ethics, professionalism and seriousness that permeate corporate media outlets and these kinds of journalists.”
Sheinbaum first noted that the security minister had “clarified” the situation, before saying that “we’re going to put a name” to the kind of journalism the reporter described.
“What will it be? The commentators’ fiction novel [or] fictional short story because it doesn’t reach the level of a novel,” she said.
“The commentators’ fiction,” Sheinbaum added.
In his column on Monday, Riva Palacios wrote that an armed attack on a house in the Mexico City neighborhood of Polanco where García Harfuch “usually works every day” was unsuccessful because the security minister wasn’t there at the time it was carried out.
Citing sources “very close” to García Harfuch, Riva Palacios said that “several shots were fired, some of them directly to the terrace, where … [the security minister] usually is.”
Aaron Ramsey's beagle Halo was last seen in San Miguel de Allende near a dog boarding property. The soccer mega-star is offering a US $20,000 reward. (Aaron Ramsey/Instagram)
Welsh soccer star Aaron Ramsey, who joined Mexico City–based Pumas UNAM in July to become one of the few high-profile European players in Liga MX, has doubled the reward for his missing dog Halo to US $20,000 as the search in central Mexico stretches into its third week.
The 34-year-old midfielder said Halo, a 10-year-old beagle, vanished Oct. 9 in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. She was wearing a GPS collar when last seen in the vicinity of Hipsterrier, a dog camp/boarding facility, he added.
Besides captaining the Welsh national team, Ramsey played for European powerhouses Arsenal and Juventus before joining Pumas this year. (X)
“If you have any news about our Halo, don’t hesitate to contact us,” he wrote on Instagram. “There will be a BIG REWARD for finding her. We’re all praying that she’s OK and can be back with us soon.”
Ramsey’s wife, Colleen, publicly questioned whether Halo “simply disappeared,” adding, “She was probably taken. I urge local residents to share her photo. We’re looking for her, dead or alive.”
“We’ve been silent, trying to understand how you can leave your dog at a ranch and never see her again,” Aaron Ramsey added. “No explanation? The cameras weren’t recording, no one found her, no sightings, no body and a bunch of lies. We just want to say goodbye and move on.”
The ordeal has coincided with an extended Ramsey absence from Pumas, one of 18 teams in Mexico’s top professional league, Liga MX. With two matches to go in the current season, the auriazules (gold and blues) are in 13th place with a record of 3 wins, 6 ties and 6 losses.
Ramsey — a former star for Arsenal (2008-2019) in the English Premier League and for Juventus (2019-2022) in Italy’s Serie A — has played in only six of those games, registering one goal and zero assists.
The captain of the Wales national team was first granted special leave by coach Efraín Juárez, which was then extended due to what has been reported as a hamstring injury.
Ramsey’s remark “We just want to say goodbye and move on” led to speculation he wanted to leave Mexico. But Pumas confirmed this week that he has returned to the team’s training center to begin rehabilitation.
Pumas would qualify for the playoffs by finishing in the top 10 in the standings, which is still a possibility. The team has an important home game on Sunday against Club Tijuana at Estadio Olímpico Universitario — the main venue of the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
Ride hailing apps such as Uber have had to cede ground transportation to and from Mexican airports to traditional taxi services. The ruling, if not successfully challenged, changes that policy. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
A federal judge ruled that ride-hailing platform Uber can freely operate at airports across Mexico without being detained by federal authorities.
The temporary injunction — technically a definitive court suspension — will remain in effect until a constitutional appeal is resolved.
The ruling prevents the National Guard from arresting Uber drivers while picking up or dropping off passengers at any of the more than 70 airports in the country. Taxi unions have traditionally held exclusive pick-up rights at all of Mexico’s airports, which are considered federal property.
In a statement, Uber hailed the decision while urging federal authorities to respect the judge’s ruling.
While reaffirming its long-held position that it is unlawful to detain drivers completing app-based trips at airports, the company emphasized the importance of the decision ahead of next year’s FIFA World Cup.
As co-host, with matches to be held in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara, Mexico will need to ensure efficient transportation for the millions of tourists who will arrive during the World Cup, Uber said.
“Airports are the first impression visitors receive and facilitating their mobility would contribute to strengthening Mexico’s international image,” the statement said.
While expressing confidence that the injunction suggests a final resolution in its favor, Uber called on Congress to enact clear regulations allowing digital transportation platforms access to national airports.
Airport arrivals seeking ground transportation have had few options other than airport taxis, prepaid based on destination. (Cuartoscuro)
A new regulatory framework “would improve the national and international tourism ecosystem,” Uber said, insisting that drivers using ride-sharing apps “must be granted access to federal airports to streamline mobility in those areas.”
Neither the National Guard nor the Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation Ministry offered public comment on the ruling.
How taxi permit holders react remains to be seen, particularly in light of past incidents involving taxi drivers and ride-sharing companies in Cancún and Mexico City.
Earlier this month, taxi drivers at Mexico City’s International Airport alleged that federal officials managing airport operations had an illegal arrangement with ride-sharing services, according to the magazine Proceso.
Taxi drivers accused airport managers of selectively enforcing the law preventing Uber drivers from entering airport grounds and claimed that private interests were benefiting at the expense of the taxi union concessions.
At the time, taxi companies were still expressing hope that they would have exclusive rights at airports during the World Cup.
Intercam, CIBanco and Vector all denied the accusations the U.S. government leveled against them.
The United States government effectively killed off three Mexican financial institutions by accusing them of laundering money for drug cartels and announcing a ban on transactions between them and U.S. banks.
Four months after the U.S. Department of the Treasury made public its accusations against the banks Intercam and CIBanco and the brokerage firm Vector, all three of the financial institutions have ceased to operate in Mexico.
CIBanco signed a deal to sell off its trust division, while Intercam was acquired by Kapital Bank. (Intercam/Facebook, Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Intercam was acquired by Kapital Bank, CIBanco sold off its fiduciary division before it went into liquidation and Vector’s assets were transferred to Finamex, another brokerage firm.
Jorge Arce, vice president of the Mexican Banking Association (ABM), acknowledged last week that the three financial institutions have ceased operations, and asserted that their exit from the Mexican market was completed in an orderly fashion and in a way that ensured their customers were protected.
“The entire process was very orderly,” Arce told reporters after leaving a banking industry event last Thursday.
He said that the Mexican authorities — which temporarily took control of the three financial institutions — had “worked very well” and “kept us informed” about what was happening.
“Everything landed the way it was meant to land,” Arce said. “The institutions no longer operate; their assets were transferred to other institutions. The customers were looked after and that’s what had to be done.”
The ABM official asserted that the “chapter” in Mexico’s banking history initiated by the United States’ accusations against Intercam, CIBanco and Vector is now over.
Arce said that the episode had taught the Mexican banking industry a lesson about the need to strengthen controls and establish a stronger culture of risk prevention.
Banks and the ABM need to “keep working” to “improve our standards,” he said. Banks need to remain vigilant, make sure they comply with international anti-money-laundering norms and understand the risks of the sector in which they operate, Arce said.
Intercam, CIBanco and Vector all denied the accusations the U.S. government leveled against them, and the Mexican government highlighted that the Trump administration didn’t provide any proof that they had broken the law.
In June, the U.S. Treasury Department said that its Financial Crimes Enforcement Network had determined that the three financial institutions had “played a longstanding and vital role in laundering millions of dollars on behalf of Mexico-based cartels and facilitating payments for the procurement of precursor chemicals needed to produce fentanyl.”
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that “financial facilitators like CIBanco, Intercam and Vector” were “enabling the poisoning of countless Americans by moving money on behalf of cartels, making them vital cogs in the fentanyl supply chain.”
Despite the exit of the banks and brokerage firm from the Mexican market, Arce said that the Mexican financial system is operating normally and remains strong. He also said the sector is “well regulated.”
The United States’ unprecedented orders that effectively cut off Intercam, CIBanco and Vector from completing transactions with U.S. banks didn’t take effect until last Monday. However, even before they went into force, many customers reported problems sending money to Mexico from the U.S. and vice versa.
A total of 103,245 homes have been surveyed across all affected municipalities, and 70,256 people are in the process of receiving financial support to address damage to their homes. (Cuartoscuro)
Mexico’s rapid response to the severe flooding in the center of the country earlier this month has restored all power and reconnected most of the affected communities, the Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation Minister Jesús Antonio Esteva Medina said on Monday.
Over 50,000 homes were damaged across the central and eastern states of Hidalgo, Veracruz, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí and Puebla when Tropical Storm Raymond hit on Oct. 9 and 10, provoking intense rain that caused flooding and landslides across at least 109 municipalities.
Since the disaster, 220 of the 288 affected roads have been cleared, 1,277 of 1,475 schools have been cleaned of debris, and electricity has been restored to 100% of communities, Esteva Medina said during the daily presidential press conference on Monday.
Wellbeing Minister Ariadna Montiel confirmed on Monday that the government continues to carry out work in 119 towns. A total of 103,245 homes have been surveyed across all affected municipalities, and 70,256 people are in the process of receiving financial support to address damage to their homes.
Around 413,965 food parcels have been delivered and 463,682 vaccinations administered, according to Esteva Medina. The government has deployed 53,394 support personnel as part of the response efforts.
President Claudia Sheinbaum thanked the electricians from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), whose work helped to restore power to the affected communities.
CFE deployed 1,602 workers, 503 pickup trucks, 219 cranes, six helicopters and eight drones as part of its response efforts, the agency’s general director, Emilia Calleja, reported on Friday.
The government continues to carry out cleanup and recovery work in 119 towns across Veracruz and Puebla. (Cuartoscuro)
The Morena government’s Wellbeing Program allowed for direct censuses to be taken as part of emergency response efforts, without the use of intermediaries, marking a change from previous national reconstruction work.
Several communities across the region continue to face challenges, including property and infrastructure loss. The region’s economy has also been hit hard, as many have been unable to work and farmers have suffered widespread crop losses.
The death toll from the rains and floods rose to 81 on Monday, with Veracruz recording the highest number of fatalities. Eighteen people remain missing.
A monarch butterfly hangs out for the winter in the forests of Temascaltepec, México state. (Cuartoscuro)
The community organization Alas Mayas (Mayan Wings) has detected a new migratory route for the monarch butterfly that crosses the Yucatán Peninsula, reaching Quintana Roo.
In collaboration with the researcher Dr. Cristina Dockx, Alas Mayas conducted community monitoring for six years, during which they found that the monarch butterfly not only transits but also breeds in the northeast of the peninsula. This was particularly noteworthy on Isla Mujeres, where monarch butterflies have been observed at all stages of development: egg, larva, chrysalis and adult.
During this time, the group recorded more than 300 specimens in San Juan del Río, Yucatán, and nearly 100 in Cacao, Quintana Roo, supporting the hypothesis that this region is part of a new migratory route connecting the United States, Cuba and southeastern Mexico.
The group also revealed they successfully tracked a monarch butterfly with a transmitter for the first time in the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve.
Unlike the forest sanctuaries in Michoacán, where the monarch butterfly migrates annually to hibernate, researchers believe Quintana Roo functions as a natural bridge: butterflies arrive in Florida, cross the Caribbean islands and enter the Peninsula following a route that has been little explored until now.
This Caribbean connection demonstrates that their migration is much more extensive and complex than previously believed.
“The topic of the monarch butterfly here on the Yucatán Peninsula is a novel one that can help raise awareness, so people can learn about them, observe them and wait for them,” Dockx said. “And in the case of Isla Mujeres during the breeding season, learn about them, protect them, conserve them and get people involved, even potentially triggering a (sighting) season like that of the whale shark or the tern,” she said.
As part of their research strategies, the scientists used traditional tagging methods alongside tiny solar-powered transmitters for Bluetooth tracking.
These findings have led to the establishment of the Monarch Butterfly Community Monitoring Network in the Yucatán Peninsula, which aims to continue studying this new migration route.
Alas Mayas has called on the general public to engage through citizen observations, photographs and reports on the iNaturalist platform, where data has been collected since 2021 on the Yucatán Peninsula.
Sheinbaum said on Monday that negotiations with the U.S. on 54 non-tariff trade barriers were “very advanced.” (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
At the beginning of her Monday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters she was “happy” as the Mexico City-Toluca commuter train, “El Insurgente,” would soon run all the way to the Observatorio station in the national capital, where passengers will be able to transfer to the metro system.
“I recommend that you go and see the Observatorio station; it’s really impressive,” she said.
The Observatorio station of the Mexico City-Toluca commuter train will open to the public in January. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
Sheinbaum rode “El Insurgente” on a trial run between the Santa Fe and Observatorio stations on Sunday. She announced that members of the public will be able to travel all the way to Observatorio from Toluca starting in January.
Construction of the railroad linking the national and México state capitals began more than 11 years ago during the presidency of Enrique Peña Nieto. The train line began partial operations in 2023.
US tariffs on Mexico won’t increase this week
During her Q&A session with reporters, Sheinbaum said that she spoke to United States President Donald Trump on Saturday, and revealed that they had agreed to extend bilateral negotiations on trade and tariffs by a few weeks, meaning that a slated tariff increase won’t take effect as scheduled.
In July, the United States agreed to suspend for 90 days a planned increase to 30% of its current 25% tariff on non-USMCA compliant imports from Mexico. The 90-day period expires this week, but that deadline is now inconsequential.
Trump said in July that Mexico had “agreed to immediately terminate its Non Tariff Trade Barriers, of which there were many,” and noted that his administration would be “talking to Mexico over the next 90 Days with the goal of signing a Trade Deal somewhere within the 90 Day period of time, or longer.”
On Monday morning, Sheinbaum said that negotiations with the U.S. on 54 non-tariff trade barriers were “very advanced.”
Sheinbaum said that she and Trump had agreed to speak again in a few weeks “because we’re practically concluding this issue.”
She said that her call on Saturday with the U.S. president was “brief” and “essentially” limited to trade issues.
In addition to the fentanyl trafficking-related tariffs that apply to all Mexican goods that don’t comply with the USMCA, the United States government has imposed duties on a range of Mexican goods this year, including steel, aluminum and light vehicles.
The USMCA, which Trump has undermined by imposing tariffs on imports from both Mexico and Canada, will be subject to a review process in 2026.
Sheinbaum acknowledges US seizure of Mexico-bound firearms
Homeland Security Investigations agents in Laredo, Texas, reportedly seized around 400 firearms and arrested a father and son in connection with the attempt to smuggle the weapons into Mexico.
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson acknowledged the seizure on social media on Sunday, asserting in the same post that “weapons that will not reach criminal hands.”
Sheinbaum said that the U.S. government had reported that 500 firearms were seized in one “publication,” and 400 in another.
“Today in the [Mexican government] security cabinet [meeting] 500 were shown,” she said.
“There are 500 weapons that were confiscated in the United States,” Sheinbaum stressed.
She noted that her government has been pushing the United States government to do more to stop the flow of weapons to Mexico, where they often end up in the hands of members of notorious drug cartels.
In late September, the Mexican and U.S. governments announced the launch of “Mission Firewall,”a bilateral initiative aimed at disrupting the southward flow of illicit weapons across the Mexico-U.S. border.
Sheinbaum ignores Trump’s latest ‘Mexico is run by cartels’ claim
A reporter noted that Trump recently spoke about Sheinbaum and Mexican drug cartels, and asked the president about a “possible” U.S. “offensive” against criminal groups in Mexico and other Western Hemisphere nations.
“I have great respect for the president, a woman that I think is a tremendous woman, she’s a very brave woman. But Mexico is run by the cartels and we have to defend ourselves from that,” he said.
Sheinbaum didn’t respond to Trump’s “Mexico is run by the cartels” claim, but reiterated her commitment to “the defense of our sovereignty” and emphasized her government’s rejection of foreign interventionism in the domestic affairs of any country.
“… We’re never going to agree with an intervention or interference in countries,” she said as a significant U.S. Navy flotilla remains in position off the coast of Venezuela.
“Our constitution and our conviction is very clear. [We’re in favor of] the self-determination of peoples, and any conflict must be resolved through dialogue and peace,” Sheinbaum said.
“That will always be our position,” she added.
The president has previously ruled out the possibility that the United States military could target Mexican cartels on Mexican soil. Earlier this year, the U.S. government designated six of those cartels, including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel, as foreign terrorist organizations.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
November in Mexico City is full of Day of the Dead-themed events, including the major spectacle on Nov. 1 — the Day of the Dead Parade. (Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)
They’re here! Our beloved departed have finally come home after a year of waiting. Every November 1, following a centuries-old tradition, the souls of our departed family members return on Day of the Dead for just one night to enjoy a banquet with us, their living relatives.
Although Día de Muertos steals the spotlight every November, Mexico City is also ready to enjoy its “orange season,” dressed in her cempasúchil gown and bathed with autumn’s soft, golden sunlight. Here’s a look at what to do in the capital in November.
Enjoy CDMX’s spookiest puppet show
(Mexico City Culture Ministry)
The Centro Cultural La Titeria is hosting “La chorcha de las calacas,” a children’s puppet show featuring stories from Mexican folklore.
In Mexican slang, chorcha means “chit-chat.” The show is quite literally that: a fun talk between skeleton puppets, accompanied by songs and music by corrido artist Eduardo López, where kids will learn about Mexico through stories and puppetry.
Designed to be enjoyed by children and adults alike, performances are running from now through Day of the Dead on Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m., with a special spooky show on Oct. 31.
Dates: Through Nov. 2 Location: Centro Cultural La Titeria, Vicente Guerrero 7, Del Carmen, Coyoacán. Cost: 150-350 pesos.
‘Alien Queen’ exhibit by Manuela Solano
(Manuela Solano/Alien Queen (2019)/Museo Tamayo)
Mexican artist Manuela Solano lost her sight at the age of 26, “due to an HIV-related infection that was treated negligently,” as sherecalled at the inauguration of her latest exhibit at Museo Tamayo: “Alien Queen/Strange Paradise.”
In 30 large-format self-portraits that were seven years in the making, Solano explores “identity as an act of both survival and subversion.” Solano portrays herself through iconic monsters from pop and folk culture alike — from Britney Spears to the evil mermaid Ursula — as an act of self-inquiry and kitsch rebelliousness.
Dates: Through Jan. 4 Location: Museo Tamayo, Paseo de la Reforma 51, Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo. Cost: 90 pesos.
A Journey to Mictlán
(Fantasy Lab)
“Mictlán means eternal resting place of the dead,” Ayaotekatl, a representative of the Tepanec tribe in Azcapotzalco, once told UNAM’sGacetamagazine. Both folk and pop culture in Mexico have adopted this mythical place as part of their Day of the Dead celebrations.
A great example of this is Fantasy Lab’s “Un viaje al Mictlán” (A Journey to Mictlán) immersive exhibit, running now through mid-November, where visitors can to explore the nine levels of the Mexica underworld.
The idea is to simulate the journey that the Mexica believed the soul undertakes to arrive at its eternal resting place.
Dates: Through Nov. 17 Location: Av. Patriotismo 229, San Pedro de los Pinos, Benito Juárez. Cost: Ticketsstart at 390 pesos.
‘Sobrenatural’: Witchcraft from Xochomilco
(Sobrenatural Xochimilco/Facebook)
No November is complete without a trajinera ride across the Xochimilco canals —and itsominous legends, of course. Every year, people in Mexico City await the opportunity to watch theater directly from a trajinera, like Sobrenatural: Ritos siniestros de las brujas de Xochimilco. Folk stories and nocturnal mysticism come together intheatrical performances mounted on trajineras, Xochilmilco’s traditional boats.
Collected from Mexico’s National Archives, these stories portray the fantastical (and demonic) lives of local sorceresses and witches in 1750, some of whom were judged by the Inquisition in colonial Mexico.
Dates: Oct. 24–Nov. 8 Location: Embarcadero Salitre (Salitre Pier) in San Cristóbal neighborhood, Xochimilco. Cost:Tickets start at 300 pesos.
Ofrenda monument at the Zócalo
(Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)
November in Mexico City is not complete without the annual mega-ofrenda monument at Mexico City’s main square, the Zócalo, the theme selected via a public poll.
This year’s monument portrays the Mexica (better known as Aztec) origin story, which the Mexica believed involved a journey from the mythical location of Aztlan to the site where they built Mexico-Tenochtitlán, their gleaming capital.
Colectivo Zion Art Studio, which designed the monument for 2025, has created a full immersive experience. With four pedestrian entrances, visitors will see an ofrenda that simulates “the arrival of the heirs of the Mexica culture” to Mexico City’s historic center, where the proud Mexica city of Tenochtitlán once stood.
Dates: Oct. 25–Nov. 2 Location: Plaza de la Constitución, Centro Histórico (the Zócalo). Cost: Free.
Calaveritas Run
(Culture Ministry CDMX)
Mexico City just can’t live without her runners — not even in the midst of the Day of the Dead festivities. Proof positive is AS Deporte’s nighttime race across the first section of Bosque de Chapultepec, called the Calveritas Run.
Scheduled for November 1, the race honors the season’s aesthetics by requiring participants to wear their best Mexican skull makeup. For racers who are not exactly makeup artists, there will be ‘calaverita’ stands onsite where one can get one’s face painted.
Theofficial route covers 10 kilometers. However, participants can also win prizes if they complete half the route.
Date: Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m. Location: Bosque de Chapaultepec, First Section, Miguel Hidalgo. Cost:Entrance fees start at 450 pesos for children and 700 pesos for adults.
Ofrenda contest at Chapultepec Park
(Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
Art collectives, students and solo artists will showcase their design skills across Paseo de los Compositores in Chapultepec Park this November, with only 40 winning designs to be selected for the city’s official Ofrenda Contest, hosted by park authorities and promoted by the Tourism Ministry.
Using biodegradable materials, contestants are expected to dedicate their ofrendas “to [Mexican] composers who, with their music, shaped the country’s sound identity,” said tourism authorities in a statement. You can see the winning entries on display throughout the first week of November, framed by Chapultepec Park’s impressive forest.
Dates: Oct. 28 to Nov. 3 Location: Chapultepec Park, Second Section of Environmental Area, Miguel Hidalgo. Cost: Free.
CDMX Day of the Dead parade
(Unsplash)
Even though some people want to believe otherwise, the Day of the Dead parade is not really a tradition in Mexico — not until recently, at least.
Ever since the James Bond movie “Spectre” (2015) created the parade on Mexico City’s streets for an action scene in the film, people have flocked to the capital each year for this massive parade — in which Catrinas, Catrines, marching bands and floats with monumental papier-maché sculptures make their way down Paseo de la Reforma. City officials are expecting 5 million visitors this year, according to local media sources.
If you’re in Mexico City, this spectacle of color, music and, yes, Mexican tradition is worth seeing at least once in your life. You’ll never forget it.
Date: Nov. 1, starting at 2 p.m. at the Lions’ Gate (the main entrance) at Bosque de Chapultepec, Av. P.º de la Reforma 132, Cuauhtémoc, Miguel Hidalgo. Location: The parade starts at the Lions’ Gate in Chapultepec and ends at the Zócalo. Cost: Free.
‘Giselle’ performances at Palacio de Bellas Artes
(Palacio de Bellas Artes/Facebook)
For the first time in five years, the world-famous ballet “Giselle” will again be staged at Palacio de Bellas Artes. Choreographed by Russian dancer Svetlana Ballester, this tragic ballet classic will be interpreted by Mexico’s National Dance Company.
Dates: Nov. 4–23 Location: Palacio de Bellas Artes. Av. Juárez S/N, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc. Cost: Ticketsstart at 165 pesos. Buy them either through the Palacio de Bellas Artes box office (where the elderly, students and teachers can get a discount with valid credentials) or through Ticketmaster on the Palacio de Bellas Artes website.
Complimentary drinks and circus acts sound like a plan designed by The Joker himself, no? Don’t worry, though. The Gotham City Circus — a character-inspired immersive experience featuring fine cuisine, mixology samples (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and circus acts — is perfectly safe.
Aztlán Parque Urbano will transform into the iconic Gotham City of “Batman” fame, where its villain, the Joker, will implement his master plan.
Date: Nov. 15, 6 p.m.–11:59 p.m. Location: Aztlán Parque Urbano. Av. de los Compositores s/n, Bosque de Chapultepec, Miguel Hidalgo. Cost:Tickets start at 500 pesos.
Buying real estate in Mexico has traditionally required cash. But that is changing. (MLS Vallarta)
For foreigners, Mexico’s real estate market has been defined by one reality: purchasing a home required cash. Foreign buyers typically wired full payment into escrow or directly to sellers, and transactions often closed in a matter of days. Mortgages for non-residents were nearly impossible to obtain, leaving most buyers with no option but to pay cash.
That reality is beginning to shift. With U.S.-style financing models entering Mexico’s real estate landscape, buyers now have new options for purchasing property — particularly in high-demand markets such as San Miguel de Allende, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta. While still a niche part of the market, the availability of structured lending could gradually change how and who buys homes in Mexico.
San Miguel de Allende is one of the most popular Mexican destinations for buying real estate. (Unsplash/Daniel Joffe)
Until recently, the vast majority of real-estate transactions in Mexico were completed entirely in cash. The process was quick and relatively simple. However, it excluded many would-be buyers who preferred or needed financing. Mexican banks generally wouldn’t lend to foreigners because they lacked a local credit history or income in pesos, and properties in restricted zones (near the coast or borders) required a fideicomiso — a bank trust structure that added even more complexity.
Developers occasionally offered short-term payment plans, but long-term, U.S.-style mortgages were essentially nonexistent. As a result, Mexico’s housing market largely catered to cash-ready retirees and investors.
The new landscape of U.S.-style financing
That situation is now evolving. Companies such as MOXI Mortgage International, MEXLend, and HIR Casa are introducing mortgage products designed for foreign buyers, especially Americans who want to finance property in Mexico rather than pay entirely in cash.
During a recent meeting with Victoria Ávila, manager of MOXI’s San Miguel de Allende branch, and María Ocampo, manager of the company’s Puerto Vallarta branch, the lender shared details about how its model is expanding across Mexico.
MOXI loans are available exclusively to U.S. citizens and underwritten using familiar U.S. standards. Borrowers apply in English, submit American financial documents and repay their loans in U.S. dollars. The company offers three types of loans: traditional mortgages for new purchases, refinancing loans and an “Anywhere Loan,” an unsecured product of up to US $200,000 for borrowers who already own property but need liquidity for improvements or other investments.
The availability of mortgage loans
MOXI’s minimum mortgage loan amount is US $250,000, targeting mid- to high-value properties over US $350,000 in value. Loans carry a 2.99% origination fee, charged in addition to the usual closing costs in San Miguel de Allende, which average around 5.5% of the purchase price. Terms extend up to 30 years, a rarity in Mexico’s financing market.
MOXI is at the forefront of Mexican companies offering U.S.-style financing to foreign real estate buyers. (MOXI)
To broaden access, MOXI is partnering with HIR Casa, a Mexican financial institution that offers smaller loans and financing to non-American buyers. HIR’s programs typically run up to 10 years, filling a gap for buyers who don’t qualify for MOXI’s larger, dollar-denominated loans.
Meanwhile, brokers such as MEXLend provide mortgage options from multiple lenders, offering both peso- and dollar-denominated loans to domestic and international clients. Together, these institutions signal that Mexico’s property market is becoming more sophisticated, with financing alternatives slowly replacing the long-standing “cash only” model.
A potential shift in the market
Local professionals say the growth of mortgage products may not transform the market overnight, but it’s already influencing buyer behavior.
“Financing doesn’t dominate our market, but it’s becoming part of the conversation,” says Ernesto Kiang Chong, a Mexican realtor with eight years of experience at CDR Forbes Real Estate in San Miguel de Allende. “It’s helpful for buyers who want flexibility, but sellers and agents also need to understand how loans affect timing, paperwork and closing.”
When it’s time to sell: the challenge of removing a lien
While financing opens the market to new buyers, it can also create challenges when it comes time to sell. Homes purchased with a mortgage carry a lien held by the lender, and that lien must be fully released before ownership can be transferred to a new buyer.
This can become complicated if the seller intends to use the proceeds from the sale to pay off the loan. “If the funds from the buyer need to go directly to the lender, there can be hesitation,” explains Chong. “Buyers want assurance that the lien will be cleared before title transfers, but the payoff and release process can take time. That sometimes delays closings and causes frustration on both sides.”
New financing options make it easier for foreign buyers to purchase homes in Mexico, like this one in Los Cabos. (Maravilla Los Cabos)
In the United States, escrow agents routinely coordinate lien payoffs and releases as part of closing, often in a single day. In Mexico, however, the process can be more cumbersome, involving coordination among the lender, notary and local property registry. The lender must issue a carta de liberación (release letter), and that document must be officially recorded before the new deed can be executed.
If any of these steps are delayed — such as wire transfers, document verification or registry updates — the closing may be postponed by days or even weeks. For sellers depending on the proceeds to fund another purchase, those delays can be particularly stressful.
Managing expectations
To avoid problems, Chong recommends early planning. Sellers with financed properties should contact their lender well in advance to request a formal payoff statement and confirm how long it will take to obtain the lien release. Working with an escrow company experienced in cross-border transactions can also help ensure that payoff and closing funds are handled correctly.
Buyers, meanwhile, should be prepared for longer timelines when purchasing a property that still carries a loan. Coordination between the lender, notario and escrow service is essential for a smooth handover.
Because financing remains relatively new in Mexico’s property market, Chong emphasizes that it’s important for buyers and sellers to work with a real estate professional who understands cross-border lending and can guide them through the process. “A good agent can anticipate timing issues, explain lender requirements, and keep communication flowing between all the parties,” he says. “That can make the difference between a smooth closing and a very frustrating one.”
A knowledgeable realtor can also help buyers evaluate the pros and cons of different financing options, coordinate with escrow and the notario, and ensure the lien release and registration steps are completed properly at resale.
A market in transition
A transformational shift has occurred in the Mexican real estate market, making it easier than ever for foreigners to get financing. (MEXLAW)
Financing in Mexico is still a relatively small segment of the overall market, but the presence of companies like MOXI, MEXLend, and HIR Casa represents a gradual shift toward greater accessibility and standardization. Cash transactions will continue to dominate for the foreseeable future, yet the ability to secure a long-term mortgage makes owning a home in Mexico more feasible for a broader range of buyers.
As lenders, agents and notarios gain more experience with these transactions, processes should become faster and more predictable. For now, each financed sale still involves a learning curve.
Even so, the impact is being felt. “It’s not a revolution,” Chong says, “but it’s definitely an evolution. Buyers have more choices, and that’s good for the market.”
The bottom line
The introduction of U.S.-style mortgage products in Mexico offers a promising new avenue for qualified buyers — especially Americans — to purchase property. It’s a welcome development in a market long dominated by cash deals, but one that also comes with added layers of complexity, from origination fees to lien management at resale.
As Mexico’s real estate sector continues to mature, working with an experienced agent who understands both the benefits and the challenges of financing will help buyers and sellers navigate this changing landscape with confidence.
Glenn Rotton is a real estate agent with eight years of experience in San Miguel de Allende. Originally from Seattle, he has lived in Mexico for twelve years with his husband, Kiang Chong Ovalle, and their dog, Angus. Read more about Glenn here.
Lando Norris joins a select list of winners at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez over the past decade, including Verstappen (five wins), Lewis Hamilton (two), Nico Rosberg and Carlos Sainz Jr. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
British pilot Lando Norris climbed atop the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship leader board with a convincing 30-second victory in front of approximately 150,000 fans at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for Sunday’s Mexican GP.
Norris started in the pole position and held off challenges in the frenetic early stages of the race, fending off moves by four cars at the first turn. He stayed out in front, extended his lead and was unchallenged thereafter.
Red Bull test driver Ayumu Iwasa warms up Friday in Mexico City. (Formula 1/X)
Norris finished in 1:37:58.574, well ahead of Ferrari’s Charles LeClerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the winner of the last four Drivers’ Championships.
Norris joins a select list of winners at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez over the past decade, including Verstappen (five wins), Lewis Hamilton (two), Nico Rosberg and Carlos Sainz Jr.
With the 25 points earned for winning Sunday, Norris leapfrogged McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in the drivers’ standings. He now has 357 points, one more than stablemate Piastri (who finished fifth), and well ahead of third-place Verstappen (321 points).
Verstappen nearly chased down LeClerc for second, but the Frenchman responded well to claim the silver by just 0.725 seconds. In his first full season as an F1 pilot, 20-year-old Ollie Bearman staved off a move by Piastri to cross the line in fourth place, a career-best finish.
The results further confirmed McLaren’s dominance this season. McLaren had already clinched its second consecutive Constructors’ Championship, and Sunday’s performance by Norris and Piastri steered McLaren to a whopping 357-point lead over Ferrari (713 to 356).
Verstappen tips cap to Checo Pérez
During the pre-race drivers’ parade, the Belgian-born Verstappen paid tribute to former teammate Checo Pérez, striking a conciliatory tone with the Mexican public when asked about his former partnership with the Guadalajara driver.
Red Bull’s Verstappen won the Mexican GP in 2023 with a time of 2:02:30.814. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
“He’ll be back next year; I’m really happy for Checo,” he said. “For now … I’m enjoying my time in Mexico. It’s always incredible to see how passionate the crowd is.”
Verstappen has had a testy relationship with Mexican fans in recent years as he and Pérez experienced friction while partnered at Red Bull.
As Red Bull’s No. 2, Pérez helped Verstappen win the Drivers’ Championship each year from 2021-2024. Red Bull also won the Constructors’ trophy in 2022 and 2023 as Pérez finished third in 2022 and second overall in 2023.
Last year was a difficult one for Pérez, who complained that the team prioritized Verstappen’s car at his expense, and the Mexican pilot was let go at the end of the season.
