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Mexico’s week in review: An unauthorized police academy stirs a security row with US as triple storm threat keeps coasts on alert

By
MND Staff
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0
The cloud bands from Hurricane Simon have brought heavy rain to the port of Acapulco.
The cloud bands from Hurricane Simon have brought heavy rain to the port of Acapulco. (Carlos Alberto Carbajal/Cuartoscuro)

Storms swirled around and within Mexico this week as a political misstep by Governor Mauricio Kuri in Querétaro became a national controversy.

Simon, currently located off the Pacific coast of Jalisco and Colima, is now a Category 4 hurricane and will make landfall this weekend. Hurricane Isaias swept past the Yucatán Peninsula and landed near Destin, Florida, on Friday evening. Far out in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Rachel, which briefly reached hurricane strength, stayed clear of the Mexican coastline on Saturday but was expected to weaken and send its remnants toward Baja California and the U.S. Southwest.

On land, President Claudia Sheinbaum reacted swiftly to the surprise inauguration in Querétaro of a binational security institution that received direct support from the United States. According to the federal government, the project was never disclosed to or authorized by the corresponding Mexican authorities.

In Nayarit, searching mothers helped authorities uncover an alleged “extermination center” near Tepic, where investigators found a makeshift burner and a pit containing the remains of recently cremated bodies. Officials haven’t said how many people died or tied the site to a criminal group. The discovery underscored Mexico’s disappearance crisis, with more than 130,000 people registered as missing.

Didn’t have time to catch this week’s top stories? Here’s what you missed.

Police academy controversy

Sheinbaum opened the week by questioning an “International Police Training Academy” in central Mexico, whose cornerstone Gov. Mauricio Kuri and U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson laid Oct. 2. She said such a project can’t exist without federal authorization and asked why the military, the Security Cabinet and the Foreign Ministry weren’t invited.

A leaked letter then showed Kuri had told Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco only that Johnson would visit Querétaro, calling the interactions ceremonial and never mentioning the academy. The Foreign Affairs Ministry replied that any security training project with a foreign government needs prior approval from the High-Level Security Group (GANSEG), which hadn’t been granted. It also offered to help Querétaro seek it.

After Chihuahua CIA controversy, Querétaro police academy raises new questions about US involvement at state level

On Tuesday, Sheinbaum said federal officials had approved nine Querétaro–U.S. cooperation projects since December 2021, but not this one. She cited the state’s security minister, who said the facility would bring specialized training from U.S. agencies. Johnson had called it a “State Interdiction Academy” and noted more than US $10 million in U.S. support for Querétaro police over the past decade. The episode drew parallels to April’s alleged CIA involvement in a Chihuahua drug lab raid. Both states are governed by the opposition National Action Party (PAN).

On Thursday, Sheinbaum met with U.S. business leaders at the National Palace, with Johnson in attendance, but said security would be handled separately. She said Johnson had agreed to meet Velasco soon, and Security Minister Omar García Harfuch told legislators that bilateral cooperation is subject to Mexican law.

Hurricane Simon threatens Jalisco and Colima

Simon strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on Saturday morning, with sustained winds of 230 km/h (145 mph). The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the eye could pass near or over Mexico’s west-central coast late Saturday or Sunday, though its track remained uncertain. Civil Protection chief Laura Velázquez said the impact zone could be Cihuatlán, La Huerta, Tomatlán, Cabo Corrientes or Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, or Manzanillo, Colima.

A hurricane warning covers Punta San Telmo, Michoacán, to Punta Mita, Nayarit. Rainfall could reach 20 to 38 centimeters, with isolated totals of 64 centimeters. Authorities set up command centers in Puerto Vallarta, Cihuatlán and Manzanillo, began evacuations in the flood-prone Jalisco community of El Rebalse and suspended classes in 22 Jalisco municipalities Friday and Monday. Simon could be the second hurricane to make landfall in Mexico this Pacific season, after Polo.

On the Atlantic side, Isaias became the season’s first hurricane Wednesday night, the latest first hurricane in the 60-year modern era. It was forecast to make U.S. landfall Friday evening, with no Mexico landfall expected, though it dumped heavy rain on the Gulf coast and Yucatán Peninsula states. It followed Mexico’s first hurricane-free Atlantic September since 1994, a contrast with a Pacific that had produced nine hurricanes by Wednesday. Experts point to a “super” El Niño, which warms Pacific waters and raises wind shear in the Atlantic.

Sheinbaum presents presidential decrees regarding nationality and social media

On Wednesday, Sheinbaum signed a decree formalizing a constitutional reform that requires exclusive Mexican nationality for presidential, gubernatorial and Mexico City mayoral candidates. The ban takes effect from 2028, after gubernatorial elections in 17 states next June. Citizens Movement (MC) Sen. Luis Donaldo Colosio Riojas criticized the reform for creating “two categories of Mexicans.”

On Friday, after a fatal machete attack at a Torreón school, the government presented a decree on “safe digital environments” for minors. It bars platforms from showing or recommending content that promotes hate speech, violent extremism, sexual exploitation, suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, cyberbullying and illegal conduct. Sheinbaum said it would be published in the official gazette next Tuesday or Wednesday after legal review to ensure it doesn’t exceed the executive branch’s authority.

Border deployment and gunfire incident

Mexico sent 500 Army and National Guard troops to the Tamaulipas border after U.S. Coast Guard personnel were fired upon from the Mexican side Sept. 26 and returned fire. The U.S. ordered 500 soldiers to the Texas side.

The Foreign Affairs and Defense ministries described the twin deployments as part of a “Concurrent Operation,” backed by two UH-60 helicopters, drones and anti-drone equipment in five Tamaulipas municipalities. The Navy is also participating through “Operation Saber.” No injuries or damage were reported in the shooting.

Mazatlán gets elite reinforcements as violence persists

The federal government formed a Special Operations Group of 29 Defense Ministry soldiers to work within Mazatlán’s municipal police after repeated troop deployments failed to stem the violence. The unit follows a wave of homicides, armed attacks and explosive assaults that led officials to urge caution between 3 and 10 p.m. The city also bought 50 bicycles for soldiers and National Guard members.

Then came Thursday’s shooting at El Castillo prison, which killed nine inmates and a 2-year-old boy and injured 16 prisoners. Alleged Sinaloa Cartel figure “El Owen” was reportedly among the dead. Sheinbaum said the Security Cabinet is working with interim Sinaloa Governor Graciela Domínguez to strengthen the state’s prisons.

Inflation edges up

Annual headline inflation rose to 3.45% in September from 3.26%, the highest since May but well below March’s 4.59% peak. Core inflation eased to 3.75% from 3.88%. Fruit and vegetable prices jumped 8.78% annually, while meat prices fell 4.46%. The Bank of Mexico held its benchmark rate at 6.50% two weeks ago and meets again Nov. 5.

Investment news

Fixed capital investment grew 6% annually in July, the fastest pace in two years, driven by construction. Private sector investment growth hit a 30-month high, though the total remains 2.35% below its July 2024 record. Spending on Mexican-made machinery and equipment fell 8% from January to July, while imported equipment rose 3.5%.

In Nuevo León, Gov. Samuel García announced US $600 million for industrial infrastructure, mainly data centers in Apodaca and Pesquería. That brings 2026 foreign investment in the state to $136.6 billion by his count.

Bárcena says ‘not yet’ to fracking in Mexico

On Tuesday, Environment Minister Alicia Bárcena told lawmakers the conditions for fracking “do not exist” and that Sheinbaum hasn’t authorized pilot tests. Only testing for deep saline water has been approved. Government scientists identified the Sabinas-Burro-Picachos basin as the only viable site, but nonprofit CartoCrítica says all the fresh water needed there would come from basins lacking available supply.

4 economy headlines to know

  • Mexico’s trade surplus with the U.S. rose 21.2% to US $155.87 billion from January to August, as exports hit a record $419.34 billion. Only Vietnam posted a larger surplus. The government faces a tough negotiating backdrop, with the U.S. having declined to renew the USMCA trade agreement in its current form, in part due to its deficit with Mexico, which the Trump administration views as an unacceptable imbalance.
  • The International Monetary Fund raised its growth forecasts to 1.5% for 2026 and 1.8% for 2027, citing a strong second quarter, but urged fiscal consolidation.
  • Auto parts output hit a record US $10.85 billion in July, up 7.15%. Vehicle production, however, fell 15.1% in September, its steepest drop since 2021, and car exports declined 11.85%.
  • Finally, a Citi survey of Mexico-based analysts sees the peso at 18 per dollar at the end of 2026 and 18.50 at the end of 2027, after the currency fell 6% in September.

Mexico News Daily

This story contains summaries of original Mexico News Daily articles. The summaries were generated by Claude, then revised and fact-checked by a Mexico News Daily staff editor.

The MND News Quiz of the Week: October 10th

By
MND Intelligence
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0
News quiz
(Mexico News Daily)

What's been going on in the news this week? Our weekly quiz is here to keep you on top of what’s happening in Mexico.

Get informed, stay smart.

Are you ready?  Let’s see where you rank vs. our expert community!

Water rationing has been announced for which metropolitan area in Mexico dealing with an ongoing water crisis?
rusted tap slowly dripping

Governor Samuel García recently announced major investment in data centers for his state. Which one is it?
A Querétaro data center similar to the ones discussed in the podcast.

Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard has expressed optimism regarding updates to which trade agreement, for which negotiations are in progress?
Ebrard in Milwaukee

New golf courses from which of the following designers will open in Los Cabos within the next year?
Legacy Club course at Diamante in Cabo San Lucas at sunset

A suspicious package recently discovered on the Mexico City Metro turned out to contain what?
Dr. Simi US opened in Austin, Texas on March 24

Which state leads Mexico in population growth?
Cancun easter week

A new decree from President Claudia Sheinbaum bars dual nationals from holding what political office in the future?
President Sheinbaum at her Oct. 2 press conference

According to a recent interview on ancient Maya sacrifice, what is the simplest way to reach the heart with an obsidian blade?
Professor Vera Tiesler holding an ancient skull

How many hurricanes from the Atlantic Ocean hit Mexico through September?
palm tree in the wind

What is the nickname of the ex-Navy officer arrested in Jalisco for fuel smuggling?
Mexican authorities escort accused fuel smuggler and former Navy officer Miguel Ángel Solano Ruiz, aka "Capitán Sol," onto a plane in handcuffs

Say cheese: A guide to 5 iconic Mexican quesos and the regions that produce them

By
Lydia Leija
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5
Nachos made in Monterrey, Mexico
From nachos to quesadillas, many of Mexico's signature dishes are made better by the presence of the nation's iconic cheeses. (Coffeefy Workafe/Unsplash)

In Mexico, an endless debate spills across social media and enlists everyone from linguists and historians to cooks and passionate eaters: What belongs in a quesadilla? While cheese is an optional topping for many Mexican dishes — from tacos and tortas to chilaquiles and sopes — there is one contentious item that, depending on who you ask, is non-negotiable.

Infographic showing a map of Mexico and each region's distinct cheese.
From north to south, every region has crafted its own variety of queso tailored to its local heritage. (Mexico News Daily)

Now, we are not here to solve the great quesadilla debate, but unveiling the passion behind it shows just how central cheese is to Mexican gastronomy. From north to south, every region has crafted its own variety of queso tailored to its local heritage. Here are five of Mexico’s most iconic cheeses:

Queso Oaxaca (or quesillo)

Queso Oaxaca is beloved for its buttery texture and pairing versatility with a wide variety of Mexican snacks and food specialties. (Flor de Alfalfa/Facebook)

The cheese at the very heart of the debate — and a cornerstone of Mexican street food — is queso Oaxaca, locally known as quesillo. It is celebrated for its soft, buttery texture and its exceptional meltability over high heat, whether tucked into a sope, folded inside a quesadilla or pressed into a torta.

What differentiates quesillo from other cheeses is its distinct curdling method: It is hand-stretched into long, milky strands and wound into a ribboned ball. Achieving this pliable texture relies on warm preparation techniques that keep the cheese flexible enough to stretch and interlace without breaking.

Your guide to Mexican cheeses (and the dishes that love them)

Quesillo is indispensable in Mexican households as it can turn a simple tortilla (corn or flour) into a quick homemade quesadilla for dinner, transform refried beans and bread into crispy, freshly baked molletes, or serve as a quick, savory snack eaten straight from the fridge.

  • Originally from: Oaxaca

Queso de cincho

queso de cincho wheels stacked up at a Tijuana market
Aged queso de cincho is known for its strong aroma from the rubbing on of a paste made from dried guajillo chilies. (Mercado Hidalgo Tijuana/Facebook)

Loosely translated as “cinch cheese,” queso de cincho originates in the central state of Morelos and the southwestern state of Guerrero. Its name refers to the rigid mold used during pressing, which is bound tightly with woven ixtle palm fibers (the same durable rope material used in traditional horse tack and saddlery).

Also known as queso prensado estilo Guerrero, this firm, aged cheese carries a strong aroma and is typically rubbed with a paste of dried guajillo chiles. While frequently crumbled over enchiladas or chilaquiles, one of its most traditional preparations is simmered directly in salsa as a guisado. Thanks to its dense consistency and high protein content, it serves as a substantial centerpiece. Better yet, its low moisture content allows it to age naturally at room temperature for up to a year without spoiling.

  • Originally from: Guerrero and Morelos

Queso asadero

Queso asadero
Creamy, melty and delicious … queso asadero offers innumerable gastronomic possibilities. (AlejandroLinaresGarcia / Wikimedia Commons)

Just like quesillo, queso asadero is popular due to its creamy, melty texture and the gastronomic possibilities it offers. This type of cheese has similar uses to queso Oaxaca; it can be used in quesadillas, and it is common at northern cookouts, paired with a great steak. If you’ve been to one of those, the name “asadero” might sound familiar — it comes from the word asado (grilled), a clue on how to enjoy this cheese.

  • Originally from: Chihuahua

Queso fresco

Queso fresco is a crumbly, soft cheese that is high in moisture and protein. Due to its short aging process (which is where the name fresco — or fresh — comes from), it is difficult to keep for long periods. It must always be kept refrigerated and consumed within approximately two weeks.

Regarding its preparation and curdling, queso fresco is quite versatile, as it can be made with cow’s milk, goat’s milk or a blend of both. In contrast to meltable cheeses, queso fresco does not work as a quesadilla filling, but it is the perfect topping for side dishes, whether sprinkled over a salad, street corn or refried beans.

  • Originally from: Chihuahua

Queso Menonita

 

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Last but not least is Mennonite cheese, a famous variety that also comes from the northern region of the country. As its name reveals, it originates from a specific community: the Mennonites. Groups of Mennonite immigrants arrived in Mexico during the 1920s, and their cattle-ranching techniques thrived in the north.

Mennonite communities settled mainly in the drylands of Chihuahua and relied on dairy products, especially cheese, for sustenance. Nowadays — although the name remains — this smooth, buttery cheese is no longer exclusively made by Mennonite communities. You can find it melting inside chiles rellenos, on Mennonite-style pizzas or in choriqueso (a dish of melted cheese combined with seasoned chorizo).

  • Originally from: Chihuahua

Mexico’s Mennonites: A troubling pattern of deforestation

Cheese has been a companion to Mexican cuisine for centuries. One key to understanding its strong northern presence is the geographic distribution of agriculture and livestock in Mexico. As you travel from south to north, the climate becomes drier, making the land better suited for cattle ranching than crop cultivation.

It is no surprise, then, that cheese became a fundamental pillar of northern Mexico’s economy and gastronomy.

After all, what would a northern carne asada be without quesadillas (con queso)?

Lydia Leija is a linguist, journalist and visual storyteller. She has directed three feature films, and her audiovisual work has been featured in national and international media. She’s been part of National Geographic, Muy Interesante and Cosmopolitan.

Does having dual citizenship have any downsides?

By
Alan Chazaro
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13
Family in Ensenada, Mexico
Dual citizenship is becoming an increasingly popular option among U.S. citizens with Mexican parentage. (Josue Michel/Unsplash)

In 2016, my wife and I embarked on a road trip together across central Mexico — starting on Jalisco’s Pacific Coast and, over a month later, ending up on the Gulf Coast of Veracruz with innumerable side quests along the way in Michoacán, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Mexico City, Estado de México and Puebla.

It wasn’t our first time in Mexico. We had, after all, spent our lifetimes visiting our extended families in Mexico as the children of immigrants.

But now we were able to see it on our own terms, as independent adults with our own incomes to spend and itineraries to plan. We rediscovered the country through our own eyes.

That summer, we had a revelation: We wanted to live in Mexico.

U.S. and Mexico passports on a marble countertop
“Between 2024 and 2025, registrations for Mexican citizenship skyrocketed by 161% at the Los Angeles consulate,” according to De Los and the Los Angeles Times. (Dual Citizenship US — Mexico/Facebook)

Three years later, in 2019, we prepared a similar trek around the southern part of the country, beginning in Oaxaca’s capital, then winding our way through mountain towns en route to the coast on a colectivo. Months prior, we had left our jobs as high school teachers with the intent to live in Mexico long term. Then, COVID-19 happened while we were staying in Mexico City’s central Narvarte Poniente neighborhood.

It was an uncertain and frightening time to be traveling. We ultimately decided, as U.S. citizens with a travel visa, to return to California after nearly half a year away. As tourists, we would have violated our 180-day limit and didn’t want to risk overstaying; had we been dual citizens, we would have had less pressure to return so suddenly.

Navigating the consulate and paperwork

But we hadn’t given up on our ambitions to live in Mexico as Mexican Americans. Shortly after returning to the San Francisco region, I began my application process to become a dual Mexican citizen.

I moved to Mexico City in my 20s. Here’s what I learned

In my case, I had a major advantage: My mom never rescinded her Mexican citizenship, despite having lived in the United States for more than 30 years after immigrating as a young woman. When she eventually moved back to Mexico, it inspired me to follow her southward. Through her, my direct path to citizenship had already been laid out.

The process took me a couple of years, though it could have been completed much more swiftly. I took my time and wasn’t in a rush during the pandemic. I visited different consulates in California, and after waiting in many lines and talking to many people, I gathered all of the documents — most importantly, proof of my mother’s citizenship and birth certificate — and approvals.

Then, it happened: I had become a Mexican citizen, and I had my Mexican passport. (I would eventually get my INE, but I opted to do it in Mexico, rather than at any Mexican consulate in the U.S.).

My wife had a trickier path. Her Mexican-born father’s documents had a typo. Therefore, some of his documents didn’t exactly match. If you aren’t yet familiar with the distress an aberrant punctuation mark can trigger in the imperfect machinery of Mexican bureaucracy, I pray you never have to.

Ultimately, my wife was forced to hire a specialist who helps Mexican descendants obtain their Mexican citizenship — it was frictionless and worth the price. To date, we highly recommend it for anyone who has the funding or has experienced any complications with the process.

A historic surge in binational applicants

Mexico allows dual citizenship, and most other countries allow citizens to take a second national identity.
The process for gaining dual citizenship may not be frictionless, but it opens up another world of possibilities. (Roger Ce/Unsplash)

During that time, we weren’t alone in our journeys toward Mexican citizenship. Many of our Mexican American friends had expressed a desire to do the same, and in some cases, a few had already started their processes as well. In fact, dual citizenship applications — particularly for the U.S.-born descendants of Mexican immigrants — are reaching a historic apex. De Los, a Latino-focused branch of the Los Angeles Times, recently reported that “Between 2024 and 2025, registrations for Mexican citizenship skyrocketed by 161% at the Los Angeles consulate.”

The trend is universal throughout the U.S. In Boise, Idaho, reports indicate a rise in applicants due to Mexico’s law change in 2023, which simplified the route to dual citizenship for anyone with at least one Mexican-born parent. Combined with the ongoing pressures of xenophobic turmoil, immigration raids and other sociopolitical factors, more people are looking to gain a sense of security and connection on both sides of the border through binational citizenship.

The benefits of dual citizenship are certainly ample: Traveling as a dual citizen offers financial breaks and accessibility perks (there are fewer foreign fees to be paid at Mexican airports and museums, for example); purchasing property in Mexico involves fewer legal hurdles; and at large, it grants unrestricted freedoms on both sides of the border, which is an ultimate privilege.

The unexpected costs of double bureaucracy

Sheinbaum bill would ban dual nationals from top political offices: Thursday’s mañanera recapped

But that’s where things can get a little complicated, depending on your plans and lifestyle. In my case, I don’t use my Mexican passport solely for a beach getaway once a year; I live and work in Mexico as a dual citizen, with employers and responsibilities in both countries, and the implications are different.

Vehicle registration in California expired and needs to be updated in person? Guess who’s flying back for a visit to the California Department of Motor Vehicles? Navigating Mexico’s monthly tax payments? Might require a tax accountant. Of course, each scenario comes with a cost, and many life lessons.

When I applied for dual citizenship, I wasn’t necessarily thinking about those realities, or how I would have to pay and renew double the amount of things as someone fully integrated into two federal systems. Of course, in retrospect it makes complete sense. But it’s not the sort of thing that a bright-eyed applicant has at the forefront of their mind while pursuing dual citizenship — nor is it the kind of thing that parents or friends who are encouraging dual citizenship are thinking about, either.

Political debates and balancing two worlds

Woman in white tank top staring at the ocean in Puerto Vallarta
Balancing your life between two worlds comes with challenges … but also with benefits. (Kyle Petzer/Unsplash)

The issue of dual citizenship has even caused some political strife. Just weeks ago, President Claudia Sheinbaum proposed a ban on dual citizens being able to reach the highest levels of office within Mexico’s borders. “Why have dual nationality if you’re going to represent the people of Mexico?” she rhetorically posed. The bill has been criticized by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) as a discriminatory human rights violation.

However, for the average person who doesn’t intend to run for the Mexican presidency, dual citizens generally don’t have much to shy away from. If you plan to work in both countries as a dual citizen, be prepared to pay the taxes (literally and metaphorically). If you don’t plan to work in Mexico for Mexican-based companies, you can simply declare your non-working status in Mexico when registering for your INE, and your biggest potential taxation headaches will disappear — at least in one of the two countries.

The benefits

For all of its potential downsides, there are double the benefits. On days when I enter the U.S. through California airports and switch over to using English with my U.S. passport, it feels like I’m home. I’m just as happy and relieved as soon as I arrive back in Mexico, activate my Spanish mode, and show my Mexican passport.

As someone who grew up around many undocumented Mexican immigrants in California, I don’t take that lightly. And I use it to constantly toggle my way between both worlds, as my fullest self.

Alan Chazaro is the author of “These Spaceships Weren’t Built For Us” (Tia Chucha Press, 2026), “Notes from the Eastern Span of the Bay Bridge” (Ghost City Press, 2021), “Piñata Theory” (Black Lawrence Press, 2020), and “This Is Not a Frank Ocean Cover Album” (Black Lawrence Press, 2019). He is a graduate of June Jordan’s Poetry for the People program at UC Berkeley and was selected as a Lawrence Ferlinghetti Poetry Fellow at the University of San Francisco. His work can be found in NPR, The Guardian, SLAM, GQ, L.A. Times, and more. He is currently based in Veracruz.

‘A Pilgrimage Across Cultures’: Tamanna Bembenek on finding her third space in Mexico

By
Tamanna Bembenek
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6
A girl surrounded by stars, painting by Tamanna Bembenek
Where do you go when you need room to simply be? For some, it's a "third space." Pictured: original artwork by Tamanna Bembenek. (Courtesy photo)

A couple of decades ago, I became fascinated by the concept of the “third place,” which Howard Schultz, then CEO of Starbucks, helped make popular. The idea came from sociologist Ray Oldenburg: a gathering place outside home and work. Maybe it was all marketing, but Starbucks wanted to define its cafés as neutral ground — a place to meet a friend, study or socialize without the usual expectations of home or work. Starbucks was never quite that place for me, but I remained fascinated by the concept. At the time, I interpreted it as a judgment-free space. As I grew older, the term stuck with me but I began to discover another meaning for myself — less about a place to go and more about the freedom to simply be. That is a feeling I have come to call “my third space.” Let me explain what I mean.

In the last few years, I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept in the context of belonging. I’ve always felt fortunate to have lived and worked in multiple countries, because it let me cherry-pick the best aspects and values from different cultures — and do so in a uniquely American way. Individuality is a value I’ve fiercely cherished, yet that same fierceness has made me feel more alone in recent years.

As the political divide has grown in the U.S., I felt I had to pick a political side to satisfy a psychological need to belong with a group of friends or family. As time passed, my identity became tethered to a party rather than to the values it claimed to represent. Social media compounded this, sorting everyone into ever-narrower boxes: age bracket, income bracket, zip code, follower count, which side of a hashtag someone landed on, or generational labels — Gen Alpha, Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, baby boomers, and I’m sure I’ve missed a few. It felt increasingly claustrophobic. Instead of feeling free to choose the values and characteristics that would nurture my own identity as a good human first — regardless of any other labels — I felt I had to fit into someone else’s box, under a category they had defined. Add geopolitical craziness and the current noise around artificial intelligence (AI), including claims that there is a 10% chance that AI will “kill all humans,” and I started feeling not only alone but increasingly anxious and hopeless!

So, I started reading books and listening to podcasts to figure out the root cause of this feeling and how to remedy it. I was already dedicating quality time to pursuing art but increasingly, I also found myself drawn to ancient history — Roman, Egyptian, Indian, Mesoamerican, just to start with. I noticed that exploring stories about ancient civilizations made me feel less alone. It felt soothing. Whether I was reading history or the myths woven through it, I was searching for common themes, a connection, a sense of belonging. There’s a timeless quality to such stories that reminds us of our own mortality and, paradoxically, makes us feel less alone in facing it.

Slowly, I found myself weaving these stories into my art through the use of icons, symbols and allegory. I started visualizing and composing art in my mind — integrating these concepts with my love and knowledge of art history and modern art, my reverence for the ancient craft of handwoven textiles, and my deep interest in astronomy and life sciences.

I have to admit that my current environment is what made all of this possible. Living in Mexico gave me the space I needed: regardless of nationality, identity, or age, I could simply live and let live. Maybe it helps to be geographically so close to the country I truly love and yet not feel so boxed in. Slowly, I began to understand that I wasn’t looking for a place where I could fit in. I was looking for the freedom to belong to something purposeful as I continue to grow as a person — my Indian heritage, my American values, and my old soul that keeps drawing me towards unfamiliar, ancient worlds — and perhaps to the wisdom and spirituality within them. Living in Mexico gave me the freedom to explore those connections, and painting became a medium to express that.

Allow me to show you what I mean, figuratively.

Painting by Tamanna Bembenek shows dark clouds gathering around a cascade of glowing letters and symbols
The Matrix: Acrylic and pastel on canvas by Tamanna Bembenek. Penetrating through the dark clouds, ancient scripts envelop the world in a protective manner — Sanskrit, Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Brahmi, Japanese Kanji, Maya and Egyptian letters and glyphs are interwoven with English. They echo the interconnected wisdom of both ancient and contemporary times, penetrating through the clouds. A crack in the middle invites the viewer to break free from all inherited boundaries—reminding us of the underlying unity of our species. (Courtesy photo)

To create is human

Through trial and error, I have discovered that the antidote to my anxiety is not a massage or a spa day or a beach vacation (though they help from time to time) — it is creativity. Creating art in this way — finding connections between ancient cultures — has made me feel whole again, like I am part of something bigger. The more I paint, the more I realize how central creativity is to being human. That’s what my art is really about. There’s a narrative, a thought, a meaning behind every piece — observations, symbolic connections, and questions drawn from books and podcasts on history, archaeology, anthropology and astronomy. There are no political messages. Just a personal journey, trying to make sense of the world I live in today. Creativity is a process, not an outcome: It is a place where I lose my sense of time, immerse myself fully, get stumped, get frustrated, and still come out energized, rooted, grounded. In that space, I stop performing for others and follow my own curiosity.

Maybe that is why creativity makes me feel whole. I don’t have to settle into a single version of my identity. Pueblo life in Mexico, my American individuality, and the ancient civilizations that shape us all can coexist instead of competing. I can keep growing, changing, transforming — staying a “work in progress.” Creativity grants me that permission when society won’t. And while each painting begins with my own vision, it is also an invitation for the viewer to make it their own. You don’t have to see what I see or arrive at the same answers. That is the freedom I have found in my third space: I can be rooted in who I am and still have room to become someone new. Today, I am enough but I am not yet done growing.

A third space you can visit

That sense of wholeness — maybe even greatness — is exactly what I hope visitors feel walking through my upcoming show. If this speaks to you, please come see it in person: I have a collaborative exhibition with Mexican artist Miguel Cuauhtémoc called “A Pilgrimage Across Cultures,” running Nov. 1-15 at Galería Torres del Reloj in Polanco, Mexico City. Miguel grew up immersed in the symbols and rituals of ancient Mexico, and I grew up surrounded by the colors and deities of India. Separately, we both kept arriving at the same recurring image, the third eye, which we each use to explore higher consciousness. Neither of us knew the other was painting it until we saw each other’s work. That discovery felt like another kind of belonging — a connection we had painted before we had even spoken about it.

Invitation to "Ancient Wisdom: India and Mexico" an exhibition by Tamanna Bembenek and Miguel Cuauhtémoc Nov. 1-15 in Mexico City

If you’re in town, please stop by and say hello. And if you’d like to browse the fuller portfolio first, here’s the link: www.tamannabembenek.com.

I’ve written about my personal journey at length elsewhere, if you want to read more:

Tamanna Bembenek was born in India, studied and worked in the U.S. and now lives in Mexico with her husband, Travis. They are the co-owners of Mexico News Daily.

Sheinbaum meets with US business leaders and ambassador amid controversy over US-backed police academy

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MND Staff
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Sheinbaum meets with the US Chamber of Commerce in the National Palace, Oct. 8, 2026
Though U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson was present at Thursday's meeting, Sheinbaum said security topics — like this week's controversy over an unauthorized U.S.-backed police academy in Querétaro — would be covered at a separate meeting. (Presidencia)

During a week in which she has questioned intrusive U.S. security policies, President Claudia Sheinbaum met with U.S. business leaders at the National Palace, but avoided discussing security initiatives with U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson who was in attendance.

Sheinbaum said Thursday’s meeting with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico (AmCham) addressed issues related to the investment climate in Mexico, adding that she will address her concerns with Johnson at a later date.

President Claudia Sheinbaum with US Chamber of Commerce President Suzanne Clark and Ambassador Ronald Johnson at the National Palace, Oct. 9, 2026
President Sheinbaum speaks with U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Suzanne Clark and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson at her Thursday meeting with U.S. business leaders. (Presidencia)

“We focused on responding to the companies’ concerns, explaining the controversial new revenue law, discussing requests regarding trade and promoting the favorable environment for business investment in Mexico,” she said.

Also in attendance were the president of Mexico’s Business Coordinating Council, José Medina Mora, and the coordinator of the Advisory Council for Regional Economic Development and Relocation, Altagracia Gómez Sierra.

For its part, AmCham expressed interest in broader security issues, investment and greater private sector participation.

AmCham president Óscar del Cueto said his organization is eager for greater collaboration between the Mexican government and private enterprise, while also citing issues such as security, investment and greater private sector participation.

Several investment agreements were finalized (to be announced at a later date) and the U.S. contingent was given a detailed update on Plan México, Sheinbaum’s strategy for economic development, industrialization and regional growth.

The meeting took place amid an ongoing review of the Mexico-U.S. trade relationship as outlined in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). AmCham has publicly stated that the USMCA should be used to deepen regional integration and preserve the competitiveness of the economies of Mexico, the United States and Canada.

Del Cueto insists the trade scenario presents a key opportunity for Mexico if the United States goes through a new stage of growth and industrialization and China loses dynamism.

“I firmly believe that next year we could be returning to the topic of nearshoring as the hot topic,” he said.

While Sheinbaum preferred discussing plans to allow for increased investment and greater North American productive integration, the kerfuffle involving Ambassador Johnson was a hot topic with the media.

After participating in a groundbreaking ceremony for an International Police Training Academy in the state of Querétaro on Oct. 2, Johnson — and Governor Mauricio Kuri — have faced criticism over the apparent failure to obtain federal authorization as required by law.

After Chihuahua CIA controversy, Querétaro police academy raises new questions about US involvement at state level

Sheinbaum publicly questioned the project several times, asserting that state governments cannot forge international security agreements or launch such academies without federal and Foreign Ministry authorization.

While clarifying that Mexico is not fundamentally against international cooperation, Sheinbaum explicitly demanded “cooperation with dignity and transparency” rather than “subordination,” adding that it is imperative that federal frameworks not be bypassed.

During a meeting with legislators on Thursday, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch addressed Mexico’s concerns about foreign interference in security matters, insisting that bilateral cooperation is subject to the provisions of Mexican law.

Sheinbaum said Johnson has agreed to meet soon with Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco to discuss the police academy and other issues related to security and the border.

With reports from Informador, Milenio, El Heraldo de México and Heraldo USA

Simon, strengthening rapidly, could hit Jalisco or Colima as a major hurricane this weekend

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MND Staff
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Simon is not expected to make landfall until Saturday but it has aready drenched much of the Pacific coast, including Acapulco, as it makes its way northward. (Carlos Alberto Carbajal / Cuartoscuro)

Hurricane Simon strengthened into a Category 2 storm Friday as authorities prepared for possible landfall in Jalisco or Colima — potentially bringing catastrophic winds, dangerous storm surge and flooding to Mexico on the heels of Hurricane Polo last week.

Forecasters expected the Pacific storm to become a major hurricane Friday evening and reach Category 4 strength Saturday, with sustained winds of 230 km/h (145 mph), according to a Friday morning advisory from the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Sijon image
A satellite image released Friday by Mexico’s meteorological service shows Simon threatening near Mexico’s Pacific coast while Isaias approaches the southern United States. (SMN)

At 3 p.m. Mexico City time, the storm had maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h (105 mph) and was about 315 kilometers south of Manzanillo, Colima, moving northwest at 4 km/h (2 mph).

The eye of the storm is forecast to turn north and pass very near or over Mexico’s west-central coast late Saturday or Sunday. Tropical storm conditions are expected to carry through Saturday morning, followed by hurricane conditions Saturday evening or Sunday.

Simon could become the second hurricane to make landfall in Mexico this Pacific season, following Polo, which struck Baja California Sur on Sept. 28 and Sonora on Sept. 29.

Simon’s precise track remains uncertain. The NHC said the storm could weaken rapidly or dissipate if its center moves inland. If its core stays offshore, it could continue north as a hurricane.

A hurricane warning issued by Mexico’s National Water Commission (Conagua) remains in effect from Punta San Telmo, Michoacán, to Punta Mita, Nayarit — points roughly 475 kilometers (295 miles) apart by road. A hurricane watch extends north to San Blas, Nayarit, while a tropical storm watch extends south to Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán.

Dangerous storm surge could strike the coast and nearby inland areas, accompanied by large, destructive waves. Rainfall could trigger life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly on steep terrain.

Simon could bring 20 to 38 centimeters (8 to 15 inches) of rain across parts of southwestern Mexico through Sunday, with isolated totals of 64 centimeters (25 inches) in Michoacán, Colima, Jalisco and Nayarit, according to the hurricane center.

Laura Velázquez, Mexico’s national civil protection coordinator, said authorities Friday would establish command centers in Puerto Vallarta, Cihuatlán and Manzanillo.

Authorities began evacuations in El Rebalse, a community in Jalisco that is vulnerable to flooding from the Marabasco River. Seventy residents left on their own and 10 were moved to a shelter, Reuters reported.

Schools in 22 Jalisco municipalities suspended classes Friday and Monday.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Isaias, a Category 3 storm, was churning through the Gulf of Mexico, with landfall in the U.S. expected Friday evening, according to the hurricane center. No landfall in Mexico is forecast.

With reports from El Sol de México, Reuters and La Silla Rota

MND Local Puerto Vallarta: Mariachis, murals, drainage and demolition

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MND Staff
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Puerto Vallarta coastline
Youth mariachi and mural competitions are among the cultural activities currently taking place in Puerto Vallarta. (Taylor Beach/Unsplash)

This week, Puerto Vallarta announced it will host a national children’s mariachi competition to promote this iconic Mexican musical style. Additionally, the Vallarta Institute of Culture issued a call for artists interested in decorating the walls of a local cemetery, and drainage work is expected to cause traffic disruptions on one of the city’s main thoroughfares.

Meanwhile, the Punta Paraíso tourism megaproject, planned for a stretch of beach in San Pancho, is set to be demolished due to environmental concerns.

Here are some of Puerto Vallarta’s top news stories.

Children’s and youth mariachi competition to be held in Puerto Vallarta

Young female mariachi in costume
Aspiring mariachi musicians will get a chance to strut their stuff at the upcoming Children’s and Youth Mariachi Competition in Puerto Vallarta. (Cultura Jalisco/Instagram)

Puerto Vallarta will host the fourth Children’s and Youth Mariachi Competition Oct. 14-16, marking the first time the event takes place outside Guadalajara.

Featuring 18 groups from various regions of Jalisco, the competition seeks to foster the training of new generations of musicians while preserving the mariachi tradition.

Ten groups will participate in the intermediate category and eight in the advanced category. Activities will begin Oct. 14 with a masterclass at the La Lija Cultural Center. In the evening, the groups will perform in the opening gala at the Arcos del Malecón.

The jury will evaluate musical execution, performance quality, ensemble, intonation and adherence to mariachi tradition to select the finalist groups.

The finals will be held Oct. 16, starting at 6 p.m., at the Teatro Vallarta. Before the awards ceremony, all 18 participating groups will perform together.

Calling all muralists to decorate a cemetery for Day of the Dead

Symbolism of Mexico’s Day of the Dead is one of the requirements for mural proposals solicited by the Vallarta Institute of Culture. (Instituto Vallartense de Cultura/Facebook)

The Vallarta Institute of Culture is inviting artists to participate in an initiative to create 10 murals on the walls of the Municipal Pantheon in the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood.

The initiative, dubbed “Recuérdame” (Remember Me), aims to transform these spaces into public art galleries that reflect local identity and contribute to revitalizing the urban environment.

Proposals must draw inspiration from figures, traditions, flora, fauna and Puerto Vallarta’s local culture reinterpreted through the symbolism of Day of the Dead.

Applicants must submit their proposals Oct. 6-19; artist selection will take place Oct. 20. A committee will select 10 artists who must work on the murals Oct. 23-29.

Candidates must also submit a digital portfolio containing a maximum of five previous works demonstrating their experience in muralism. The portfolio must be submitted in PDF format.

Selected applicants will receive a cash prize of 7,000 pesos (US $368) upon completion of the mural.

For additional information about the application process, click here. 

Demolition ordered for structures at Punta Paraíso complex in San Pancho

Court freezes bank accounts of opponents of Nayarit condominium project

A federal court upheld an order for the partial demolition of the Punta Paraíso real estate development along the beach in San Pancho, Nayarit, following years of legal disputes over environmental irregularities.

The company must restore 1,466 square meters (about 15,780 square feet) of land reclaimed from the sea to its original state by demolishing unauthorized structures, and pay a fine of 96,220 pesos (US $5,300). The ruling also mandates the forfeiture to the government of the buildings known as Tower 1 and Tower 2.

The case also led to allegations against Roberto Rodríguez Medrano, the acting head of the Federal Attorney General’s Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa) in Nayarit. Former legislator Ismael Duñalds Ventura claims that the official endorsed the project’s environmental studies in 2018, when he led the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Nayarit.

The concession permitted only recreational and ornamental activities, not commercial exploitation. A Profepa inspection launched in December 2021 confirmed the construction work that resulted in the sanctions.

Profepa head Mariana Boy Tamborrell described the ruling as a victory for the community and for the protection of the coastal ecosystem.

Drainage work at Las Palmas Park begins

The Potable Water, Drainage and Sewerage System (SEAPAL) in Puerto Vallarta has begun sanitary infrastructure rehabilitation work in the Parque Las Palmas neighborhood and along Avenida México — a project expected to last approximately six weeks and result in partial traffic closures.

The construction corresponds to the second phase of work on the area’s drainage system. It entails replacing 66 meters (about 216 feet) of pipeline, increasing conveyance capacity and creating a new alternative for wastewater discharge.

Furthermore, this project reinforces the measures SEAPAL Vallarta is taking to address and prevent issues related to sanitation infrastructure — following recent problems in the Versalles neighborhood — by increasing conveyance capacity and improving wastewater management options in this part of the city.

The construction work will cause intermittent restrictions at the intersection of México and Las Palmas avenues; therefore, motorists traveling through the area should anticipate potential disruptions. SEAPAL asked residents and drivers to take precautions, heed warning signs and follow the instructions of municipal traffic officers.

Gabriela Solís is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog Dunas y Palmeras.

Senate moves to crack down on spam calls with fines of up to 2.3 million pesos

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MND Staff
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A closeup shows a hand pushing the decline button on an unknown call, on a smartphone
Truecaller data ranks Mexico among the most-spammed countries in the world. Most unwanted calls are related to financial service offers, debt collection or scams. (Shutterstock)

The Mexican Senate has unanimously approved a reform to the Federal Consumer Protection Law (LFPC) to penalize abusive telemarketing calls and other unauthorized commercial communications. 

Although the primary issue prompting the reform is persistent commercial calls, the amendments also apply to other communication channels used to contact consumers for advertising purposes. This includes the use of digital tools and messaging apps like WhatsApp for commercial communications.

According to the bill, companies that make persistent contact through calls or other unauthorized channels to offer credit cards, insurance, loans, services or other products without the consumer’s authorization could face fines ranging from 56,570 pesos (US $3,123) to 2.3 million pesos (US $126,982).

Senator Mayuli Latifa Martínez Simón of the National Action Party (PAN), the bill’s sponsor, stated that the goal is to protect consumer privacy and let consumers opt out of advertising.

Martínez’s original initiative envisioned the creation of a registration mechanism for individuals to express that they do not wish to receive advertising, similar to the U.S. Do Not Call Registry. However, other senators argued that the problem doesn’t lie in the lack of registry — rather, they considered it stems from insufficient sanctions.

Indeed, Mexico already has two opt-out registries where consumers can sign up to avoid unwanted advertising: REPEP, for commercial calls, and REUS, for financial services.

However, the Senate considered that existing sanctions have not been sufficient to deter unwanted commercial communications.

The bill draws on data from Truecaller, a mobile app designed to identify calls and text messages from unknown numbers. Truecaller data indicates that Mexico ranks sixth in the world for most spam calls,  with an estimated average of 20 to 25 spam contacts per user per month.

Chart showing most-spammed countries in the world, from Truecaller, with Mexico ranked sixth
(Truecaller)

The bill warns that this barrage of calls not only disrupts people’s activities but can also increase their exposure to fraud attempts.

Senator María del Rocío Corona Nakamura, of the Green Party (PVEM), noted that everyone has the right not to be persistently called by companies. Now, she emphasized, “They will no longer be able to do so without our consent — whether by text message, email or any other means.”

The bill will now move to the Chamber of Deputies for consideration and final vote. If approved, it will enter into force the day after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF).

Mexico News Daily

Mazatlán prison riots leave at least 12 dead, including a 2-year-old

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MND Staff
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mazatlan prison riot
Inmates’ families gathered outside the "El Castillo" prison in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, to demand information about their loved ones. (Carlos López / Cuartoscuro.com)

Riots on successive days at a state prison in Mazatlán have resulted in the deaths of 11 inmates and a toddler who was part of a family visit, while another 16 inmates were injured.

According to reports from the Sinaloa Security Ministry (SSP), Thursday’s riot, which occurred during scheduled family visiting hours, began as a violent clash between inmates who managed to acquire and use firearms inside the facility.

El Castillo inMazatlán
The Sinaloa state prison known as “El Castillo” was the scene of deadly riots Thursday and Friday. A key aspect of the investigation will be how at least two firearms made their way into the facility. (Carlos López / Cuartoscuro.com)

When gunfire broke out in two contiguous units, prison officials locked down the facility and issued a red alert, but struggled to contain the fighting.

Elements of the Army, Navy, National Guard and state security forces were deployed to regain control, but not before 10 people were killed and 16 were injured.

State Security Minister Sinuhé Téllez confirmed that a 2-year-old boy was among the dead, while the injured were transferred to a medical facility for treatment.

The boy’s mother told investigators that she went to visit her husband, but left to pick up another child, leaving the boy in his father’s care. The boy’s father is reportedly among the 16 inmates hospitalized.

Inmates’ families gathered outside the prison, known as “El Castillo,” to demand information about their loved ones, while officials secured the scene inside.

State prosecutors and federal security agents have launched a formal investigation into how firearms were smuggled into the prison — two 9mm handguns were recovered after the incident — and are piecing together the exact sequence of events that triggered the confrontation.

The SSP will collaborate fully with the State Attorney General’s Office, Téllez said, in order to clarify the facts and determine if any prison employee was involved in allowing the weapons inside the facility.

The newspaper Diario de Yucatán said the shootout was allegedly aimed at assassinating Eduardo Jonathan Martínez Larios, alias “El Owen,” identified as a member of the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. He was reportedly among the dead.

Early Friday, another confrontation broke out within a single cellblock. The authorities quickly controlled the situation, but not before two inmates were killed.

In a social media post, the SSP said the rest of the prison population was safe, adding that the interinstitutional task force maintains a presence inside and outside the prison to preserve order and security.

Prison staff are in the process of establishing communication with inmates’ relatives to inform them about the situation and “will continue with follow-up to provide them with the necessary information.”

With reports from Reforma, Milenio, Diario de Yucatán and 24 Horas

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