In the Riviera Maya, sargassum season usually lasts from May to November. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
The government of Quintana Roo has announced that the 2024 sargassum season is officially over.
In the Riviera Maya, sargassum season usually lasts from May to November, although it can vary depending on the climatic and oceanographic conditions of each year. This year, the season officially ended on Nov. 14.
The Riviera Maya saw moderate-to-low amounts of sargassum along its beaches during the 2024 summer season. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
During a press conference, Governor Mara Lezama recognized the efforts of all those who contributed to keeping the beaches clean in Quintana Roo, from the federal government to state employees, civil society organizations and private companies.
Lezama said that this year, 37,000 tonnes of sargassum were collected from the shallow waters and beaches of Quintana Roo’s coast, 60% more than in 2023, when the season closed with over 22,000 tonnes of sargassum.
The budget to collect sargassum and clean Quintana Roo’s beaches this year amounted to 125.6 million pesos (US $6.2 million), Lezama said.
Vice Admiral Ramón Enríquez noted during the press conference that the navy deployed over 300 elements to collect sargassum, as well as a sargassum ship, 22 sargassum boats and a fleet of smaller vessels, in addition to containment barriers, beach sweepers and collector bands.
“We will continue working 24/7, without rest, to have clean beaches,” Lezama stressed.
Sargassum is a brown seaweed that spends its life floating on the ocean’s surface. While it is naturally beneficial to the marine ecosystems in the open ocean, once it reaches the coast, it decomposes and becomes harmful to marine life, plants, coral and human health. It also gives off a foul smell similar to rotten eggs.
Due to climate change, the presence of sargassum has increased on the beaches of many destinations with crystal-clear waters and white sand. While Mexico was one of the first countries to report sargassum on its beaches, this environmental problem affects coasts from western Africa to the eastern American continent.
In Mexico, sargassum affects the entirety of the Mexican Caribbean.
The sargassum forecast for 2025
According to Esteban Amaro Mauricio, director of the Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network, January or February 2025 may see the early arrival of sargassum with a significantly higher concentration expected in April or May.
However, if the trends of the past two years continue, the summer months of 2025 could see a reduced number of sargassum as it may be diverted to the north by ocean currents.
Thinking of abandoning Mexico for pastures greener? The problem might not just be the men, explains psychologist Jenna Mayhew. (Julio Lopez/Unsplash)
Life can be complicated. Whether you’re facing personal dilemmas, grappling with cultural adjustments, or simply trying to make sense of your emotions, we all need a little help from time to time. That’s where Jenna Mayhew comes in. A seasoned psychologist with a deep understanding of both mental health, relationships and crosscultural living.
Every Wednesday, Jenna answers one carefully selected question from our readers. Her approach is grounded in years of experience, a warm and empathetic demeanor, and a genuine commitment to helping people understand themselves better. Whether you live in Mexico, are navigating life as an immigrant, or simply want advice on a personal matter, Therapy Talk is here to provide thoughtful, evidence-based guidance.
Jenna Mayhew (center) and the team at Hola Therapy. (Jenna Mayhew)
No question is too big or too small.
Dear Jenna,
I’m a 32-year-old straight woman living in Mexico City, and I’ve been actively dating for the past few years with the goal of settling down and starting a family. However, I’m beginning to feel that time is running out. Unfortunately, my experiences here have been disappointing — many of the men I’ve met have been unreliable, dishonest, and even downright dangerous. I’m considering relocating to Europe in search of men who are more aligned with my values and who fit the type of partner I’m looking for. While I’d miss living in Mexico, I resent how it has hindered my ability to find a meaningful relationship and pursue motherhood. Should I make the move?
I can sense the frustration and pressure you’re feeling as you navigate your search for a meaningful relationship and your desire to settle down and start a family. It’s not easy to face setbacks, especially when you feel that time is running out.
You may or may not be surprised to learn that this is a common concern brought to therapy in our clinic, particularly by women in their 30s and early 40s. I suspect you’ve had a friend or three with similar experiences. There are many downs, some ups, followed by even more painful downs; and after a few years of consistently putting your time and heart on the line, the question of “Is it me or is it Mexico?” moves to the foreground.
I’m very sorry to hear that you’ve had some unsafe experiences. It’s natural to feel disillusioned after repeated negative experiences, especially when it comes to dating. The emotional toll of meeting people who don’t meet your standards — or worse, who are unsafe — can make anyone question whether it’s worth continuing to try. However, the desire to find a partner and build a family is a profound and meaningful goal. It’s important to acknowledge that these feelings are valid, but also to recognize that this process of searching for love is often more complex and challenging than we’d hope.
Self-reflection could be the key to improved relationships. (Anthony Tran/Unsplash)
While it’s understandable that you might be tempted to relocate to Europe, I’d encourage you to reflect on a few important aspects before making a major decision. Firstly, let’s consider the cultural context around dating in Mexico versus Europe. Research indicates that the dating norms and expectations in different regions — even within Europe — can vary greatly. You may find that, just as in Mexico, dating in Europe also has its own challenges — whether it’s the pressure of online dating, differences in communication styles, or varying attitudes toward commitment. Psychologist John Gottman is famed for saying that “every relationship is a cross-cultural experience” because even if someone was your next door neighbour, each partner grows up in a household with unique expectations around relationships.
On the other hand, cultural differences in regards to relationships exist on a spectrum, and they may be amplified if Mexico is especially different from your own culture. A fresh start can be incredibly invigorating and it may open new avenues for meeting people and exploring different dating cultures.
Secondly, let’s talk about you. Arguably, the best way to attract a healthy relationship is to focus on yourself first. Research shows that people who are emotionally healthy and self-aware tend to attract more compatible partners, and have higher satisfaction and stability in three stages of relationship development: flirtation and dating, relationship consolidation, and relationship maintenance. Reflect on the type of partner you want and whether there are areas of your own life, whether that’s self-esteem, boundaries, communication, expectations and how you treat others when you’re feeling stressed or insecure that you can strengthen.
Even as a psychologist, I don’t believe that everyone needs therapy all the time. However, I do believe that the task of changing relationship patterns is particularly hard to achieve on your own. This is shaped by our earliest childhood experiences — it’s like the water a fish swims in: so ingrained that we often don’t even realise it’s there. While friends can be incredibly supportive, they often cheerlead or act as an ally rather than offering the in-depth reflection needed to break old patterns. A therapist can provide insights into your dating behaviours, help you process past disappointments, and clarify what you’re truly looking for in a partner, so you can develop healthier, more effective relationship strategies.
In the end, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to relationships and finding love. If you’ve already done the work on yourself, feel you’ve exhausted all options in Mexico, and your goal of partnership is enough of a priority, then ultimately relocating may provide a fresh perspective and more options. Whatever your decide, by remaining self-aware and open, you can keep moving towards the relationship that is right for you, whether it’s in Mexico or elsewhere.
Warmly, Jenna
Jenna Mayhew is an Australian psychologist based in Mexico, with over 20 years of experience in Australia, England and Mexico. She is the founder of Hola Therapy, a bilingual practice dedicated to supporting the immigrant and cross-cultural communities in Mexico.
Hola Therapy aims to give back to the community and one way they achieve this is by providing by clinical and financial support Misión México Foundation. https://www.misionmexico.org Misión México Foundation is a charity in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. They provide a stable, therapeutic environment for some of the state’s most vulnerable children, with a focus on safety, emotional recovery and education.
If you have enjoyed the “Ask Jenna” column, please consider giving back by making a small donation to the Misión México Foundation
The mezcal glazed turkey torta is the perfect way to transform that turkey from a dull piece of meat to a smoky masterpiece.
(James Kern/Unsplash)
Your leftover turkey is sitting in the fridge, dry and uninspiring, begging you to give it a second chance. Enter the mezcal glazed turkey torta — a way to transform that turkey from a dull piece of meat to a smoky masterpiece.
Here’s the trick: You take that leftover bird and glaze it with a mix of mezcal, honey, chipotle, and lime. Toss it in a skillet until it’s shimmering and coated, smoky and spicy, practically begging to be sandwiched.
Maybe you’ve got leftovers from your “practice turkey.” The Mezcal-Glazed Turkey Torta is the option for you. (Hybrid Storytellers/Unsplash)
Now, grab a toasted bolillo, and roll on some mayo on both sides. Stack on creamy avocado slices, juicy tomatoes, crisp lettuce, tangy pickled onions, and a hefty handful of shredded Oaxaca cheese. Pile on that glazed turkey, now transformed, and top it all with the other half of the roll.
Take a bite. Suddenly, it’s an explosion of flavors — smoky mezcal, sweet honey, spicy chipotle, tangy lime, and all those fresh toppings getting to know each other. This isn’t just a sandwich; it’s a bird’s redemption story.
Maybe you’ve got leftovers from your “practice turkey”, or maybe you’re reading this later just after Thanksgiving. Either way, where there’s leftover turkey, there’s hope. Hope in the shape of the great Mexican torta.
Mezcal glazed turkey torta recipe
Ingredients
For the mezcal glaze:
2 tbsp mezcal
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp chipotle in adobo sauce, finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp smoked paprika
Salt and black pepper to taste
For the turkey:
1 lb cooked turkey breast, sliced (leftover turkey works great)
1 tbsp butter (for reheating the turkey slices)
For the torta:
4 bolillo or telera rolls (or any sturdy sandwich roll)
4 tbsp mayonnaise
1 avocado, sliced
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 large tomato, sliced
1/2 cup pickled red onions
1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese
Fresh cilantro leaves (optional, for garnish)
Here’s the trick: you take that leftover bird and glaze it with a mix of mezcal, honey, chipotle, and lime. (Eaters Collective/Unsplash)
Instructions
Make the mezcal glaze:
In a small bowl, whisk together mezcal, honey, chipotle in adobo, lime juice, minced garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until well combined.
Set aside.
Prepare the turkey:
Heat a skillet over medium heat and add butter.
Add the sliced turkey and cook until warmed through, about 2 minutes.
Pour the mezcal glaze over the turkey slices in the skillet, tossing to coat the turkey in the glaze.
Let the turkey simmer in the glaze for 2-3 minutes, or until the glaze thickens slightly and coats the meat. Remove from heat.
Assemble the tortas:
Slice each roll in half. Toast the cut sides lightly if desired.
Spread a bit of mayonnaise on each half of each roll.
Layer avocado slices, then add the glazed turkey.
Add shredded lettuce, tomato slices, and pickled red onions.
Throw on some shredded Oaxaca cheese over the fillings.
Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves if desired.
Place the top half of the rollover of the fillings and press gently.
Serve:
Serve the tortas warm, with a side of lime wedges for extra brightness.
Notes for a successful mezcal glazed turkey torta
Oaxaca cheese provides a melty, creamy texture that complements the smoky and spicy flavors. You can melt it slightly if you prefer.
For an extra kick, spread a little extra chipotle sauce on the bread.
Enjoy your delicious mezcal glazed turkey torta with Oaxaca cheese and tomato for a perfect blend of rich, tangy, and smoky flavors! Let me know what you think in the comments!
StephenRandall has lived in Mexico since 2018 by way of Kentucky, and before that, Germany. He’s an enthusiastic amateur chef who takes inspiration from many different cuisines, with favorites including Mexican and Mediterranean. His recipes can also be found on YouTube.
Among the experts and stakeholders speaking at the conference was Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo Montaño. (Alfonso Durazo/X)
The fourth annual Mar de Cortés forum, held in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, wrapped up on Nov. 15 with renewed support for sustainable development.
The forum brought together over 400 thought leaders, experts, business executives and members of civil society from five states – Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit – to discuss solutions to the environmental and social challenges facing the region’s urban areas.
Valeria Moy of the Institute of Mexican Competitiveness (IMCO) told attendees that it was crucial for thought leaders to create concrete metrics in order to ensure that today’s ideas translate into action. (Internet)
Given that “80% of the population in these five states live in the 13 most populated cities,” this year’s theme was “Cities with a Future,” the forum’s general director Juan Pablo Yamuni Robles told the newspaper El Economista in an interview.
The forum had several key takeaways.
Sustainable urban development
The cities that border the Mar de Cortés — also known as the Gulf of California — face shared challenges, including increased urbanization, pollution, overfishing and gentrification. The forum emphasized the need for sustainable innovation and design in the development of the region’s urban hubs.
To attract capital, Yamuni said, “We must give certainty to investors looking to invest in the region.”
Part of the forum’s mission, he said, is to influence public policies that promote a favorable environment for investment. This goes hand-in-hand with strengthening the rule of law, he said.
As the traditional fishing economy of Puerto Peñasco declines, new opportunities are arising in a US $1.6 billion solar farm being built in the Gulf of California city. (Wikimedia Commons)
Valeria Moy, director of the NGO Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (Imco), called on the forum’s organizers to establish clear monitoring and evaluation metrics to ensure that the forum’s collective efforts translate into action.
Expanding alternative industries
The region is well known for its fishing and tourism industries, which bring in US $200 and $500 million a year, respectively. To date, however, sector growth has not been managed sustainably, according to El Economista, resulting in decreased fish populations and environmental degradation. Fishing is therefore becoming increasingly less profitable, affecting the earnings and quality of life of those who make a living from the Gulf of California.
Yamuni emphasized the potential for sustainable tourism in the region, as well as regenerative agriculture and sustainable fishing and mining.
Dennis Frenchman, director of the MIT Center for Real Estate, highlighted the success story of Cabo Pulmo National Park, a protected national marine park in Cabo Pulmo, Baja California Sur, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“For the 20 years that the park has existed, the biomass in the 71-hectare (175-acre) reserve has increased 460%, and, more importantly, the economy has diversified, from a declining fishing [one] to [one based on] conservation and ecotourism,” Frenchman said at the event.
Frenchman also stressed the potential for the fast-growing art and digital media industries in the region, particularly in Baja Sur’s historical city of La Paz, just north of Los Cabos, which has a vibrant art scene.
Update on the Plan Sonora
“I am very pleased to participate in the Mar de Cortés Forum to talk about the Plan Sonora, a project full of economic and tourism benefits for our region,” Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo shared on the social media site X.
Plan Sonora – the state’s sustainable energy and economic development plan – focuses on the development of the renewable energy and semiconductor industries in Sonora, located across the Mexico-U.S.border from New Mexico and Arizona. The initiative is expected to help strengthen bilateral relations between Mexico and the U.S. by encouraging nearshoring investment.
Part of the Plan Sonora is a $1.6 billion solar PV farm in Puerto Peñasco on the north side of the Gulf of California. During her presidential campaign, President Claudia Sheinbaum committed to completing the facility – being developed by the state-owned Federal Electricity Commision (CFE) – in May.
It’s expected to be the largest PV farm in Latin America.
The alleged kidnapping of drug kingpin "El Mayo" Zambada and his arrest in the U.S. has been a major point of tension between Mexico and the U.S. this year. (Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that she asked United States President Joe Biden to provide all U.S. government information about the arrest in the U.S. earlier this year of alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
Sheinbaum told reporters that she asked Biden to provide more details about Zambada’s arrest during their scheduled private meeting time at the 2024 G20 Leaders’ Summit. (Claudia Sheinbaum/X)
“I raised this issue, which has been difficult in the [bilateral] relationship,” she told Mexican broadcaster N+ at the airport in Rio before she boarded a flight to São Paulo to connect to an Aeroméxico flight to Mexico City.
“I just told him that it would be very important for Mexico to have all the information,” she said before agreeing with a reporter that the U.S. president was “receptive” to the request.
The Mexican government has claimed that the United States government hasn’t been completely transparent about the arrest of Zambada and the events leading up to it.
Zambada claims he was kidnapped in Culiacán, Sinaloa, by Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, and forced onto a private plane that took him to the Doña Ana County International Jetport in New Mexico.
Guzmán López, an alleged leader of the “Los Chapitos” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, traveled to the United States on the same plane and was also arrested in New Mexico.
The Doña Ana County International Jetport in New Mexico, where Zambada was arrested by U.S. officials after arriving with Sinaloa Cartel kingpin Joaquín López Guzmán, who was also arrested. (Wikimedia Commons)
Former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador claimed in September that United States authorities negotiated with Guzmán López to arrange the delivery of Zambada to U.S. law enforcement.
He said it was “completely irregular” and “illegal” that a person was “kidnapped via an agreement and taken to the United States.”
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum flew on Sunday to the G20 Leaders' Summit in Rio on a commercial flight with Copa Airlines. She sat in economy seating. (Claudia Sheinbaum/Facebook)
US President Joe Biden flew into Rio de Janeiro on Air Force One. China’s President Xi Jinping made the trip to Brazil for this week’s G20 Leaders’ Summit on what the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called a “special plane.” And Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum touched down for the summit at the airport in Rio on a commercial flight.
Among the G20 leaders who attended this week’s meeting in the Brazilian city, President Sheinbaum was apparently the only one who flew commercial to Rio – and in economy class, no less.
During the G20, U.S. President Joe Biden committed the US to mobilizing at least $10 billion for land restoration and bioeconomy-related projects in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, but he flew to Rio in the un-environmentally friendly Air Force One, nor was alone in his choice. (White House/X)
“We had a stopover in Panama, and after more than 11 hours of flying, we arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,” the president said on social media in a post that showed her reading while seated in the economy section of an aircraft.
The president’s office said in a statement that Sheinbaum, following in the footsteps of her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, chose to fly commercial “in line with one of the principles of her government: republican austerity.”
In addition to saving money, flying commercial allows the current president (and allowed the former one) to show Mexicans – or at least give them the impression – that she is “of the people” or “with the people” rather than above them.
Sheinbaum boarded another commercial flight to return to Mexico from Brazil on Tuesday.
Sheinbaum’s decision to fly commercial is in part practical — former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador sold the presidential plane during his term. But it’s also a choice with powerful political messaging. (Claudia Sheinbaum/X)
Combating climate change was a focus at this year’s G20 Leaders’ Summit, but that didn’t mean that most leaders of the world’s largest economies attempted to limit emissions by flying commercial to Brazil.
As mentioned at the top of this article, United States President Joe Biden flew to Rio on Air Force One after making a stop in Manaus, the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas.
Mexico News Daily could not find any media reports, government statements or other evidence that indicated that any of the G20 leaders – apart from Sheinbaum – flew on a commercial flight to Rio.
Among G20 leaders, at least, Sheinbaum is flying solo on commercial airlines – that is if she can forget about the hundreds of other passengers packed into economy class, also known as “cattle class” in some parts of the world.
A high-flyer, some may say, but with her feet firmly on the ground, or stretched out beneath the plane seat in front of her.
Yumari CEO Andres Díaz Bedolla at the Entrepeneurship World Cup, receiving its US $100,000 prize. The Mexican company won the top prize in the Early Stage category.
The Mexican startup Yumari received an online congratulations from Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard on Tuesday after winning a major prize in the 2024 World Entrepreneurship Cup held in Saudi Arabia.
Yumari CEO Andrés Díaz Bedolla posing with then Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard in 2023 at Mexico’s FASSST Forum. (Andres Díaz/Instagram)
Ebrard’s enthusiasm was certainly deserved, as Yumari’s win made it the first Mexican company — and the first Latin American company — ever to win a top prize in the Cup.
After five days of intense competition involving more than 100 startups from 52 countries, Yumari emerged last week as the Cup’s winner of the Early Stage category – a prize given to companies in the early stages of their development — which came with a US $100,000 award.
Yumari’s digital platform connects international buyers to producers and manufacturers in Mexico and the rest of Latin America that can create custom-made products for them. It specializes in handling the entire production process, from selecting factories and conducting audits to quality control and managing exports.
Young Mexican entrepreneur Andrés Díaz Bedolla, who founded Yumari among his many projects, was interviewed by Mexico News Daily CEO Travis Bembenek in July. His “clear objective” with Yumari, the article noted, “is to make sure Mexicans stand to benefit from nearshoring.”
Indeed, the platform aims to leverage Latin America’s competitive advantages, such as quality materials and proximity to major markets, as alternatives to manufacturing in Asia. Emphasizing sustainability and social responsibility, it targets direct-to-consumer (D2C) products such as apparel, textiles and beauty and home goods.
Díaz said the prize money will continue bolstering the startup’s tech team and upping its artificial intelligence. Yumari is using an AI model to support its clients throughout the entire process: development, factory selection, sampling, production and logistics.
Yumari’s CEO Andrés Diaz Bedolla in October, giving Yumari’s elevator pitch at a similar competition, the 2024 Startup World Cup in San Francisco, where it won in the Mexican Regional category. Click on the image to hear his pitch.
“At Yumari, we are reimagining the future of cross-border trade and manufacturing,” Díaz told the online magazine Entrepreneur en Español. “We are convinced that strengthening global supply chains while supporting regional suppliers can have a massive impact.”
The Entrepreneurship World Cup culminated last week at BIBAN 24, a forum in Saudi Arabia aimed at fostering the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Held in Riyadh, the forum featured 250 speakers, 1,350 exhibitors and over 120,000 attendees.
Top finishers in the competition were selected in categories dependent on the startup’s status: idea stage, early stage, growth stage and innovation track. Yumari was the only winner from Mexico.
The US $200,000 grand prize went to Mismar, a Saudi Arabian company in the growth stage. It won for its “automotive tech and digitized after-sales services that enhance customer experience,” according to Arab Founders, a media platform that covers startups and venture capital in the Arab world.
Overall, more than US $1 million was given out as prizes, Arab Founders noted. Co-organized by the Global Entrepreneurship Network and Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, BIBAN 24 is one of the world’s largest and most diverse pitch competitions and support programs.
MND Perspectives: Will Mexico benefit from nearshoring?
Learn more about the opportunities and potential pitfalls Mexico could encounter as it embraces nearshoring, in the Mexico News Daily podcast, “Will Mexico Benefit from Nearshoring?”
In the statement, the SE reported that the manufacturing sector accounts for 56% of the total planned investment with an expected value of $36.9 billion. (Shutterstock)
From January through September, private companies announced their plans to invest over US $64.7 billion in Mexico, according to data published by the Economy Ministry (SE).
These investments are expected to materialize within the next two to three years, the SE said in a statement.
A map highlighting the states in Mexico that have received the most investment announcements through September 2024. (SE)
In the statement, the SE reported that the manufacturing sector accounts for 56% of the total planned investment with an expected value of $36.9 billion. This segment includes the beverage, automobile, auto parts, iron and steel and electronic components industries.
Next is the construction industry, with a planned investment of $7.46 billion, followed by the commerce sector with $6.9 billion. Finally, mass media, transportation, energy, professional services, real estate, mining and agriculture make up the rest of the industries with investment plans in Mexico.
The countries that have announced the largest investments in Mexico include the United States, which accounts for 46% of the announcements, followed by companies from Germany with 11%, and Spain with 8%.
Additionally, several other countries have announced investments in Mexico this year, including Canada, India, Brazil, China, Italy, France, Argentina, Switzerland, Colombia, Pakistan, Portugal, Austria, Philippines, Sweden, South Korea, the United Kingdom and Japan.
The main destinations for investments in 2024, according to the SE, are Querétaro (11%), Nuevo León (11%), Veracruz (10%) and México state (10%).
The companies that have announced the largest investments so far this year are Mexican FEMSA group, with an expected investment of $9.9 billion, Amazon Web Services with $4.9 billion, DHL Supply Chain with $4 billion, Walmart with $3.9 billion and Constellation Brands with $3 billion.
Regarding foreign direct investment (FDI), Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said in a conference on Wednesday that Mexico had received $35.7 billion in FDI from January to September 2024, a growth of 8.5% compared to the preliminary result for the same period in 2023.
The official projected that FDI in Mexico at the end of 2024 will be $38.2 billion, a record sum.
According to the GBM’s Nearshoring Barometer 2024, from October 2022 to July 2024, Mexico has seen 118 foreign investment announcements totaling $122.7 billion. However, only $13.2 billion worth of these projects have been completed — meaning that 89% ($109 billion) remains unrealized.
In recent years, Mexico has accepted migrants from Venezuela, Cuba and other countries that refuse to cooperate with U.S. deportations. (Damián Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)
United States President-elect Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he plans to use the U.S. military to carry out his proposed mass deportation operation, an initiative that could result in millions of immigrants being sent to Mexico.
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump shared a Nov. 8 post by the president of the conservative group Judicial Watch, Tom Fitton, who, citing “reports,” wrote that the incoming Trump administration is “prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program.”
The former and soon-to-be president of the United States stated during the presidential election campaign that he planned to carry out “the largest deportation operation in American history,” but until Monday he hadn’t indicated that he would use the military to execute it.
Reuters reported earlier this month that Trump was “expected to mobilize agencies across the U.S. government to help him deport record numbers of immigrants.”
As president, Trump will have the authority to declare a national emergency to support his deportation operation, thus “unlocking standby powers that include redirecting funds lawmakers had appropriated for other purposes,” The New York Times reported.
“During his first term, … Mr. Trump invoked this power to spend more on a border wall than Congress had been willing to authorize,” the newspaper said.
Trump will have the authority to declare a national emergency to support his deportation operation, which is the same strategy he used to allocate more money to the border wall during his first term. (File photo/Andrea Hanks for the White House)
The Times also reported that “one major impediment to the vast deportation operation that the Trump team has promised in his second term is that Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, lacks the space to hold a significantly larger number of detainees than it currently does.”
However, it noted that Stephen Miller, Trump’s top immigration policy adviser, said in late 2023 that military funds would be used to build “vast holding facilities that would function as staging centers” for immigrants as their cases progressed and they waited to be flown to other countries.
The news website Axios reported that “Trump’s mass deportations are expected to impact roughly 20 million families” across the United States.
There are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States, a significant number of whom are Mexican. Former foreign affairs minister and current Environment Minister Alicia Bárcena said in February that there were 5.3 million undocumented Mexicans living in the United States.
In addition to Mexicans, the United States could attempt to deport nationals of other countries, such as Venezuelans, Nicaraguans and Cubans, to Mexico.
Citizens of those nations “are sometimes unable to be deported to their origin countries for diplomatic reasons,” The New York Times reported.
Mexico ‘must be ready’ for mass deportations, but is it?
In addition to Mexicans, the United States could attempt to deport nationals of other countries, such as Venezuelans, Nicaraguans and Cubans, to Mexico. (DHS/X)
“Trump has the support of the citizens and that means that what is politically incorrect can be politically viable,” she said.
Sheinbaum, who spoke to Trump by telephone two days after his Nov. 5 election victory, hopes that Mexican officials can meet with the incoming president’s transition team before he takes office on Jan. 20 to put forward a case against mass deportations.
The United States economy would inevitably suffer from the deportation of a large number of workers, a point Mexican officials would likely raise with members of Trump’s team.
Nevertheless, it appears likely that Mexico will receive a significant number of deportees during Trump’s second term as president, if not the millions he has promised to expel.
Senda de Vida, a migrant shelter in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, already receives between 40 and 100 migrants every day. “Neither the shelters nor the border area nor Mexico are ready for this,” the shelter’s manager Héctor Silva told the Washington Post. (@OIM_Mexico/X)
The Washington Post reported last week that migrant advocates in Mexico “are alarmed at what’s coming,” noting that they have said that “sending millions of jobless Mexicans back to towns they left years ago could create chaos in areas already suffering from poverty and organized crime.”
The Post spoke to two men who run migrant shelters on the Mexico-U.S. border for an article it headlined “Trump promised mass deportations. Mexico isn’t ready.”
“Neither the shelters nor the border area nor Mexico are ready for this,” Héctor Silva, a Protestant pastor who runs the Senda de Vida migrant shelter in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, told the Post.
Migrant shelters in Mexico’s border cities already struggle to accommodate migrants who make the long and dangerous journey through the country in their attempt to reach the United States.
Francisco Gallardo, a Catholic priest who runs the Casa del Migrante shelter in Matamoros, another border city in Tamaulipas, told the Post that “no one is prepared for deportations” of the magnitude Trump has spoken about.
“Neither the governments nor the civil society organizations,” he said.
Sheinbaum has appeared optimistic that the number of immigrants deported won’t be as high as the incoming U.S. president has said it will be. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)
Adam Isacson, a migration analyst and director for defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), said that deportees to Mexico “will be thrown into a new kind of poverty” because they won’t be able to find jobs with wages comparable to those they earned in the United States.
That situation “will make them more desperate,” he said.
Deportees could even be tempted to work for organized crime groups in Mexico, one of the largest employers in the country, according to a 2023 study.
One person who is less concerned about Mexico’s capacity (or lack thereof) to absorb large numbers of deportees is Arturo Rocha, a former senior immigration official in Mexico.
“We are prepared to receive large numbers; we have done this before,” he told the Post. “But the key question is, how massive will massive deportations be?”
Sheinbaum, who also faces the task of defusing Trump’s tariff threats, appears optimistic — or at least hopeful — that the number of immigrants deported won’t be as high as the incoming U.S. president has said it will be.
Asked last week about the potential impact of deportations on remittances to Mexico, Sheinbaum simply said, “We hope there is no impact,” i.e. that no, or virtually no, Mexican immigrants are deported.
For his part, Trump’s incoming “border czar” Thomas Homan said in October that deportations during the second Trump administration wouldn’t be “a mass sweep of neighborhoods” to detain undocumented immigrants.
“It’s not going to be building concentration camps. I’ve read it all. It’s ridiculous. It’ll be concentrated. They’ll be targeted arrests,” he said.
Michel concluded his video by saying “a Cuban in Mexico ‘has’ and ‘can’ in contrast to a Cuban in Cuba who ‘doesn’t have’ and ‘can’t.” (Screen capture)
A TikTok video, in which a Cuban immigrant compares his experiences in Mexico City to the life he left behind back home, has gone viral.
Michel Crónicas has made a name for himself chronicling his life in Mexico and his latest TikTok video — in which he lauded the freedoms and cultural events he has found in Mexico City, and the ready access to basic goods and services — has sparked a flurry of reactions.
The video shows clips of Michel describing his life from various places around the Mexican capital, each beginning with some iteration of his trademark phrase “I am a Cuban in Mexico and I can …”.
“I am a Cuban in Mexico and I’ll tell you the truth. I am a Cuban in Mexico and I can buy many types of bread … and I have many options for public transportation … and I can even buy clothing and shoes on the street.”
The TikToker highlighted aspects of Mexico City life that chilangos (residents of the capital) take for granted, but might be seen as luxuries for people coming from countries with fewer liberties. Among them were the freedom to simply walk on the sidewalk, to hail a cab, to attend concerts and cultural events.
Michel concluded his video by saying “a Cuban in Mexico ‘has’ and ‘can’ in contrast to a Cuban in Cuba who ‘doesn’t have’ and ‘can’t.”
The video had received 68,000 “likes” and almost 3,000 comments through the weekend, according to the Cuban digital outlet CiberCuba. The most animated comments were posted by Cubans and Mexicans, though the video touched a chord around the world.
Many Mexicans responded with pride, according to CiberCuba, grateful for the emotion and admiration Michel demonstrates for his adopted country, while others mused that freedoms in Mexico are often presupposed.
“Cubans know how to speak more beautifully about Mexico than Mexicans themselves, thank you,” wrote one commenter, while another added, “Here, you are also Mexican, my friend.” Yet another commented, “Many Mexicans do not value the independence and freedom we have in this beautiful country”
Cubans living abroad also spoke up. “I understand you perfectly; I also left Cuba and the difference is enormous,” wrote one expat, according to the newspaper El Universal.
Two Cubans now residing in Mexico were equally emphatic. “I am Cuban in Mexico and I love this country; I truly value my life here,” wrote one, while another added, “I have been living here for 26 years, and I love this country and its kind people.”
Many analysts say Cuba is experiencing its worst crisis in three decades. Food and energy shortages affect more than half of the island’s population, while the high cost of fuel has made public transport nearly obsolete.
