Saturday, October 18, 2025

Navy seizes 2 narco-labs in Culiacán, Sinaloa

By
MND Staff
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2
In the first three weeks of 2025, Mexico's navy has confiscated 8.4 tonnes of methamphetamines and 68 tonnes of chemical substances from 10 narco-labs.
In the first three weeks of 2025, Mexico's navy has confiscated 8.4 tonnes of methamphetamines and 68 tonnes of chemical substances from 10 narco-labs. (Semar/X)

The same day U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order saying he would designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, federal authorities in Mexico announced they had dismantled two huge narco-labs in the northwestern state of Sinaloa.

The joint action by Mexico’s Naval Ministry (Semar) and the Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) resulted in the confiscation of 103 kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 27,350 liters of liquid precursor chemicals and nearly 20,000 kilograms of chemical substances used in the fabrication of synthetic drugs.

The newspaper La Jornada estimated that the bust cost drug cartels more than US $4 million. 

The two laboratories were discovered near the rural village of Los Cedros in the municipality of Culiacán, Sinaloa. Also discovered in the raid were three reactors, five distillers, and a variety of tubs, containers and generators that are typically used to produce synthetic drugs.

All the materials found at the two sites were destroyed, Semar reported. 

In a post to social media, Semar remarked that with this most recent seizure, Mexico has dismantled 10 clandestine laboratories and confiscated 8.4 tonnes of methamphetamines, as well as 68 tonnes of chemical substances during the first three weeks of the year. 

In a separate press release, Mexico reported that soldiers operating nearby had discovered another suspected drug production operation, impounding 2,350 liters and 100 kilos of materials that could be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Federal authorities estimate the value of these confiscated materials at about 56 million pesos (US $2.7 million).

Hours after being sworn in as the 47th U.S. president on Monday, Trump signed the executive order that described Mexican drug cartels as “[a threat to] the safety of the American people, the security of the United States, and the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere.”

The order continues: “The Cartels have engaged in a campaign of violence and terror throughout the Western Hemisphere that has not only destabilized countries with significant importance for our national interests but also flooded the United States with deadly drugs, violent criminals, and vicious gangs.”

The U.S. government is expected to recommend specific cartels for designation as terrorist organizations in the next 14 days, the AP reported.

The latest raids conducted by Mexican authorities occurred in the region dominated by the notorious Sinaloa Cartel. Last Friday, Mexico’s Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said that operations carried out in Sinaloa since Oct. 1 have weakened the Sinaloa Cartel, according to the newspaper El Informador.

In addition to the destruction of narco-labs, Mexican federal authorities have recently located and destroyed 37 hectares of poppy (used to produce heroin) and 21 hectares of marijuana, La Jornada reported.

With reports from El Informador, La Jornada and The Associated Press

Banorte Nación de Vinos 2025: The uncorking of a wine revolution

By
Diana Serratos
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0
Banorte Nación de Vinos
Head down to the Banorte Nación de Vinos exhibition at Mexico City's Campo Marte and discover the diverse world of Mexican wine. (Industrial News/X)

The world of wine in Mexico is no longer just a whisper among connoisseurs; it’s a full-throated shout from the rooftops of Polanco. And right there, in the heart of Mexico City, Banorte Nación de Vinos is gearing up to pour its sixth edition. This isn’t just any wine festival though — it’s a declaration that Mexican wine has arrived and it’s not quietly sipping in the corner anymore.

Campo Marte will transform into a bacchanalian paradise on Jan. 22 and 23 as over 80 wineries from 17 Mexican states descend upon the capital, each bringing a little taste of their terroir, toil and triumphs. For anyone who wants to understand how Mexico’s winemaking scene has evolved from Baja California’s well-trodden paths to the upstart regions of Jalisco, Puebla, and Hidalgo, Nación de Vinos is an informative and delicious dive into the history of wine.

Banorte Nación de Vinos
Nación de Vinos brings together the best of the Mexican wine scene — and some of the country’s best restaurants. (Banorte Nación de Vinos)

The giants and the underdogs

The heavy hitters are all here — Monte Xanic, Santo Tomás, L.A. Cetto, Casa Madero, La Redonda and Freixenet. These names are the pillars of Mexican viticulture, vineyards that laid the groundwork for what’s become a booming industry.

Speaking of giants, Guanajuato is very much a staple of this year’s event. The El Bajío region has been quietly cultivating its own identity over the last few decades, and now it’s ready to roar. Cuna de Tierra, Viñedo San Miguel, and Tres Raíces are just a few of the players making waves. These vineyards have decided that making wine isn’t just about following tradition — it’s about redefining it.

A feast for the senses

For the first time, Banorte Nación de Vinos throws open its doors to the public, inviting everyone to taste the transformation. Tickets are 8,000 pesos, with high-end restaurants like La Docena, Quintonil, Rosetta, and Caracol de Mar serving dishes that are as much a part of the experience as the wines themselves. Each plate is designed to waltz with the grapes, enhancing the flavors and elevating the experience. It’s a masterclass in pairing, a testament to the idea that food and wine are inextricably linked.

Pozo de Luna vineyards in San Luis Potosi
The vineyard is on 15 hectares of land in San Luis Potosí and features a historic hacienda on the property. (Pozo de Luna)

In the Nation Space, producers and distributors will gather, not just to showcase their wares but to forge connections. Here, the lines between producer and consumer blur. Winemakers will rub elbows with sommeliers, chefs will chat with oenophiles and everyone will leave with a deeper understanding of what makes Mexican wine tick.

This year though, it’s the state of San Luis Potosí that takes center stage. Once an afterthought in the wine conversation, it’s now the guest of honor, and for good reason. Wineries like Pozo de Luna, Viñedo Bodega 1881, and Cava Quintanilla are leading a quiet revolution. These vineyards are producing wines that demand attention and tell stories of resilience and innovation.

The Best of San Luis Potosí

San Luis Potosí’s winemaking history dates back to the late 18th century. The Valley of San Francisco was where it all began, a fertile ground that’s now home to more than seven wineries.

Cava Quintanilla wines
Serious about Mexican wine? Not if you haven’t tried Cava Quintanilla yet. (Cava Quintanilla)

A visit to San Luis Potosí’s wineries is a must for any serious wine lover. Cava Quintanilla, with its white and red varietals, is a standout, offering tours that are as educational as they are enjoyable. La Malaca, surrounded by walnut trees and lavender fields, is known for its sweet wines and artisanal products like organic soaps and marmalades.

Pozo de Luna is another highlight, crafting high-quality wines from Nebbiolo grapes, including a stunning rosé. Viñedos 1881, with its adobe walls and storied history, offers a blend of tradition and modern winemaking techniques.

San Luis Potosí’s capital is more than just a gateway to great wine. Its colonial architecture, Huichol art, and nearby natural wonders like waterfalls and Real de Catorce make it a destination worth exploring. The Rebozo Museum and local culinary delights, from enchiladas potosinas to fine dining, round out the experience, ensuring that a visit to this state is about more than just what’s in the glass.

So — will you take the dive into the incredible world of Mexican wine and gastronomy this week?

Diana Serratos studied at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and UNCUYO in Mendoza, Argentina, where she lived for over 15 years. She specializes in wines and beverages, teaching aspiring sommeliers at several universities. She conducts courses, tastings and specialized training.

 

Sheinbaum: ‘We will always defend our sovereignty’ following Trump’s border declaration

By
MND Staff
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Sheinbaum addresses Trump's border emergency on Jan. 21, 2025
Sheinbaum made the comments in response to Trump's executive order declaring a national emergency at the U.S. border with Mexico. (Gustavo Alberto/Cuartoscuro)

In response to the initial actions taken by U.S. President Donald Trump on his first day in office, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday said she will maintain “a cool head” and respond ”step by step.”

Following his inauguration as the 47th U.S. president on Monday, Trump issued a flurry of executive orders, five of which directly impact Mexico, according to the newspaper La Jornada. 

Trump declared a national emergency at its border with Mexico, signed an executive order that could result in Mexican drug cartels being designated as terrorist organizations, and suggested he could apply an across-the-board 25% duty on Mexican goods beginning in February.

Flanked by her foreign and interior ministers at her Tuesday morning press conference, Sheinbaum assured the Mexican public that she will protect Mexico’s interests while also pursuing dialogue with Trump amid the border alarm.

“Regarding the decrees that President Donald Trump signed yesterday, I would like to say the following: The people of Mexico can be sure that we will always defend our sovereignty and our independence,” she said, according to the news agency Reuters.

In recent weeks, Sheinbaum has said Mexico could retaliate to U.S. tariffs with tariffs of its own, but she declined to respond in kind on Tuesday.

“It’s always important to have a cool head,” she said, declaring she would insist on respectful relations while trying to avoid confrontations.

Julio Ruiz, chief economist for Mexico at Citigroup investment bank, told Reuters that Sheinbaum is attempting to calm things down and separate concrete actions from political rhetoric.

“One thing is what’s already signed, and another is these casual comments,” he said. “You have to distinguish between those two things, and … she’s trying to give that message to the market and to the population in general.”

With reports from Reuters and La Jornada

Activists set fire to a Trump piñata outside US Embassy in Mexico City

By
MND Staff
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0
Protesters attacking a piñata of Donald Trump on Jan. 20, 2025
The activists told the news agency EFE that this gesture represents their rejection of the anti-immigration and protectionist policies of Donald Trump. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

Dozens of activists held a demonstration on Monday outside of the United States Embassy in Mexico City, where they beat and burned a piñata resembling Donald Trump, which eventually went up in flames. 

The activists told the news agency EFE that this gesture represents their rejection of the anti-immigration and protectionist policies of Donald Trump, who assumed a new presidential term in the U.S. on Monday.

A burned Donald Trump piñata
The protesters beat and burned the Donald Trump piñata, which eventually went up in flames. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

The protesters said Trump’s policies go against the human rights of migrants, describing his intended plans  as “abusive and inhumane.” 

María García, one of the activists, told EFE that burning a Donald Trump piñata has become a symbol of protest since his first term as president between 2017 and 2021. In 2020, protesters at the U.S.-Mexico border burned piñatas resembling Trump and a Border Patrol agent in response to rising migrant deaths. 

García added that in light of the potential threat of mass deportations, Mexico will implement a comprehensive program involving civil society organizations and all three levels of government. She also acknowledged the sense of hopelessness some migrants feel due to Trump’s rhetoric. 

“All these programs are already functioning,” García said. “The countryman card (tarjeta paisano) will open the door [for Mexicans returning from the U.S.] to have medical service, access to a job, their documentation, etc. It is a complete program. We had never seen something like it.”

A man dressed as a tree holds signs telling Donald Trump to respect biodiversity and that "we are all migrants."
A man dressed as a tree holds signs telling Donald Trump to respect biodiversity and that “we are all migrants.” (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro) 

Marsha Beya Rubyn, migrant human rights activist and president of the “Orgullo Diverso de México” collective, told EFE that these policies have created unity among migrants of various nationalities.

“Our migrant brothers contribute great work and taxes to the United States economy and therefore they are migrant heroes, both those from Mexico and Latin America,” Rubyn said. “Donald Trump has not realized that he is achieving something [unintended]: the unity of all migrants in the world,” Rubyn stressed. 

Meanwhile, other protesters marched through the main streets of Mexico City, chanting slogans in defense of human rights. They demanded a halt to discriminatory policies that, they claim, affect both migrants and bilateral relations between Mexico and the U.S. 

The march partially flooded Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico’s landmark avenue, and finished outside of the U.S. Embassy on the same street.

Earlier this month, President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed confidence that she would have a good relationship with Trump. However, Mexicans are split over whether that will be the case. According to a recent poll by the newspaper El Universal, 46% of Mexicans believe Sheinbaum will have a good relationship with Trump, while 44% expect the two to have a bad relationship.

With reports from EFE

2-week delay? Trump says 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada to take effect Feb. 1

By
MND Staff
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10
Trump announced the tariff's implementation date on Monday night as he signed a batch of executive orders from the Oval Office.
Trump announced the tariff's implementation date on Monday night as he signed a batch of executive orders from the Oval Office. (Screen capture)

United States President Donald Trump said Monday that his administration could impose a 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian exports to the U.S. on Feb. 1, almost two weeks later than he previously planned.

“We’re thinking in terms of 25% on Mexico and Canada because they’re allowing vast numbers of people … to come in and fentanyl to come in,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday night as he signed a batch of executive orders.

Trump signing executive orders on Jan. 20, 2025
“We’re thinking in terms of 25% on Mexico and Canada because they’re allowing vast numbers of people … to come in and fentanyl to come in,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday night. (X)

Asked when he would enact the tariffs, the newly-inaugurated president said Feb. 1.

“I think we’ll do it February first,” he said.

CNBC reported that there has been speculation that U.S. tariffs on Mexico and Canada exports “might be targeted at certain essential items rather than being more broad-based.”

In any case, they would violate the terms of the USMCA, the North American free trade pact that superseded NAFTA in 2020.

Tariffs would also have a potentially calamitous effect on the Mexican export industry — which sent goods worth more than US $466 billion to the U.S. in the first 11 months of last year — and the Mexican economy in general. Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Mexico’s Banco Base, said late last year that the Mexican economy would go into recession if Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Mexican exports to the United States.

In late November, Trump pledged to impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican and Canadian exports to the United States on the first day of his second term as U.S. president. He said at the time that the tariff would remain in effect “until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”

President Sheinbaum of Mexico at the presidential podium during a press conference in the National Palace. She is holding one finger up to make a point.
President Sheinbaum previously said that Mexico would impose a 25% retaliatory tariff on U.S. exports to Mexico if Trump followed through, but now emphasizes that her government will avert the new tariffs entirely. (Moisés Pablo Nava/Cuartoscuro)

President Claudia Sheinbaum subsequently said that Mexico would impose a 25% retaliatory tariff on U.S. exports to Mexico if Trump followed through on his tariff threat. She said last week that her government would seek to avert the proposed tariff through dialogue with the Trump administration.

Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said in November that Mexico would be shooting itself in the foot if it imposed a 25% tariff on Mexican exports, asserting that such a duty would have an adverse impact on consumers in the United States and cause the loss of “around 400,000 jobs” in the U.S. Last week, he expressed confidence that Mexico would be able to stave off the proposed tariff.

“I guarantee you we’re going to find [a way out],” Ebrard said.

While Trump’s stated reason for imposing tariffs on the United States’ North American trade partners is the entry of migrants and drugs from Mexico and Canada, the U.S. president also dislikes the fact that the U.S. has trade deficits with its two neighbors.

“We’re subsidizing Canada to the tune of over $100 billion a year. We’re subsidizing Mexico for almost $300 billion,” he said in December, significantly exaggerating the United States’ trade deficits with both countries.

“We shouldn’t be — why are we subsidizing these countries? If we’re going to subsidize them, let them become a state. We’re subsidizing Mexico and we’re subsidizing Canada and we’re subsidizing many countries all over the world,” Trump said.

Trump issues ‘America First Trade Policy’ memo

While he didn’t keep his promise to impose tariffs on Mexican exports on the first day of his presidency, Trump did issue an “American First Trade Policy” memorandum that paves the way for the implementation of protectionist measures.

The memo said that “the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the United States Trade Representative, shall investigate the causes of our country’s large and persistent annual trade deficits in goods, as well as the economic and national security implications and risks resulting from such deficits, and recommend appropriate measures, such as a global supplemental tariff or other policies, to remedy such deficits.”

It also said that “the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the heads of other relevant executive departments and agencies, shall assess the impact of the USMCA on American workers, farmers, ranchers, service providers, and other businesses and make recommendations regarding the United States’ participation in the agreement.”

The USMCA is up for review in 2026, and Trump has pledged to renegotiate the pact.

“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 in October.

In his inauguration speech in the United States Capitol Rotunda, Trump said he would “immediately begin the overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families.”

“Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens. For this purpose, we are establishing the External Revenue Service to collect all tariffs, duties and revenues. It will be massive amounts of money pouring into our treasury coming from foreign sources,” he said.

Mexico News Daily 

The joy of having things made in Mexico

By
Sarah DeVries
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5
An old carpenter works on his next artifact
Practically anything can be made in Mexico: from personalized construction works to handmade plushies: the sky's the limit, really! (Quintin Gellar/Pexels)

It’s not that I’m embarrassed, but I do feel a little sheepish writing it: I have, apparently, abnormally large calves. At least for Mexico.

And let me tell you, that makes me pretty sad. I don’t know much about fashion — most currently fashionable clothing looks so silly to me — but I do love a sexy knee-high boot (no heels, please).

Several cowboy boots in display
Typically, towns in Mexico specialize in the craft of particular articles: boots, tortilleros, molcajetes — you name it, there’s a town where it’s the primary industry! (Nicole Cavelli en Unsplash)

Alas, almost every knee-high boot I try on stops zipping up as soon as it hits my calf; they’re just not wide enough. And it’s heartbreaking, because I have seen some really cute boots out there.

But wait! It’s not the end!

Not too far from here is a town called Naolinco, famous for its leather products, mainly boots and belts. And if I decide to make a trip up to Naolinco, I can have a pair of boots made just for me! The style, the fit, the color — I can get exactly what I want with exactly the right fit.

Have I done this? Well, no. It’s a little pricey, yes, though not prohibitively expensive. The main thing is that you’ve got to make a day of it. It’s a bit of a drive, and then it’s figuring out exactly what you want, and finding someone to make it for you. Then you’ve got to go back to pick them up. Mexico being Mexico, you’re definitely going to want to call and confirm they’re ready ahead of time even if you’ve got a promised ready-by date.

Facade of the Parish of Saint Matthew the Apostle in Naolinco in the state of Veracruz November, 2023
Naonilco municipality, in Veracruz state, is well-known for its bootmakers. (B.jars/Wikimedia Commons – CC BY-SA 4.0)

But I could do it, and that’s the important thing.

And shoes aren’t all you can have made. The sky really kind of is the limit!

Having things made in Mexico: from plush carrots to custom furniture 

When my daughter wanted “carrots” for her stuffed rabbit one Christmas, we had little stuffed carrots made. When she wanted “number blocks” from her favorite YouTube math singers, we had those made. And when her tastes became decidedly creepier, we had a bloodied “Canelita” from the Animal Crossing-Eternal Horizons crossover made, complete with a detachable velcro gun. She was over the moon. Oh, dear.

What else can you do? Well, there’s a seamstress a few blocks from my house, for example, who can “clone” clothing items. Just pick out the material, give her the original, and voilà! I’ve got a favorite dress and a favorite pair of pants that will be getting that treatment soon. After last year’s hellishly hot spring season, I’m going to be prepared for this one with the thinnest, lightest clothing I can find!

Unemployed women in the Iztapalapa district opened the first cooperative sewing store as part of the "Que Buena Puntada" program, which was subsidized by the Federal District's Labor Secretariat.
You bought a pair of pants that were too big for you? No problem, a Mexican seamstress can make them fit. (Saúl López/Cuartoscuro)

Speaking of drought, a water catchment system is another thing that you can have fitted to your home. This is something I’m personally dying to do; but alas, I rent. But aside from actual companies that can install these systems, it’s possible to find individuals who can do so, as well.

But the category of things I’ve had things made the most by far is furniture.

It’s not the easiest thing in the world finding a good, reliable carpenter. So when you find one, hold on to this person for dear life! Because especially in a country where storage can be sparse, it’s important to be able to create options for yourself.

My favorite most recent carpenter-made piece of furniture is my standing desk. I bought the electrical base on Amazon, but skipped their overpriced desktops. Instead, I designed exactly the desktop I wanted, and a carpenter made it for me! We’ve also had a TV stand/bookshelf made to fit a tight living room, and a toy chest that I had fun painting once it was done. In the last house we lived in, I had a loft bed with built-in drawers and a desk made for my daughter. She loved the height and the cave-like feel underneath.

In Mexico, you’re probably one friend away from your next favorite plumber. Or carpenter. Or construction worker. (Gabriella Clare Marino/Unsplash)

Why, you can even have beer made, a service my partner has provided. Got a restaurant or bar and want a special house recipe? There are people that can design and produce them for you. And of course, food, party favors and decorations for parties of any size can always be found. Themed t-shirts for the parents at birthday parties are currently a big thing in my city, actually. This is overkill if you ask me, but people seem to really get excited about it!

Will your own bespoke designs hit the nail on the head every time? Well, no. I found out a couple of times, for example, that my furniture-designing skills weren’t quite as professional as I thought they were. Fortunately, there are people who know much more about the things they make than we do. Trust them as guides.

The main trouble with having anything made, of course, is finding the right person or business. If you’re new in town or have limited Spanish skills, this can be tough. But if you have friends or at least know some people whose opinion you trust, then that’s your in. This is a country where everybody “knows a guy.” Ask around, and you’re sure to find someone!

And when in doubt or truly at a loss, take a look around Facebook or Instagram; many will have pages that display examples of their work.

So remember: there’s leg work, but it’s fun leg work. Think of it as an adventure and a chance to meet some cool new people. You might get your custom-made stuff and a new friend!

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

Trump signs executive order declaring a national emergency at US-Mexico border

By
MND Staff
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31
Trump signing executive orders on Jan. 20, 2025
"It is necessary for the Armed Forces to take all appropriate action to assist the Department of Homeland Security in obtaining full operational control of the southern border," the executive order says. (X)

United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring a “national emergency” at the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday night as he sought to swiftly assert his authority and differentiate his administration from that of his predecessor Joe Biden.

From the Oval Office on Monday night, Trump also said that he planned to impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican and Canadian exports to the United States on Feb. 1. He previously pledged to impose the tariff on his first day in office and keep it in place “until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”

Trump said in his inauguration speech on Monday that he would promptly “sign a series of historic executive orders” and that “first I will declare a national emergency at our southern border.”

In his inauguration speech, Trump said that “all illegal entry” to the United States would be “immediately halted” with his national emergency declaration.

“And we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came,” he said.

“We will reinstate my Remain in Mexico policy. I will end the practice of catch and release. And I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country,” Trump said.

The New York Times reported that in addition to the executive order to send troops to the United States’ southern border, Trump also signed an order requiring the military to “seal” the northern border with Canada, to repel “forms of invasion, including unlawful mass migration, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and trafficking, and other criminal activities.”

The 47th U.S. president also said that “under the orders I sign today, we will also be designating [drug] cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.”

He signed an executive order making that designation shortly before 7 p.m. He subsequently said that the U.S. military could be used against Mexican cartels. In his inauguration speech, Trump also said that “a short time from now we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.”

Thousands of migrants received the news that their long-awaited asylum appointments had suddenly been canceled after the Trump administration shut down the appointment booking app CBP One.
Thousands of migrants received the news that their long-awaited asylum appointments had suddenly been canceled after the Trump administration shut down the appointment booking app CBP One on Monday. (Pedro Anza/Cuartoscuro)

The New York Times reported that some of Trump’s executive orders “are almost certain to be challenged in court.”

For example, involving the U.S. military in border security tasks “would draw immediate legal challenges because of the strict limits in American law for how the armed forces can be deployed inside the country,” the Times said.

The declaration of a “national emergency” on the Mexico-U.S. border — where the number of migrant arrests have recently fallen — would allow Trump to access funding for border wall construction without approval from Congress.

The successful execution of the U.S. president’s pledge to reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy — which requires asylum seekers to await the outcome of their claims in Mexico — would depend on the cooperation of the Mexican government. However, President Claudia Sheinbaum is opposed to the reactivation of the policy.

Sheinbaum congratulates Trump 

In a post to social media on Monday afternoon, Sheinbaum, “on behalf of the government of Mexico,” congratulated Trump on his inauguration as the 47th president of the United States.

“As neighbors and trade partners, dialogue, respect and cooperation will always be the symbol of our relationship,” she wrote.

At her morning press conference on Monday, Sheinbaum and other federal officials provided details about the government’s plan to receive Mexicans deported from the United States during the second Trump administration.

The program — part of a strategy called “México te abraza,” or “Mexico embraces you” — includes welfare support for deportees, registration with the Mexican Social Security Institute and transport so that returning migrants “can reach their places of origin,” Sheinbaum said.

*Note* This is a breaking news story and will be updated accordingly.

Mexico News Daily 

What were the most popular Mexico City museums in 2024?

By
MND Staff
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6
Two gray-haired people look at large ceramic vases in a museum display case at the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City's most popular museum in 2024.
Visitors examine ceramics from the exhibit "Forms and colors of pre-Roman Italy" at the National Museum of Anthropology last year. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

Time Out Mexico magazine has revealed Mexico City’s most-visited museums of 2024, led by the world-renowned National Museum of Anthropology.

Time Out gathered data from the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL) and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) to find which of the capital’s 188 museums were the most popular.

Here is the ranking of the most-visited museums, according to Time Out.

1. National Museum of Anthropology (MNA)

Regarded as one of Mexico’s most iconic museums, the MNA saw a record 3.8 million visitors last year, taking the crown as the city’s most-visited museum in 2024.

The MNA opened in 1964, and it’s dedicated to researching, conserving, exhibiting and promoting the country’s most important archeological and ethnographic collections.

2. National Museum of History

With 2.6 million visitors in 2024, the National Museum of History in Chapultepec Castle secured second place in the ranking. This figure was just shy of pre-pandemic figures, as it attracted 2.8 million visitors in 2019.

The National Museum of History in Mexico City
The National Museum of History received over 2.6 million visitors in 2024. (Museo Nacional de Historia)

The museum features 12 exhibition rooms that follow Mexico’s history from the conquest of Tenochtitlan to the Mexican Revolution.

3. Palace of Fine Arts Museum

Coming in third place, the Palace of Fine Arts Museum saw 1.6 million visitors in 2024, a significant increase from the 642,368 guests it registered in 2018.

This museum serves as the city’s main venue for showcasing both national and international artists through its temporary exhibitions.

4. The Frida Kahlo Museum (also known as the Blue House)

Though precise numbers were not available, estimates suggest it attracted around 750,000 visitors last year.

A bright blue house with the words "Museo Frida Kahlo" over the door
Frida Kahlo was born, grew up and died in “the Blue House,” located in the Colonia del Carmen neighborhood of Coyoacán. (Museo Frida Kahlo)

Kahlo’s museum in the Coyoacán borough showcases the artist’s personal belongings, including original furniture, photographs, private letters, original dresses and more.

5. National Museum of Art (MUNAL)

With 518,762 visitors last year, the MUNAL came in fifth place. Located in the Historic Center of Mexico City, it houses a vast collection of Mexican art, from the colonial era to the first half of the 20th century.

6. Templo Mayor Museum and Archaeological Zone

Located at the heart of Mexico City’s Historic Center, this archeological site drew 489,233 visitors in 2024. While its numbers have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, they still lag behind pre-pandemic figures, when it reached 912,673 visitors.

7. Franz Mayer Museum

Inaugurated in 1986 with the private collection of German businessman Franz Mayer Traumann, this museum saw 370,000 visitors in 2024. According to the museum director, Giovana Jaspersen, this all-time record figure is thanks to a temporary exhibit on the wildly popular children’s show, ‘31 minutos.’ 

8. Modern Art Museum

The Modern Art Museum made it into the top 10 with just 294,570 visitors last year, a significant decrease from the 606,714 visitors recorded in 2018.

The museum showcases the history of modern art in Mexico with a collection of works that date from the 20th century until today.

A modern art sculpture in front of a museum entrance
The Museum of Modern Art and its outdoor sculpture gardens welcomed almost 300,000 visitors in 2024. (Gobierno CDMX)

9. National Museum of World Cultures

In 2024, the National Museum of World Cultures, located next to the National Palace in Mexico City’s Historic Center, saw 274,905 visitors. This figure is significantly lower than the 567,997 visitors registered in 2019, but an increase compared to the 179,078 visitors in 2022.

This museum houses a collection of art donated by foreign countries, including pieces from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and Persia.

10. Tamayo Museum of Contemporary Art

With 267,560 visitors in 20214, the Tamayo Museum surpassed its pre-pandemic numbers, as it reached 205,118 visitors in 2018.

Located in Chapultepec Park near the MNA, this museum houses a wide collection of national and international modern and contemporary art.

With reports from Time Out México

Trump to sign executive order renaming Gulf of Mexico

By
MND Staff
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25
Trump is expected to sign a slew of executive orders before his supporters this evening.
Trump is expected to sign a slew of executive orders before his supporters this evening. (X)

President Donald Trump announced plans to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in his inauguration speech on Monday. This was just one of several executive orders promised by the president on his first day in office. 

“A short time from now, we will be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America,” President Trump said during his inauguration speech.

Trump had previously stated his intention to rename the body of water in a press conference on Jan. 7. He also suggested he might pursue U.S. control into Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada.

“We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America,” Trump told reporters. “What a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate. It’s appropriate. And Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country.”

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum responded by saying that the body of water was internationally recognized as the Gulf of Mexico and that on historical maps, North America was labeled as Mexican America. 

“I mean obviously ‘Gulf of Mexico,’ the name is recognized by the United Nations, an organism of the United Nations. But next, why don’t we call it ‘Mexican America’? It sounds nice, doesn’t it?” Sheinbaum said, pointing to a map from 1607 projected on a screen during her daily press conference on Jan. 8.

Sheinbaum before an early map of Mexico
The president shot back at Trump on Jan. 8, suggesting that the United States be named “Mexican America.” (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro) 

Republican representative from the state of Georgia Marjorie Taylor Greene directed her staff to draft legislation to make the name change so “Gulf of America” could be officially used on federal maps and administrative policy. While the new name could be used at the federal level, other countries would not need to accept it. 

“It’s our gulf. The rightful name is the Gulf of America and it’s what the entire world should refer to it as,” Green said in a press statement.

Can the Gulf of Mexico’s name be changed by President Trump?

The Gulf of Mexico was first shown as the official name on maps used by 16th-century Spanish explorers, prior to the founding of the United States. 

“The international maritime boundary in the Gulf of Mexico shall begin at the center of the mouth of the Rio Grande, wherever it may be located; from there it shall run in a straight line to a fixed point,” the U.S. State Department clarifies in a 1972 Maritime Boundary document.  

The U.S. holds maritime jurisdiction over its part of the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico has jurisdiction over its portion. 

Trump could potentially change the gulf’s name at the federal level as the rules for official geographical name changes are non-existent.   

“Today, there is no formal international agreement or protocol in place for naming maritime areas,” the director of the International Hydrographic Organization John Nyberg told The New York Times.  

However, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names states on its website that it only considers name changes for “compelling” reasons. “Generally,” it adds, “the most important policy regarding names is local use and acceptance.”

With reports from CBS News, The Hill, The New York Times and MVS Noticias

KPMG: 6 in 10 Mexican firms expect to make new investments in 2025

By
MND Staff
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0
Mexico City's Reforma business district
Challenges noted by the executives surveyed include challenges noted in the survey include security concerns (45%), talent attraction and talent retention (37%), a slowdown in domestic consumption (35%) and the peso exchange rate (34%). (Unsplash)

Although the Mexican business sector remains optimistic about prospects for 2025, political and economic challenges muddy the overall panorama, according to a survey conducted by consulting firm KPMG.

According to the survey, 80% of nearly 700 executives believe sales will climb this year, but only 59% expect to make new investments in 2025. This is down 11 points from last year when 70% of those surveyed said they planned to make new investments in 2024, according to the newspaper Milenio.

KPMG
Only 59% of the nearly 700 Mexican business executives surveyed by KPMG expect to make new investments in 2025. This is down 11 points from last year. (Unsplash)

The survey — Perspectives of Top Executives in Mexico 2025 — found that executives are wary of disruptive political events (particularly the changes in government in both Mexico and the United States) as well as potential trade and geopolitical conflicts.

Among the challenges: new U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Mexican goods imported to the U.S. while also suggesting that he might lower corporate income taxes to 15%.

The first proposal could impact nearshoring growth for Mexico, while the second proposal is part of Trump’s stated strategy to make the U.S. a more attractive place for manufacturing investments.

Even so, those surveyed believe Mexico is well-positioned to take advantage of nearshoring.

“Mexico has a variety of positive factors,” said KPMG associate Ricardo Delfín, according to the newspaper El Economista. “There is a good balance between cost and quality, as well as a qualified labor force … and executives still believe [nearshoring] will positively affect their operations.”

Four out of five executives believe their company’s sales will improve in 2025 and 89% think companies will thrive during the next three years (2025-2027).

However, according to the survey, 56% expect the Mexican economy to stagnate in 2025, while 24% predict a recession.

The KPMG analysis of the survey highlighted existing and potential supply chains — particularly in connection to Mexico’s proximity to the United States — and the country’s numerous free trade treaties as factors influencing executives’ outlooks.

BYD nearshoring
Nearshoring growth could remain sluggish this year after a slowdown in 2024, with 56% of executives surveyed by KPMG expecting the Mexican economy to stagnate in 2025. (BYD)

Concerning potential new investments in 2025, nearly two-thirds of respondents (63%) emphasized meeting current clients’ needs, while 34% ranked nearshoring opportunities as a priority. Other investment targets would be environmental considerations and addressing exchange rate fluctuations.

El Economista said the study indicates that nearshoring strategies this year will likely be focused on seeking value chain alliances, modifying products and services, increasing installed capacity and investing in new geographical areas. 

Delfín said it is clear that executives will approach operational expansion cautiously primarily because a great deal of expansion has already taken place.

Other challenges noted in the survey include security concerns (45%), talent attraction and talent retention (37%), a slowdown in domestic consumption (35%) and the peso exchange rate (34%).

With reports from Milenio, El Universal, Reuters and El Economista

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