The migrants were being held in Juchitán, Oaxaca, when they were found. (Fiscalía Oaxaca)
Authorities in Oaxaca rescued 174 migrants, including 41 minors, on Wednesday in a coordinated operation that highlights the dangerous conditions faced by those traveling northward amid fears of stricter U.S. immigration policies under president-elect Donald Trump.
The joint effort, led by the Oaxaca Prosecutor’s Office (FGEO) with assistance from the Defense Ministry (Sedena), the National Guard (GN) and police, took place in Juchitán, Oaxaca, in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region.
The majority of the migrants had traveled from South America, with Venezuelans making up the largest group. (Fiscalía Oaxaca)
Authorities found migrants of various nationalities in five simultaneous actions. Those rescued included 75 Venezuelans, 26 Hondurans, 22 Ecuadorians, 17 Colombians and single-digit totals from Guatemala, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and elsewhere.
Officials reported that some of those rescued were being held against their will, underscoring the risks of kidnapping and exploitation faced by those traveling through Mexico. Four people were arrested and are in custody.
The migrants are receiving medical evaluations and humanitarian assistance under the supervision of the National Migration Institute (INM).
The rescue occurred in the vicinity of the “Cristo Vive” caravan, which began with 1,600 people. It is not clear from official statements whether the rescued migrants were part of the caravan or simply taking a similar route north. It is also possible that some migrants would have preferred not to be “rescued,” a term which the Mexican government uses both for victims of kidnapping and migrants who have paid hundreds US dollars or more for human traffickers to transport them north.
Migrant advocate Luis Rey García Villagrán said many migrants are seeking to enter the U.S. now due to fears that their entry would be even more difficult once Donald Trump returns to the U.S. White House. (File photo)
The recent rescue followed the Nov. 9 rescue of 71 migrants in the same region, signaling a rising trend in migrant apprehensions as caravans continue their journeys toward the United States. Among them were 19 minors.
“Migrants are desperate to cross before the U.S. shuts its doors entirely,” said Luis Rey García Villagrán, a human rights advocate who leads caravans northward from Chiapas. He noted that Trump’s election has spurred fears of a looming humanitarian crisis, with reports indicating up to 1,000 individuals crossing Mexico’s southern border daily.
Human rights organizations report that many of those migrants endure grueling conditions, including extortion, deception and kidnappings, as they traverse through southern Mexico.
García Villagrán confirmed that the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) has issued precautionary measures aimed at protecting migrants during their difficult journey.
The “Cristo Vive” caravan currently trekking through Oaxaca is facing harsh conditions, including low temperatures, strong winds, and various pains and illnesses. On a typical day recently, they walked about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from one municipality to another.
Medical-aid groups such as Doctors Without Borders have been treating migrants suffering from respiratory issues, dehydration and foot injuries sustained from walking long distances on asphalt. The patients were mainly women and children suffering from colds, headaches, intestinal pain and sore feet.
Despite the CNDH measures, some activists have criticized the CNDH for weakening its oversight and leaving vulnerable populations at greater risk.
2 mil migrantes salieron de #Tapachula, #Chiapas, rumbo a #EUA. Son familias enteras, con niños en brazos, huyendo de las penurias de su país natal. Y esta no es la única caravana que marcha hacia el norte: pic.twitter.com/5Geauz1v5t
The rescued individuals are part of a broad wave of migration surging through southern Mexico.
In early October, a group of migrants in Chiapas was fired upon by Mexican soldiers, causing six deaths.
In recent weeks, caravans with thousands of migrants have departed from Chiapas, intent on reaching the U.S. border before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. The Republican figurehead has pledged to enact sweeping immigration reforms, including mass deportations and stricter border controls.
According to reports, a caravan with some 2,500 migrants left Tapachula earlier this week, less than two weeks after a caravan departed Nov. 5 with about 3,000 people.
"Jalemos con Banda" helped 800 families who have lost income after cartel violence forced many Culiacán businesses to close or reduce their hours of operation. (José Betenzos/Cuartoscuro)
Dozens of banda musicians gathered outside the Culiacán Cathedral in the capital city of Sinaloa, to play Mexican regional music and raise funds in the wake of unemployment and business closures caused by the recent wave of cartel violence.
The main event consisted of 20 music ensembles, including mariachis, playing “El Sinaloense,” a popular song in Sinaloa from the banda genre of regional Mexican music. With traditional instruments like tubas, trombones, saxophones, harmonies and drums, the banda musicians played popular songs including “El Sauce y la Palma” and “El Toro Limbo,” among others.
Culiacán chef Miguel Taniyama donated enough shrimp to make 1.5 metric tons of traditional Sinaloan aguachile. (José Betenzos/Cuartoscuro)
The event was dubbed “Jalemos con la Banda,” a play on words meaning “Let’s get together with the crew.” Besides banda music, it also featured 1.5 metric tons of aguachile, a ceviche-like dish from the coasts of Sinaloa made of raw shrimp, lime and chile.
The funds raised from selling aguachile went towards musicians, waiters, merchants and restaurant owners, who have seen their businesses affected by violence across the state. Organizers also provided grocery donations to waiters and musicians.
Banda extravaganza benefits 800 Sinaloan families
According to local media, the gathering benefited over 800 families whose income depends on the music and restaurant industries.
Event organizer and chef Miguel Taniyama donated the shrimp for the aguachile. The massive seafood dish also required 400 kilograms of cucumber, 350 kilograms of onions and 400 kilograms of lime.
“Hoy volvamos a vivir”: Miguel Taniyama y sus palabras para los culichis desde el ‘Jalemos con la banda’ pic.twitter.com/d8plS4BJ4A
During the event, Taniyama said that the event’s goal was to take to the streets and bring joy back to the population after 70 days of insecurity and violence in the capital of Sinaloa.
“This is the message: We are building peace. We are standing and we are all participating. This is between all of us,” Taniyama said.
Ramón Molina, representative of the mariachi sector in the state, said that the violence and time restrictions have cut off nearly all their work opportunities.
“I want to put out a call for the authorities to turn and look at us. We need to be organized,” he said.
What’s happening in Culiacán?
Since Sept. 9, an internal struggle within the Sinaloa Cartel has plunged the state and its capital city into a security crisis. Murders, confrontations between armed groups and the army, violent car thefts and kidnappings and disappearances have all spiked across the state. Culiacán has been especially hard-hit by the conflict.
The restaurant and event industries have been significantly impacted by insecurity, leading to the virtual disappearance of social events, particularly those held at night.
In early October, just a few days after taking office as president, Claudia Sheinbaum said that her security strategy for Culiacán “would work,” and that there wouldn’t be a “war against the narco,” as it happened during the 2006-2012 administration of former President Felipe Calderón.
“We will always work with the people of Sinaloa,” she said.
However, since her October comments, President Sheinbaum has mostly refrained from directly addressing the ongoing conflict.
Autonomous agencies don't even exist in the Anglo-Saxon tradition, Ebrard claimed on Thursday. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
The elimination of autonomous government agencies in Mexico doesn’t violate the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Thursday.
Nevertheless, in a move aimed at avoiding any violation of the three-way free trade pact, the Chamber of Deputies on Thursday modified a constitutional bill that seeks to disband seven autonomous agencies, including the Federal Economic Competition Commission (Cofece) and the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT).
Opposition lawmakers in the lower house of Congress protested the constitutional bill but were unable to prevent its passage. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Reuters reported Thursday that “the scrapping of the telecoms regulator IFT in particular has stirred concerns among investors and analysts, who had warned it appeared to breach the USMCA … and could result in disputes with the United States and Canada.”
Speaking in Nayarit at the annual convention of the Mexican Association of Private Industrial Parks, Ebrard said “there is no obligation” in the text of the USMCA for the countries that are party to the agreement to have autonomous government agencies.
“… Autonomous is a concept that we brought from Europe, but … the United States wouldn’t sign an agreement with that principle,” Ebrard said.
The responsibilities of all seven of the autonomous agencies the constitutional bill seeks to disband were slated to be given to government ministries.
However, the Chamber of Deputies on Thursday approved a modification to the bill that allows the creation of a new “technically independent” body that would assume the responsibilities of Cofece, Mexico’s antitrust agency, and the IFT. The purpose of the modification was precisely to avoid falling foul of USMCA provisions.
Reuters reported that “analysts reacted positively to the adjustment” made by the Chamber of Deputies on Thursday, “but remained cautious about the implementation of the reform.”
The National Institute for Transparency, Access to Public Information and Data Protection (INAI) is one of the most prominent agencies on the chopping block. (INAI/X)
The responsibilities of five other autonomous watchdog agencies — including the National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information and the Protection of Personal Data (INAI), the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy and the Energy Regulatory Commission — are slated to go to government ministries.
Before it can be signed into law, the bill needs to be approved by the Senate and a majority of state legislatures, requirements that the ruling Morena party should have little trouble meeting.
Opposition lawmakers argue that the proposed reform will have an adverse impact on transparency, Mexico’s regulatory environment and independent assessment of government policy.
Ebrard: Mexico’s new antitrust system will resemble that of the US
Ebrard said that the constitutional reform proposal that will soon be considered by the Senate will, if passed, create an antitrust system that is “almost exactly the same” as the system in the United States.
The new agency slated to take on the responsibilities of Cofece and the IFT will be “a national body” with “technical independence” whose objective will be to “prevent monopolies,” he said.
“In the United States there isn’t a Federal Telecommunications Institute, but there is a Federal Economic Competition Commission, or its equivalent,” Ebrard said, apparently referring to the United States Federal Trade Commission, which has a Bureau of Competition.
At the Mexican Association of Private Industrial Parks (AMPIP) convention, Ebrard said that one agency to regulate telecommunications and economic competition would be sufficent. (Marcelo Ebrard/Instagram)
He said that the government’s view is that it is “too much” to have two bodies — Cofece and the IFT — with similar “characteristics.”
The IFT, like Cofece, has antitrust powers, although they are limited to the telecommunications sector.
Does the proposed reform now comply with the USMCA?
Vidal Llerenas, Mexico’s deputy economy minister for industry and trade, told reporters that the modification to the autonomous agencies bill makes a complaint from the United States or Canada unlikely.
“We do not think it will be a controversial issue,” he said.
Deputy Alfonso Ramírez Cuéllar, Morena’s deputy leader in the Chamber of Deputies, said that the new independent body that will take on the work of Cofece and the IFT will “comply exactly with what is established in the USMCA.”
Giving the IFT’s responsibilities to the Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation Ministry (SICT) — as was proposed in the original text of the constitutional bill — would appear to violate the USMCA.
A new “technically independent” agency will take on the work of the telecommunications regulator IFT and the anti-trust regulator Cofece. (IFT)
According to article 17 in the telecommunications chapter of the trade deal, “each party shall ensure that its telecommunications regulatory body is separate from, and not accountable to, a supplier of public telecommunications services.”
“With a view to ensuring the independence and impartiality of telecommunications regulatory bodies, each party shall ensure that its telecommunications regulatory body does not hold a financial interest or maintain an operating or management role in a supplier of public telecommunications services,” the article continues.
The new body slated to take on the responsibilities of Cofece and the IFT would be “technically independent” but “assigned” to the SICT.
Ebrard: Mexico will discuss the USMCA with Trump in February
Ebrard said Thursday that Mexican officials will seek to speak to Donald Trump about the USMCA in February, the month after he will be sworn in for his second term as United States president.
“I believe that we will have to speak to President Trump about the agreement from February. Knowing him, it’s better to hurry, right? We’re going to do it and we’re prepared for that,” he said.
Trump said last month that he planned to renegotiate the USMCA, which is scheduled for “review” in 2026.
“I’ll … seek strong new protections against transshipment, so that China and other countries cannot smuggle their products and auto parts into the United States tax free through Mexico to the detriment of our workers and our supply chains,” he said during an address in Detroit.
Ebrard subsequently said that Mexico would impose retaliatory tariffs on imports from the United States if the incoming Trump administration slaps tariffs on Mexican exports.
Located in the heart of Mexico City, Palacio de Bellas Artes is famous for its permanent collection, which includes 18 works by renowned Mexican artists and famed muralists of the early 20th century. (Rafael Guajardo/Pexels)
The Palacio de Bellas Artes Museum in Mexico City, one of Mexico’s iconic symbols for arts and culture, is celebrating its 90th anniversary with a series of special events. From a mariachi performance to a light show, conferences, exhibitions and more, the activities aim to celebrate one of the country’s most important cultural venues.
Since 1968, the museum’s exhibition halls have been dubbed the Museum of the Palace of Fine Arts.
Bellas Artes 90th anniversary events
The celebration will take place in the museum’s mural area, and will include the following events:
Tuesday, Nov. 26
The round of events will kick off at 6:00 p.m., with the talk “Alan Glass, Surrealism and the Cosmic Egg.” The talk, which relates to the museum’s current Alan Glass exhibit, is organized by two of the exhibition’s co-curators: U.S. art historian Abigail Susik and Xavier de la Riva, who will discuss the symbol of the egg as an innate entity for surrealism and its presence in Alan Glass’s works.
Wednesday, Nov. 27
The Youth Institute’s Big Band Jazz, featuring young people from different municipalities of Mexico City, will give a concert performing jazz songs and covers of popular songs. The event starts at 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 28
At 6 p.m., a talk titled “To Conjugate in the Future,” will explore the museum’s future and its relationship with art, culture and communities.
At 7 p.m., the museum’s architecture coordinator, Vera Rosenblueth, will present a light show that will illuminate murals in the museum’s permanent collection.
Friday, Nov. 29
At 12 p.m., the improvisation group ensemble 2ConbajoS will perform an interactive show with the public.
The Mariachi Real de Jalisco and the Chorus of the Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández will perform at 4:00 p.m.
The celebration will take place in the museum’s mural area, featuring unique exhibits and musical displays. (Bhargava Marripati/Pexels)
Saturday, Nov. 30
To wrap up, the Buenrostro Group, which combines a variety of musical genres including traditional sounds of jarochos, cumbias, and sambas mixed with rock and jazz, will perform at 4:00 p.m.
In addition to these events, attendees can visit the museum’s several expositions, including the photographic exposition “90 years of the Palace of Fine Arts: Memory of art and architecture.”
About the Palacio de Bellas Artes
The Palace of Bellas Artes was designed by Italian architect Adamo Boari, the same man who designed the Palacio de Correos (the Mail Palace) in the city’s Historic Center. Besides its distinct architecture, the Palacio de Bellas Artes is renowned for the glass curtain of its theater, which depicts the Popocatépetl volcano and the Iztaccíhuatl mountain. The curtain was crafted by the Tiffany Studios in New York.
The venue, also home to the Arts and Literature Ministry of Mexico (INBAL), has hosted performances by great national and international artists, including opera singers, orchestras and various children’s theater productions. It has also been the site of historic moments, such as the fundraising campaign to settle the debt from the expropriation of the oil industry, and Miguel Alemán’s inauguration as president.
Banxico said the governing board “expects that the inflationary environment will allow further reference rate adjustments.” (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)
The national consumer price index increased 0.37% compared to the second half of October.
Both the annual headline rate and annual core rate came in below the median estimates of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.
The decline in inflation in the first half of the month came after the headline rate ticked up in October. The last time the headline rate was lower than 4.56% across an entire month was in March.
Annual inflation for processed food, beverages and tobacco was 3.65% in the first half of November, while non-food goods were 1.17% more expensive. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
At the time, the central bank said that “looking ahead,” the governing board “expects that the inflationary environment will allow further reference rate adjustments.”
Banxico’s board will hold its final monetary policy meeting for 2024 on Dec. 19.
The Bank of Mexico, which targets inflation of 3% with tolerance of one percentage point in either direction, has reduced its benchmark interest rate on four occasions this year.
Inflation for fruit and vegetables rises above 18%
INEGI’s data shows that prices for fruit and vegetables were 18.17% higher in the first half of November than in the same period a year earlier. The rate increased by more than two percentage points compared to the 15.90% reading across October.
Meat was 5.19% more expensive than a year earlier, while prices in the combined agricultural products category (fruit, vegetables and meat) rose 11.33%.
Fruits and vegetables were 18.17% higher in the first half of November than in the same period in 2023. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Annual inflation for processed food, beverages and tobacco was 3.65% in the first half of November, while non-food goods were 1.17% more expensive.
Services were 4.85% more expensive than a year earlier, down from a 4.98% annual inflation rate in October, while energy prices, including those for electricity and gasoline, increased 4.18%.
INEGI’s data also showed that Mexico’s GDP increased 1.5% annually in the first nine months of the year, a significant slowdown compared to the 3.2% growth rate recorded in 2023.
Los Pinos remains more or less untouched by modern man, making it the best place in Veracruz to enjoy the sand and stars together. (Cabaña Los Pinos/Facebook)
We arrived in Los Pinos, a beautiful pine forest with cabins hugging the ocean, next to the hidden coastal town of Palma Sola in Veracruz that barely registered on the map. Perfect, I thought — a place with no Wi-Fi, little cell service, and not a single hotel chain in sight. I was looking to get off the grid, somewhere untouched, and this beach didn’t disappoint. The first thing I noticed was that it had more crabs than people. Hundreds of tiny crabs zipped across the sand like they were late for a meeting, scattering the moment you stepped toward them. They moved with a frenetic energy, like the beach was their city and I was just a guest who needed to behave.
The beach itself was raw and pristine, a stretch of sand bordered by a forest of pine trees, almost like nature’s barricade against civilization. No lifeguards, no umbrellas, just miles of sand and, walking to the beach, I noticed a solitary lighthouse, unsure if it was still active or just a picturesque relic. It didn’t flash or rotate; it simply stood there, like it had been forgotten, overseeing this beautiful beach without purpose or ceremony.
The coastline at Los Pinos is undisturbed. (Steven Randall)
The campgrounds offered two choices: cabins or glamping tents. I’ve always thought “glamping” was an interesting term, a way to experience nature without actually roughing it, my eagle scout comrades would scoff at the very thought. But here, the glamping was just my style, canvas tents with an ocean view, not trying to impress anyone, but just focusing on the natural beauty of the place. The tent came with a basic mattress, a nice antique dresser, stepping out to an ocean view. Part of me wanted the cabin—four walls sounded comforting. But if I was here to be “off the grid,” I figured, I might as well embrace it. I took the tent.
Night fell quickly in Los Pinos, as if someone flipped a switch. One minute the sun was setting, and the next, we were left with only stars. The friendly employees hauled over a wheelbarrow full of firewood, and were more than willing to help me start the fire. Mesmerizing campfire, check. Large ice cold lager, check. Sounds of the ocean just a baker’s dozen meters away, check.
The next morning, I woke to the sound of waves and sunlight streaming into the tent. The crabs were gone, back in their burrows or wherever it is crabs sleep. I strolled down the beach, breathing in the salty air and the stillness, feeling like I had the world to myself.
The best discovery of Los Pinos was their restaurant next to the cabins, selling shrimp empanadas. What I bit into was unreal — a crispy crust filled with fresh, succulent shrimp with perfectly spicy salsa in the style of “chile seco”. They were, hands down, the best shrimp empanadas I’ve ever had in my life. It was the kind of flavor that makes you rethink every other empanada you’ve ever eaten.
Those with more refined tastes might opt for the “glamping” option over the basic tent. (Stephen Randall)
Afterward, I sat by the shore, letting the morning pass. There was nothing else to do, and that was exactly the point. I’d come to Los Pinos looking for an escape and found it in a quiet beach, a forgotten lighthouse, and a bunch of tiny crabs who let me share their world, if only for a little while.
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.
Whatever you want on a night out, Mexico City probably has it. If you're looking for cool, then you'll find it on our list. (Orbita/Local MX)
When it comes to Mexico City nightlife, the scene is always changing. Sometimes, it’s the legendary fixtures that are popular. Sometimes, it’s undiscovered treasures that keep the energy going until the early hours. With some of the best clubs in the world, CDMX has something for everyone. Now, there’s a newcomer on everyone’s lips: El Micky.
If you haven’t heard of it, let me be the first to let you in on the not-so-secret secret. But beyond El Micky, here’s a rundown of some of the hottest places in town to grab a drink, let loose and soak in the nightlife.
El Micky
(El Micky/Instagram)
El Micky opened two years ago, but it’s the latest darling of the city’s nightlife scene, with a relaxed vibe that feels like you’re stepping into a close friend’s home — most of the decor on the walls is actually donations from friends of the owner. Think low lights, mismatched furniture and bartenders who treat you like an old friend.
Get here early or risk not getting in. The highlight of the place is the music, which ranges from jazz to pop, and features very sweaty cumbia and corridos night, with live sets popping up on weekends. This spot has all the magic you need for those nights when you go out for one drink but accidentally stay out until 3 a.m.
Veri Bari
Union Veri Bari (Revista Generación/Facebook)
If speakeasies are your thing, then Veri Bari is a must. More than a bar, it’s a collective born from a simple idea: to bring people together for good food, good music and good drinks without spending tons of money. Veri Bari doesn’t have a fixed location; instead, it hosts pop-up events in unexpected spots across Mexico City, from art galleries and historic buildings to private rooftops.
Each event has its own personality, with curated menus and live music. Following them on social media is essential if you want to catch their next event. Tracking down their latest location might feel like a bit of a treasure hunt, but the experience is well worth the search.
Cananea
(Cananea/Instagram)
For those craving something a little more cantina-like but still effortlessly cool and casual, Cananea should be high on your list. Nestled in the ever-trendy La Juárez, Cananea exudes old-school charm, with dim red lights casting a cozy glow, pool tables inviting some friendly fun and a jukebox spinning classic tunes. The menu covers a solid range of cocktails, wines and local craft beers, all at reasonable prices, making it an easy spot to settle in for a long night. If you’re feeling adventurous, order their tongue grilled cheese — a surprisingly mouth-watering twist on an American classic that pairs perfectly with a smoky mezcal. Trust me, you’ll be thanking me for that tip!
La Vista
(La Vista Bar/Instagram)
Sound bars are the latest craze in Mexico City, and La Vista is one of the most impressive around. With a chic, minimalist interior design that mirrors the sophistication of its cocktail menu, La Vista is a feast for the senses. Here, the music is an art form: DJs play exclusively vinyl records, hand-picking each track to create a rich, immersive experience that goes beyond your average playlist. Every detail is curated to perfection, from the acoustics to the lighting, giving you a night that feels elevated and intimate. But be warned: La Vista is one of the hottest spots in town right now, so showing up without a reservation might leave you out.
Órbita
@local_mx 〠♪Desde el Japón de los años 50 hasta la Ciudad de México del 2024, los listening bars se extienden por todo el mundo. @ooooorbita es uno de ellos. Con su comida, cocteles y una distribución espacial que está en constante movimiento e innovación, se trata de un refugio retrofuturista para los amantes de la música. Si quieres escapar de las playlists curadas por el algoritmo, este es tu lugar. 📍Orizaba 115, Roma Nte. ☞︎ Jueves a Lunes 8 am – 2 am #localmx#agendalocal#cdmxlife#listeningbar#bar#cocktailbar#desayunos#laromamx#coloniaromacdmx♬ Seventeen – Ladytron
Órbita works as a coffee shop serving breakfast during the day and transforms into a super hip bar at night. They are dedicated to expanding Mexican culture, so their cocktails recreate classics, like a Hai-Boll, with local produce and spice. The music is amazing, so don’t resist the dancing urge that you might feel. They also serve Mexican food: I ordered the quesabirrias and can’t wait to go back for more.
Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer and cultural promoter and is Editor in Chief of Newsweek en Español magazine.
President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasizes a point during her daily press conference on Thursday morning. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan and the lower house of Congress’ approval of a constitutional bill that seeks to eliminate seven watchdog agencies were among the topics President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about at her morning press conference on Thursday.
A migrant mother and her children heading toward the U.S. border camp for the night in Acajete, Puebla, in May. President Sheinbaum was asked by reporters about U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to conduct mass deportations of migrants in the U.S. (Mireya Novo/Cuartoscuro)
‘We don’t agree with migrants being treated like criminals’
“First, clearly, we don’t agree with migrants being treated like criminals,” she said.
Sheinbaum subsequently said that Mexican officials will highlight to members of Trump’s transition team “the importance of the work” that Mexicans do in the United States.
She said that officials will also attend meetings with Trump’s team armed with information about how much Mexicans pay in tax in the United States. The United States needs Mexican workers, the president said.
If Mexicans are deported, “we will welcome” them and “we have a plan for that, but before that, we’re going to work to demonstrate that there is no reason to deport our compatriots who are on the other side of the border,” Sheinbaum said.
Migrant workers in Florida. (kzoo)
“On the contrary they benefit the United States economy,” she said.
Sheinbaum said that no meetings with Trump’s team have been arranged as yet, but told reporters that she was “certain” they would happen.
‘Those who defend INAI to the hilt forgot about the corruption’
“Those who defend INAI to the hilt forgot about the corruption” in the agency, she told reporters.
The president proceeded to cite examples of corruption and nepotism within INAI that were uncovered by the Federal Auditor’s Office (ASF).
Sheinbaum’s take on the INAI Thursday echoed statements made Wednesday in Mexico’s lower house, where Morena party lawmakers also accused such watchdog agencies of being corrupt and wasteful. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
“Workers and ex-workers have reported that high-ranking INAI managers demanded between 10% and 60% of their salaries every two weeks,” Sheinbaum said before highlighting that the ASF also detected cases of relatives of INAI employees being appointed to positions in the institute for which they were not qualified.
She noted that INAI’s responsibilities are set to be taken on by the Anti-Corruption and Good Governance Ministry (formerly called the Ministry of Public Administration).
“There will be more transparency … [and] there won’t be corruption. … Personal data will be protected,” Sheinbaum said.
“And we’re going to create mechanisms to make transparency mandatory for all ministries,” she said, adding that it will be easy for citizens to obtain information about “everything the government of Mexico does.”
“We even received an invitation to go to China. We received invitations to go to France, to Korea, to Vietnam. … And we also made invitations,” she said.
Sheinbaum said she would consider the invitations to visit foreign countries but stressed that her “main job” is in Mexico.
Numerous celebrity tequila brands, like Santo by Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar, cropped up during tequila's boom years over the past decade. (Santospirit/Instagram)
More than 24,000 bottles of Santo tequila — a brand founded by spiky-haired food celebrity Guy Fieri and 77-year-old rocker Sammy Hagar — reportedly have been stolen in a trucking heist.
“Reportedly” being the key word.
Guy Fieri’s Santos tequila was being delivered from the El Viejito tequila distillery in Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco, where the brand is produced, about two hours’ drive from Guadalajara. (El Viejito website)
It’s not yet entirely clear whether the shipment was stolen or not, say Laredo authorities, although the two trucks delivering the tequila from Mexico’s state of Jalisco to the U.S. appear to have been diverted from their intended destination after crossing the Mexico-U.S. border in Laredo, Texas, and they remain missing.
The alleged crime occurred sometime after the tequila had been trucked to Laredo from where it was produced in Mexico, at the El Viejito Distillery in the state of Jalisco. U.S. media reports of it having been hijacked, however, are false, say Laredo authorities.
“There are no indications that these trailers were hijacked anywhere as alleged in national media publications,” Laredo officials said.
Nevertheless, authorities believe the trailers said to be carrying 24,240 bottles of tequila were diverted at some point during the weekend of Nov. 9-10.
The two trucks set out from the Jalisco distillery on Nov. 7 for a Lansdale, Pennsylvania, spirits importer in the U.S. that handles the tequila for Santo Spirits, which is touted as “premium” — though not the world’s best.
Sometime after it crossed into Laredo, Santo Spirits began getting what its CEO Dan Butkus described to USA Today as “fictitious updates from the trucker … about a breakdown … they were going to have to get some things fixed.”
The tequila disappeared sometime after crossing the Mexico-U.S. border in Laredo, Texas. (ICE)
He also said one of the trucks had used a GPS emulator to show that the product was still on its way to Pennsylvania.
The New York Times, People magazine, Forbes and other media outlets reported the story, most of them noting that the estimated value of the allegedly hijacked tequila was $1 million.
The Times even wrote that it would make for an excellent Hollywood pitch: “a heist movie starring a flamboyant television host and a veteran rock ’n’ roll frontman on the hunt for $1 million worth of stolen tequila.”
However, a report two days ago by the Laredo Morning Times was headlined “Laredo PD debunks $1M tequila ‘hijack’ that belonged to Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar.”
Citing a Laredo Police Department report, the newspaper wrote “further investigation revealed that no force was used and that the tequila … [had] a combined freight value listed at approximately $385,598.”
“At this preliminary phase of the investigation, it is believed that at some point the trucks with the tequila cargo were rerouted to California due to alleged issues with the warehouse at the original listed destination, which is still being vetted,” Laredo’s police department said in a statement.
The Los Angeles Police Department is now involved in the investigation, Laredo authorities added, because of “where both drivers stated the cargo was actually [being] transported to.”
As of Thursday, the cargo had not been located.
Laredo authorities also noted that no force was used, nor was either driver injured, and that the cargo left the Laredo warehouse with the trucking company “hired by the shipper” — although Butkus said his research shows that the job was actually transferred to another trucking company, a practice called “double brokering.”
An article posted on Barstool Sports, a controversial digital media company known for its irreverent and often provocative content, noted on “pure speculation” that “Guy is a marketing wizard.” Part of the headline reads, “Is Guy Fieri the Victim or a Genius Marketer?”
The duo of Fieri and Hagar founded the tequila brand in 2017 out of a desire to make a traditional Mexican tequila without additives. (Sammy Hagar/Instagram)
Fieri, 56, is the host of the TV show “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives,” and the owner of 17 restaurant brands. Hagar fronted his own band for years and also did two stints as the lead singer for the rock group Van Halen, from 1985 to 1996 and again from 2003 to 2005. The two men are friends and founded the Santos company in 2017.
According to Butkus, the missing tequila amounts to about 12% of the company’s annual sales. He said the trucks were carrying mostly cases of blanco and reposado tequilas but that there were also 240 bottles of extra añejo tequila that spent 39 months aging in single barrels — and typically sells for $119 per bottle.
Laredo police said that their only connection to this case is that the freight originated in the U.S. in their city.
“This is an ongoing investigation,” the department stated.
"There are people who have a water concession but don't use it; they even sell it in some cases," Sheinbaum told reporters Thursday. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Reviewing hundreds of thousands of water use permits is a key focus of the National Water Plan presented by the federal government on Thursday.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said that one of the “essences” of the plan is to recognize water as a human right rather than a “good” to be sold.
National Water Commission General Director Efraín Morales López told reporters at President Sheinbaum’s press conference Thursday that only 15% of Mexico’s water is currently allocated for “public urban use.” (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
She noted that the plan aims to “sort out” the water concessions issued to private and public interests over the years and identify those not being used.
“There are people who have a water concession but don’t use it; they even sell it in some cases. … What we want is for water that isn’t being used to be returned to the nation, … even municipalities have water concessions,” Sheinbaum told her morning press conference.
“… Water belongs to the nation. … Fortunately we’ve had a lot of dialogue … with industry and with irrigation districts, and they’re willing … to return water concessions they are not using,” she said.
Sheinbaum said the plan will allow the government to “reduce overexploitation and make water available … for human consumption.”
Water shortages affect various parts of Mexico including Mexico City, where at least 60 companies reportedly have permits allowing them to extract more than 1 million liters of water per day from the Valley of Mexico’s water supply.
Before examining the details of the National Water Plan, it is pertinent to look at how water is used in Mexico.
National Water Commission (Conagua) General Director Efraín Morales López told Sheinbaum’s Thursday morning press conference that 76% of water in Mexico goes to the agricultural sector and 9% is used by industry (including for electricity generation).
The remaining 15% of water is allocated to “public urban use,” Morales said.
The National Water Plan’s objectives and 4 central tenets
The Conagua chief said that the objectives of the water plan are to:
Guarantee the human right to water in sufficient quantity and quality.
Ensure the sustainability of Mexico’s water resources.
Promote responsible water management.
Morales said that the plan is based on four central tenets:
Water policy that supports national sovereignty.
Universal access to water.
Mitigation of climate change.
Comprehensive and transparent management of water resources.
In some parts of Mexico, water scarcity has been a way of life for decades. Some urban areas are unable to provide uninterrupted access to water to all residents. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
The specific ‘actions’ of the water plan
1. Revision of water concessions.
Morales said that Conagua is reviewing all water use permits and identifying “those that aren’t being used” with the aim of reincorporating the volumes of water allocated via concessions to “national availability.”
He said that around 2,600 concessions were issued between 1917 and 1992, but more than 360,000 were granted in the subsequent decade.
The issuance of so many permits led to overexploitation of water resources and other adverse impacts “that unfortunately we’re still experiencing,” Morales said.
2. A water ‘inspection program’
In April, a Purépecha community made headlines when members dismantled makeshift pumps and hoses in Michoacán’s Zirahuén lake, which had lost three feet of water depth, according to the Environmental Ministry. The community said avocado farms were illegally siphoning the water. (Indigenous Community of Zirahuén/Facebook)
Morales said that Conagua, in conjunction with various federal departments and state and municipal authorities, would “implement an inspection program in the whole country to put order to the use of water.”
The aim is to detect illegal, improper and wasteful use of water.
“Our main collaborator will be the people of Mexico, so we make a call to report any irregularity with regard to the use of water,” Morales said.
3. Law changes
Morales said that the government will present reforms to the National Water Law to prevent “any kind of speculation” on water including via the sale of water use permits.
He said that the “neoliberal model” that was in place for more than three decades before former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office in 2018 created an “alternative market” for water and that people “took advantage” and turned water into a “business.”
Some of Mexico’s water use permits originally meant for use by agriculture have in subsequent years been sold to real estate developers and to factories, Morales said.
Offering an example, Morales said that some water permits issued for use in the agricultural sector were sold to real estate developers and factories.
4. Irrigation technology
The Conagua chief also outlined a plan to use technology to ensure the “more efficient” use of water in irrigation.
In conjunction with the Agriculture Ministry, “we’re going to apply technology to more than 200,000 hectares” of agricultural land, Morales said.
“… This will benefit … more than 225,000 farming families and also all the people of Mexico because we’re going to produce more food with less water,” he said.
“… Part of the water we save will be allocated to human consumption and to replenish our aquifiers,” Morales said.
Another way Mexico wants to tackle its water issues is by encouraging farmers to use more modern, sustainable and water-efficient irrigation systems. (Government of Mexico)
Agriculture Minister Julio Berdegué Sacristán told Sheinbaum’s press conference that through the use of technology in irrigation, farmers will be able to “control very precisely how much water reaches each of their plants.”
He said that the Agriculture Ministry estimates that production on land where irrigation technology is used will consequently increase by 51%.
“So this doesn’t just contribute to [guaranteeing] the human right to water but also makes a formidable contribution to the nation’s food sovereignty,” Berdegué said.
5. Infrastructure projects
As part of the National Water Plan, “we’re going to carry out infrastructure projects in the whole country,” Morales said.
A soldier helps a woman and her child escape flooding in Tabasco in 2020. (File photo)
6. Cleaning up rivers
Morales said that on the “instructions of the president,” cleaning up contaminated rivers is also part of the National Water Plan.
“We’re going to give priority to the three most contaminated rivers in the country,” he said, noting that they are the Lerma-Santiago River in Jalisco, the Atoyac River in Puebla and Tlaxcala and the Tula River in Hidalgo.
“For the planning and execution of this program we’re working very closely and in a very coordinated way with the Environment Ministry, with [Environment Minister] Alicia Bárcena and also with local governments,” Morales said.
7. The National Agreement for the Human Right to Water and Sustainability
The Conagua chief said that the National Agreement for the Human Right to Water and Sustainability is an initiative in which irrigators — “the main industrial consumers” of water – educational institutes, communities and all three levels of government will participate.
Residents of Hidalgo at Conagua headquarters in Mexico City in June, demanding a solution to flooding and pollution of the Tula river, which receives untreated wastewater from Mexico City. (Rogelio Morales Ponce/Cuartoscuro)
The ultimate aim of the agreement is for water to be used in the most efficient way possible to ensure adequate supply.
Companies that sign on to the agreement will invest in “making their production processes more efficient in order to save water,” Morales said.
Some companies will also invest in water projects that benefit the communities in which they are located, he said.
“We have commitments for private investment of more than 16.4 billion pesos,” Morales said.
“And as part of this agreement, there will be an awareness campaign about saving water, about the use and care of water,” he said. “This agreement will be signed on Nov. 25.”
How much will the federal government spend on water projects in 2025?
At the conclusion of his presentation on the National Water Plan, Morales said that the government will invest approximately 20 billion pesos (close to US $1 billion) on water projects next year.
He described the “outlook” on the water situation in Mexico and the world as “complex, noting the prevalence of water stress and “complications that climate change brings.”
However, via the “equitable distribution” of water and “adequate management of our resources,” it will be possible to have a future in which water is not a “matter for dispute,” Morales said.
“… Let’s all remember that water is wellbeing,” he added.
