Sheinbaum responds to Trump’s Cuba threat: Friday’s mañanera recapped

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January 30, 2026

2026-01-30_Conferencia_de_prensa_matutina._Baja_California_03_GM — After an update on security in Baja California, President Sheinbaum went into detail about Mexico's response to a new threat from U.S. President Trump against countries — like Mexico— that supply oil to Cuba. (Gabriel Monroy / Presidencia)

President Claudia Sheinbaum held her Friday morning press conference in Tijuana, the largest city in the state of Baja California.

“Today we’re going to finally inaugurate the first stage of the viaduct,” she said at the start of the mañanera.

Sheinbaum said that the second stage of the elevated roadway that will connect the Tijuana International Airport with the Playas de Tijuana borough of the northern border city will open next month.

Homicides declined significantly in Baja California in 2025

Early in the press conference, National Public Security System chief Marcela Figueroa reported that the average daily homicide rate in Baja California declined from 6.5 in 2024 to 4.7 last year, a reduction of 28%.

The daily homicide rate in Baja California in 2025 was the lowest of the past eight years, she said.

Still, Baja California ranked as Mexico’s third most violent state last year in terms of total homicides, with more than 1,700 according to data presented by Figueroa earlier this month.

The National Public Security System director, Marcela Figueroa, said homicides in Baja California declined 28% last year. (Gabriel Monroy / Presidencia)

San Felipe, located on the Gulf of California, ranked as Mexico’s fourth most violent municipality in 2025 based on its per capita homicide rate, according to crime data website elcri.men.

Tecate ranked as the 43rd most violent municipality in the country, while Tijuana ranked 45th, according to elcri.men.

Tijuana recorded more than 1,000 homicides last year, making it Mexico’s most violent city in terms of total murders.

More than 5,000 people arrested in Baja California since Sheinbaum took office

Between Oct. 1, 2024 — the day Sheinbaum was sworn in — and Jan. 15, a total of 5,509 people were arrested in Baja California for allegedly committing “high-impact” crimes, such as murders and kidnappings, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch reported.

He said that in the same period, authorities seized 1,253 firearms in the state, and confiscated more than 30 tonnes of narcotics, including 242 kilograms of fentanyl.

García Harfuch also said that authorities have dismantled three methamphetamine labs in Baja California during the past 15 months. Since the national strategy against extortion was launched last July, 70 people have been arrested in the state for allegedly committing that crime, he said.

Later in the press conference, García Harfuch said that “a cell of Los Chapitos” — a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel controlled by sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán — was to blame for an attack on two Sinaloa state deputies in Culiacán on Wednesday.

Sheinbaum responds to US plan to impose tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba

A reporter asked the president about “this new threat from President Trump” to impose tariffs on countries that send oil to Cuba, which, according to a report by the Financial Times this week, has just “15 to 20 days” of oil left.

The question came a day after Trump issued an executive order declaring a “national emergency” because, the U.S. president claimed, “the policies, practices, and actions of the Government of Cuba constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat … to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”

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The executive order asserted that “Cuba welcomes transnational terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah and Hamas, creating a safe environment for these malign groups so that these transnational terrorist groups can build economic, cultural, and security ties throughout the region and attempt to destabilize the Western Hemisphere, including the United States.”

In his executive order, Trump also said that he had determined that it was “necessary and appropriate to establish a tariff system,” under which “an additional ad valorem duty may be imposed on imports of goods that are products of a foreign country that directly or indirectly sells or otherwise provides any oil to Cuba.”

The executive order, the Associated Press reported, “would primarily put pressure on Mexico, a government that has acted as an oil lifeline for Cuba and has constantly voiced solidarity for the U.S. adversary even as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has sought to build a strong relationship with Trump.”

Mexico is the top oil supplier to Cuba, but state oil company Pemex canceled plans to send a shipment of crude to the Communist-run island this month. That move, Sheinbaum said earlier this week, was a “sovereign decision” rather than an act of succumbing to pressure from the United States, which is pressing for regime change in Cuba.

On Friday morning, Sheinbaum thanked the reporter for his question about Trump’s executive order before proceeding to read out a prepared statement.

“Number 1: Mexico unequivocally reaffirms [its commitment to] the principle of sovereignty and free self-determination of peoples, a fundamental pillar of our foreign policy and of international law,” she stated.

“[Number] 2: The application of tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba could trigger a humanitarian crisis of great reach, directly affecting hospitals, food supply and other basic services for the Cuban people. [That is a] situation that must be avoided through respect for international law and dialogue between the parties,” said Sheinbaum, who has said that Mexico could mediate talks between the U.S. and Cuban governments.

“[Number] 3: I have instructed the minister of foreign affairs to immediately establish contact with the U.S. Department of State in order to precisely know the reach of the order that was published [by Trump] yesterday, and also to let them know that we have to prevent a humanitarian crisis for the Cuban people,” the president continued.

“And [number] 4: Mexico will seek different options … to help, in a humanitarian way, the people of Cuba, who are going through a difficult time.”

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum is warning that Trump’s threat to impose additional tariffs on countries sending oil to Cuba could trigger a humanitarian crisis. She also said Mexico will continue to offer Cuba humanitarian support. pic.twitter.com/gbzxc6QKGq

— Belly of the Beast (@bellybeastcuba) January 31, 2026

Sheinbaum stressed that her government needs to find out “the reach” of Trump’s executive order because, “we don’t want to put our country at risk in terms of tariffs.”

She also emphasized that “there are other ways to support” the people of Cuba apart from with oil.

“The United States is sending food, it’s sending other support,” Sheinbaum noted.

“Mexico will always show solidarity [with Cuba],” she added.

Sheinbaum suggests US could send oil to Cuba

Later in her press conference, Sheinbaum was asked whether Mexico would stop sending oil to Cuba if it meant that the U.S. would impose additional tariffs on Mexican goods.

“We’re going to wait,” the president responded, stressing once again that her government needs greater clarity about the Trump administration’s plans.

She subsequently told reporters that Mexico has only sent a minimal amount of oil to Cuba, although the exact quantities shipped to the Communist-run island in recent times are disputed.

A Pemex storage facility with a Mexican flag — Mexico, via its state oil company Pemex, became the lead supplier of oil to Cuba after oil exports from Venezuela — the island’s previous top supplier — dropped in 2025. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)

“Yesterday, the director of Pemex … [said that] what has been sent … is less than 1% of what Mexico produces,” Sheinbaum said, referring to shipments corresponding to contracts between the state oil company and Cuba as well as oil given to the Caribbean island as humanitarian aid.

She went on to say that in Mexico, in Cuba, and in “other places around the world,” refined oil is used to fuel cars, public transport and power plants.

“Let’s imagine there is no electricity. Without electricity, hospitals don’t work, refrigerators don’t work, and a humanitarian situation is created, … a situation that impacts people’s lives,” Sheinbaum said.

“Our interest is that this doesn’t happen with the Cuban people. And I believe it’s not just our interest, the interest of the government, but the interest of all the people of Mexico,” she said.

“And that’s what we want to express to the U.S. government — that it’s very important that there isn’t a situation of humanitarian crisis on the island,” Sheinbaum said.

“So I gave instructions to the Minister of Foreign Affairs [Juan Ramón de la Fuente] to speak about this with the U.S. government, or [to propose] that they send oil [to Cuba]. It’s a matter of support for the Cuban people,” she said.

“Of course, we don’t want to risk there being more tariffs on Mexico, do we? Rather, via diplomatic channels, we simply seek a scheme of dialogue, of communication, that ensures there is not a serious situation for the Cuban people, who are already going through a very difficult situation,” Sheinbaum said.

Trump issued his executive order, titled “Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of Cuba,” the same day as he spoke to Sheinbaum by telephone.

Sheinbaum reiterated on Friday that she and Trump didn’t discuss Cuba during their 40-minute call.

“We spoke about the Mexico-United States relationship. The issue of Cuba wasn’t discussed,” she said.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

Tourism Ministry, seeking to reactivate local tourism, opens new beach access points in Tulum

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MND Staff

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January 30, 2026

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Tulum beach — The four new access points, in addition to the seven recently added, will be in Jaguar Park. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro.com)

The Tourism Ministry has confirmed that there will soon be four new public beach access points in Tulum as part of its plan to reactivate tourism in the popular resort destination in the state of Quintana Roo.

Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez has been on record declaring that the opening of beaches is a priority of the government’s comprehensive strategy for the Mexican Caribbean.

Josefina Rodriguez — Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez has long supported increased beach access for the public living in or visiting Tulum, Quintana Roo. (Alain Hernández/Cuartoscuro.com)

“Beaches are not a privilege, they are a right,” Rodríguez said, emphasizing the goal of diversifying what’s on offer to tourists and reducing the effects of seasonality.

Rodríguez told reporters that a key element of the Tulum Reborn tourism development plan is to guarantee the right to freely enjoy the beaches. The plan was launched in November in response to a decline in tourism which, some critics said, was partly due to restricted access to beaches.

“Tulum currently has seven new public access points, and four more will be added next week,” she said, adding that the new access points are located within Jaguar Park, “a space with top-tier infrastructure that combines conservation, recreation and tourism.”

All the access points feature appropriate signage as well as spaces such as the sports corridor, which allows tourists and residents to enjoy recreational activities in proximity to the sea free of charge.

Rodríguez also said “a permanent dialogue is being maintained with hotel owners” to ensure public access in Tulum’s Hotel Zone. “This is in accordance with federal decrees that establish the right of way when there is not enough public access,” she said.

Additionally, an inter-institutional assessment in conjunction with the Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development Ministry and the Environment Ministry has been ongoing for more than three months and includes adjustments to federal regulations, as well as land-use planning in coordination with the municipal and Quintana Roo governments.

Similar forums are taking place in Baja California and in destinations such as Acapulco.

Sectur is also conducting a nationwide assessment to identify and establish new public access points to the country’s beaches and is developing a National Registry of these access points.

With reports from Periodismo Objetivo and Reportur

Looting report leads to discovery of millennium-old Zapotec burial chamber

By

MND Staff

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January 30, 2026

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Huitzo tomb — The remarkably preserved tomb lies in in the municipality of San Pablo Huitzo in Oaxaca state’s Central Valleys region, former territory of the Zapotec nation. (Secretaría de Cultura/Cuartoscuro)

A 1,400-year-old Zapotec tomb carved into a hillside in the state of Oaxaca is being hailed as Mexico’s “most significant archaeological discovery of the last decade.”

President Claudia Sheinbaum said as much last week when she announced the find at a press conference. A delegation led by Mexico’s Minister of Culture Claudia Curiel de Icaza made a subsequent on-site visit this week.

The entrance to an ornate carved stone Zapotec tomb in Hutizo, Oaxaca — The unusually well-preserved tomb is expected to give new insight into the worldview of Zapotec people who lived over a millennium ago. (Gerardo Peña/INAH)

“Stabilization work is underway to open it to the public at the end of the year,” Curiel said. “It is one of the most important findings of Zapotec culture … due to its state of preservation and the information it will provide us about the cosmogony of these peoples.”

“This site is something wonderful,” added Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara Cruz, who was part of the contingent that was able to go into the tomb. “Finding such beautiful [and ancient] remains is something unique.”

The tomb — dated to about 600 AD and known as Tomb 10 of Huitzo — lies in the newly registered Cerro de la Cantera archaeological site, in the municipality of San Pablo Huitzo.

It is in the state’s Central Valleys region, former territory of the Zapotec nation, about 35 kilometers northwest of Oaxaca city.

Tomb 10 was discovered last year (no exact date was given) after an anonymous report of looting, which led the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) to start rescue excavations that uncovered the chamber.

According to INAH, the funerary complex belongs to the Late Classic period (600 AD to 900 AD), a time in Mesoamerican history when major city-states flourished and then began to decline.

INAH specialists say the crypt, reached by a shaft, is a stepped-vault chamber made with limestone slabs and gray quarry stone, covered with stucco and measuring about 5.55 meters in length.

One of its most striking features is an owl sculpture over the entrance. In Zapotec cosmology, owls symbolize night and death; its beak covers the stuccoed and painted face of a Zapotec lord, likely an ancestor for whom the tomb was dedicated and who served as an intercessor with the gods.

A lintel above holds a frieze of stone slabs engraved with calendrical names, while the jambs show a man and a woman — who “may have served as guardians of the site” — with headdresses and artifacts in both hands.

hints of paint remain on an ancient mural in a Zapotec tomb in Huitzo, Oaxaca — Hints of color are still visible on the murals and carvings inside the tomb, one of which shows figures carrying bags of copal incense. (Gerardo Peña/INAH)

Inside, sections of mural painting in ocher, white, green, red and blue depict “a procession of figures carrying bags of copal incense and walking toward the entrance.”

Tomb 10 appears linked to the ancient kingdom of Huijazoo, whose capital stood on a nearby hill, Cerro de la Campana. Tomb 5, which was discovered in 1985, is well-documented in scholarly works and the media.

Given the proximity between Tomb 5 and Tomb 10, INAH considers the area to have been an acropolis contemporary to Monte Albán, the great Zapotec capital of its time.

With reports from El País, El Diario de México and Infobae

Government deploys 1,600 troops to Sinaloa following attack on legislators

By

MND Staff

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January 30, 2026

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1066658_Arriban Fuerzas Armadas Sinaloa_impreso — Security forces have arrived en masse in Culiacán and Mazatlán in Sinaloa state in response to an armed attack on two state legislators that left both gravely injured. (José Betanzos Zárate/Cuartoscuro.com)

After an armed attack on two state legislators, the Defense Ministry (Sedena) has deployed 1,600 soldiers to the troubled state of Sinaloa which has been struggling to cope with a civil war between rival factions of one of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartels.

A car in which Representatives Sergio Torres Félix and Elizabeth Montoya were riding was attacked by gunmen around noon Wednesday by unknown assailants who fled the scene before authorities arrived.

army vehicles in Culiacán — The newly deployed troops have established their presence in the state capital, while Representatives Sergio Torres Félix and Elizabeth Montoya remain hospitalized from the attack. (José Betanzos Zárate/Cuartoscuro)

During her Thursday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum said arrests had been made in connection with the attack. Then on Friday, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said early investigations indicate that a sub-faction of Los Chapitos — part of the Sinaloa Cartel — are likely responsible for the attack.

Sheinbaum also said she intends to go ahead with a working visit to Sinaloa in early February as planned.

The internecine fighting involving the Sinaloa Cartel began in September 2024, the month before Sheinbaum took office. Ending the persistent violence there has been one of the top priorities of her security strategy, but the results have been far from encouraging.

Among the Sedena personnel on the ground in Sinaloa are 90 members of the Army’s Special Forces Corps. The security forces arrived on Thursday via four heavy Air Force transport aircraft and were deployed to the state capital Culiacán and the coastal city of Mazatlán.

The deployment of additional soldiers comes less than a week after hundreds demonstrated in Culiacán to protest the killing of a civilian during a botched military operation. A 24-year-old man was shot while driving in the state capital, apparently in a case of mistaken identity.

The status of the two Citizens Movement lawmakers remains critical but stable.

Due to the severity of his condition, Torres has been in intensive care, where he is sedated and intubated. Following lengthy surgical procedures, Torres is said to be doing well although the next 72 hours will be crucial.

Montoya lost an eye in the attack after being injured by shrapnel and projectiles. She underwent facial reconstruction surgery and is said to be recovering well.

After visiting the two lawmakers, Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha said Torres’ vital signs are responding well to the trauma after being shot in the head and in the torso. As for Montoya, Rocha said she was conscious and is able to hold a conversation.

Members of the Army, the National Guard and state police officers are deployed around the private clinic where Montoya is hospitalized, and another contingent is on patrol at a focused-care hospital where Torres was transferred to recover from the head injury.

The security forces are also expected to participate in an ongoing search-and-rescue operation looking for 10 mining engineers kidnapped at a site near Concordia, about 83 kilometers (51 miles) northeast of Mazatlán.

With reports from Infobae, La Jornada, El Financiero and El País

Maya Train tickets go on sale in Europe

By

MND Staff

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January 30, 2026

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The Maya Train speeds through a forest — Thanks to a partnership with the Germany company Flix, Maya Train tickets will soon be on sale in Europe. (Maya Train)

Tickets for the Maya Train will go on sale in Europe starting Feb. 1, thanks to a collaboration with the German transport company Flix

Flix, a German mobility and technology company that operates mainly under the FlixBus and FlixTrain brands, will distribute Maya Train tickets on its website, app and physical stores across Europe.

A map of the Maya Train's route — The Maya Train, which was completed in 2024, runs a 1,554-kilometer loop around the Yucatán Peninsula, connecting the region’s archaeological sites, beaches and cities like Mérida and Cancún. (Ruta Tren Maya)

Until now, the Maya Train only sold tickets in Mexico. With this alliance, it will open its international sales in the European market for the first time.

The Mexican passenger train will now be integrated into Flix’s catalog, which operates in more than 40 countries and connects hundreds of destinations, making it easy to include the Maya Train in international itineraries.

Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez Zamora said that the tickets’ availability in Europe will allow foreign travelers to plan their trips further in advance, while helping advertise the train across the pond. She remarked that the addition of the Maya Train to Flix’s network “strengthens the country’s tourism competitiveness by integrating digital tools that simplify the travel experience and bring the destinations of the Maya World closer to a greater number of international visitors.”

With this collaboration, Mexico seeks to reduce logistical barriers by allowing European travelers to plan, book and pay for their rail journeys before arriving in Mexico, just as they would with a bus or train within Europe.

Meanwhile, head of the Maya Train Óscar David Lozano pointed out that the alliance also seeks to redistribute the tourist flow towards local communities to strengthen community tourism.

According to official data by the Tourism Ministry (Sectur), the Maya Train offers 20 daily commercial runs and has transported 2.15 million passengers since it began operations in December 2023. During the recent winter holiday period, it recorded a peak of 9,844 passengers in a single day.

The Maya Train, one of the signature projects of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024), runs for 1,554 kilometers (966 miles) across five states in southern Mexico: Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo.

With reports from El Financiero and Lider Mexico

A last-minute surge in exports saved Mexico from recession in 2025

By

MND Staff

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January 30, 2026

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tomatoes awaiting shipment — Mexico's exports exceeded US $664.8 billion, a 7.6% increase compared to 2024. Despite the Trump tariffs, more than 83% of the exports went to the U.S. market. (Adolfo Vladimir /Cuartoscuro)

Mexico’s economy avoided a recession in 2025 as gross domestic product (GDP) rebounded in the final quarter thanks to growth in trade and stronger performances in the industrial and manufacturing sector.

GDP grew by 0.7% in 2025, according to preliminary data released by the national statistics agency INEGI.

Unquestionably, the biggest contributor to Mexico’s limited success was exports.

During the year, shipments of goods abroad exceeded US $664.8 billion, a 7.6% increase compared to 2024. Despite the multitude of tariffs imposed by Trump, more than 83% of these exports went to the U.S. market.

Analysts cited by the newspaper El País agree that the performance of exports and the private sector’s residential construction were the driving forces behind Mexico’s economic growth in 2025, despite a collapse in public investment “due to the significant spending cuts implemented by the Sheinbaum administration to reduce the fiscal deficit.”

Bloomberg News reported that the growth can also be attributed to the strong performance of the agricultural sector, which rose 0.6% in the fourth quarter compared to the same period of the previous year. Industry and manufacturing grew just 0.3%, while the services sector accelerated to 2% year-on-year.

Defying the Trump tariffs

In a year marked by U.S. trade aggression, the record-breaking performance of exports prevented Mexico’s GDP from dipping into recession. Even so, the preliminary data represents the slowest growth since 2020 when COVID-19 seriously disrupted economies across the globe.

Last year’s GDP growth was lower than in 2024, when the Mexican economy registered a 1.2% increase. It also marked a fourth consecutive decline since a 5% rebound in 2021 as the economy recovered from the pandemic.

Paradoxically, even though U.S. tariffs further clouded the outlook for Mexico as soon as U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, Latin America’s No. 2 economy enjoyed strong exports.

Additionally, the strong performance of primary and secondary activities overcame a sluggish third quarter, when the economy contracted by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter.

Mexico’s economic growth accelerated in the fourth quarter of 2025. From October to December, the Mexican economy grew by 0.8% compared to the previous quarter. And compared to the same quarter of 2024, the Mexican economy grew by 1.4%.

What went right and what went wrong

Alfredo Coutiño, director for Latin America at Moody’s Analytics, said that in addition to the strong exports, cash transfers from the Sheinbaum administration and the increase in the minimum wage helped keep the Mexican economy afloat.

“Furthermore, the easing of U.S. tariffs and [Mexico’s] efforts to comply with [US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement] rules reduced the impact of tariffs and protected the trade balance, preventing the economy from falling into negative territory,” he said, adding, however, that Mexico’s overall economic performance was “mediocre” in 2025.

2025 🇲🇽
PIB 0.7%
Consumo (hasta Oct) 0.58%
Inversión fija (hasta Oct) -7.1%
Exportaciones 7.6%

— Gabriela Siller Pagaza (@GabySillerP) January 30, 2026

Gabriela Siller, director of analysis at Banco Base, told El País that the rise in informality has also pushed Mexico into an economic stagnation trap exacerbated by a decline in fixed investment, the drop in productivity and the weakening of its institutions.

Coutiño also described a “chronic anemia” in productive investment in Mexico, as well as a climate of uncertainty surrounding constitutional reforms, which discouraged private investment.

Marco Oviedo, Latin America strategist for XP Investments, concurred, saying the controversial judicial reform remains an issue of concern.

“Investment stalled after the reform was announced, and this is evident both in the number of employers, which has been declining, and in the informal sector, which continues to grow,” he said.

The outlook for 2026 seems more promising, however.

Oviedo says the first six months of 2026 could see manufacturing and construction as driving forces, reflected in both investment and private consumption in anticipation of the FIFA World Cup for which Mexico will serve as co-host.

With reports from El País, La Jornada and El Economista

How an 81-year-old gringa launched a Mexican opera company

By

Louisa Rogers

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January 30, 2026

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In 2009, at age 65, New York City mezzo-soprano, stage director, costume designer and high school theater teacher Kate Burt moved to the city of Guanajuato. While studying Spanish, she approached the University of Guanajuato and asked if she could audit theater and voice classes.

“Sitting in on classes that focused on voice, music and theater was my way of learning vocabulary related to things I loved,” she says. “I just listened until I could talk.”

Learning Spanish through music

Pastorela in Mexico — Burt’s introduction to theater in Mexico was via the pastorela, a traditional folk play. (Edgar Negrete/Cuartoscuro)

After a year, she not only knew how to say “B minor” in Spanish but also had gotten to know many key people in the local performing arts community.

Knowing Burt had designed costumes for little theaters in the U.S., the director of a Guanajuato children’s theater workshop asked her to create angel wings for an upcoming pastorela. Burt sewed the 2-meter-high wings on her treadle sewing machine, hand-painting the cloth feathers.

When the wings were finished, she started to climb into a taxi to go to the theater and realized they wouldn’t fit, so she slipped them on over her clothes and walked across town to the theater.

“I imagine I looked muy rara,” Burt chuckled. “Lots of folks pointed and stared and asked why I was wearing them. I think it was good publicity for the pastorela.”

Getting involved in theater

On the way, she ran into the University of Guanajuato music school’s director of voice, who asked her if she would teach acting skills to voice students. Although she didn’t know it yet, teaching acting skills for three semesters would lead Burt to start directing and producing plays and operas in 2012.

The first play was one she was reading as a Spanish-learning exercise.

Burt’s involvement with theater led to her founding of the Opera Guanajuato. (Facebook)

“It was so hilarious that I decided to look for actors to perform it,” she said. “I learned so much colloquial Spanish directing that play.”

When Burt came to Guanajuato, she had no plans to start an opera company.

“But it seemed strange to me that a city with so much culture, theater, a superb orchestra and beautiful venues had virtually no opportunities for singers to perform,” she said. “The organization evolved slowly. Little by little, we built scenes, did small productions — and then larger ones.”

The birth of Opera Guanajuato

Burt is now the director of Opera Guanajuato (OG), an associación civil (non-profit) that she founded in 2018, whose mission is to provide opportunities for Mexican singers, actors, musicians, dancers and designers to participate in opera and theater productions. OG also offers one or two scholarships a year to help talented singers with limited means.

Almost all the adult and children’s choir members are Mexican, giving them the once-rare opportunity to perform. OG holds open auditions, and Burt listens to singers from all over the country. They produce two to three plays or chamber operas a year, including “Hansel and Gretel,” “The Magic Flute,” and “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” They offer the productions not just in Guanajuato but also in other towns in the state, like San Miguel de Allende and Irapuato.

Opera in the park

Burt has used her creativity in other ways as well, like offering opera scenes in Guanajuato’s Mercado Hidalgo, where singers would appear among the tortilla and cheese puestos.

“The reaction was tremendous,” she says. “People sometimes say, ‘We can’t go to the theater — the show times don’t work for us — but please bring them back to the market.’”

She believes children are a conduit for helping the public become familiar with opera.

“When we involve children, they bring their aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins — the whole family — to the theater. Many who had never been to an opera say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know about that. When is the next one?’”

Challenges to overcome

The biggest challenge at first, of course, was language. She chuckles over the mistakes she made, like asking a waiter for el cuento (a short story) instead of la cuenta (the check).

“The poor waiter looked terrified!” Her friend corrected her and they all had a good laugh.

After mastering Spanish, “there was the process of understanding that Mexican culture is very distinct from my culture, and requires a foreigner to listen sensitively and ask open questions.”

Concert in Guanajuato — Given her belief in children as the best conduits of opera, Burt has also been active in concerts, like this one at the Casa de la Cultura in Guanajuato. (Facebook)

Another challenge has been dealing with the tax structure and administrative demands, involving extensive unanticipated paperwork. She relies on an accountant to deal with SAT, Mexico’s IRS. The accountant is one of four part-time staff, along with a choral director, an administrative assistant, and a publicist, all of whom have other full-time jobs. Soloists, pianists and orchestra musicians are also paid.

To pay their salaries, OG does private fundraising, and Burt — who owns a rental house in Colorado — invests some of her own money into the company.

“We would love to have a permanent home where we could rehearse and perform,” she says.

Taking advantage of local support

If you have an idea, she suggests getting to know local people who have an interest in your area of expertise. Find out what they’re already doing, ask open questions, listen respectfully and see where an unfilled need exists.

With local support, you, too, might start something as exciting as an opera company.

Louisa Rogers and her husband Barry Evans divide their lives between Guanajuato and Eureka, on California’s North Coast. Louisa writes articles and essays about expat life, Mexico, travel, physical and psychological health, retirement and spirituality. Her recent articles are available on her website, authory.com/LouisaRogers.

8 foreigners on why they left everything for Mexico City — and whether they’ll stay

By

Bethany Platanella

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January 30, 2026

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Nighttime light sweep on an avenue in Colonia Condesa in Mexico City — Mexico City is home to many millions of people, including foreigners attracted by the lifestyle. (Alcaldía Cuauhtémoc)

A 2024 New York Times report notes that Mexico is home to over 1.6 million U.S. citizens — the largest American community abroad. But it’s more than Americans: Argentinian, Spaniard, Chinese and Russian populations have all grown significantly, with Mexican authorities reporting a 64% year-on-year increase in Russian migrants in 2024. The stereotypical CDMX immigrant — a digital nomad typing furiously from a café while nursing the same almond-milk cappuccino for hours (yes, I’m describing myself) — isn’t the full story.

This article follows eight foreigners who’ve chosen Mexico City as home: a Siberian artist, a British designer, an American photographer and business owners from Venezuela to Israel. What they discovered is a city of contradictions: welcoming yet isolating, affordable yet expensive, home and foreign all at once. And somehow that’s exactly what keeps them here.

Why they left their old life behind

Anastasia’s move to Mexico City wasn’t entirely intentional. The multidisciplinary artist and sustainable streetwear designer had been living in New York for six years when she visited family in Russia. Upon her return, her U.S. visa was unexpectedly denied. Despite everything she owned still being in New York, she decided to move to Mexico City — permanently.

“What once felt like an abrupt disruption became one of the greatest gifts of my life,” she said. “I never felt that I fully belonged in my country, and I always knew my life would unfold across different parts of the world. Mexico felt like a warm embrace — a true home.”

In Venezuela, Orlando was earning US $38 a month. He left partly out of necessity, partly in search for the right place to build a career: San Francisco, Santiago, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Bogotá. It was years of bouncing between cities before settling in Mexico City eight years ago, where he founded Meaningful, a 25-person growth marketing studio.

“I wanted to reconnect with my Latino roots and the Venezuelan community,” he said. “Mexico gave me all of that.”

An injury during a trek in Japan left U.S. citizen Logan with medical bills and drained savings. The cheapest flight west landed him in Mexico City. “Everything felt in flow. Life was working out here.”

The writer, photographer, and filmmaker has been here ever since.

CDMX city scene — Mexico City has an appealing energy and vibe (Jezael Melgoza/Unsplash)

Love brought Luke from Nottingham, England, seven years ago after meeting his Mexican wife while she studied abroad. They now await their first child.

Is Mexico City actually affordable?

As of 2024, Mexico City is the most expensive city for internationals to live in Latin America. While many publications blame gentrification, the reality is more complex: Food inflation rose 4-5%, and entertainment and services costs have surged. Mexico City’s size, tourism and concentration of higher-income residents mean businesses can — and do — set premium prices.

Is it still more affordable than living north of the border? Alexander, a German-born U.S. citizen who runs a bespoke events agency in Mexico, thinks so, though he acknowledges the privilege.

“You can have a better life when making U.S. dollars, but let’s not forget that things are getting more expensive.”

This is particularly impactful for families. As mental health clinic owner Jessica points out, earning potential often drops when moving here, and with children, costs multiply in unexpected ways. In Australia, where she’s from, childcare and schools operate on the assumption that both parents work — systems are heavily subsidized and organized around full work days. In Mexico, roughly 18% of public schools participate in after-school care programs.

The assumption is that family members are available for support, and, if a parent works, the family probably has access to Mexican social security benefits (IMSS), which include free healthcare. Without that built-in network, expats end up paying for nannies, inconvenient school days and private healthcare. The affordability equation changes significantly as circumstances shift.

Angel de la Independencia — The cost of living shouldn’t be the reason anyone moves to Mexico. (Luis Dominguez/Unsplash)

But everyone interviewed agreed on one thing: The cost of living shouldn’t be your primary motivation. Orlando, who works with clients like DoorDash and Raycast, puts it directly.

“Come here to continue producing, creating wealth and building happiness for yourself and the people around you,” he said. “Don’t come just to settle and chill, especially if you’re young.”

Logan was even more blunt.

“Pick a better reason!” he said. “Only stay when you fall in love with it.”

The benefits of living in Mexico City

Nearly everyone mentioned Mexico City’s warm, welcoming energy. Logan said he’s watched life unfold without the usual struggle.

“I’m shocked by how I’ve found projects here,” he said. “It often feels like I’m being pulled into things when, all my life, I’ve pushed to make anything happen for myself.”

Luke, who runs the motion design agency Only the Bold, assumed creative meetups would be easy to find in a city this size. Even though he arrived before the pandemic, he discovered that in-person networking events were hard to find. So he and a Mexican friend started Motion Design México together to fill the gap. Rotem, an Israeli who left international tech to open Pasta Mestiza, found meeting people the easiest part of the transition.

The quality-of-life shift was universal, especially for those fleeing fast-paced cultures. Alexander left U.S. stress behind:

“Back home, everyone seems to be stressed, working like crazy just to pay bills. Once I came here, this all changed. I feel happier and more relaxed.”

Daily rhythms reflect this slower pace. Monica, a New Yorker who opened Curiosa Cafe in Mexico City’s Condesa neighborhood, starts mornings walking her dogs through Parque México. Orlando does the same along tree-lined Avenida Ámsterdam. Alexander works from coffee shops he’s not tried yet and then explores new neighborhoods when done for the day. And Mexico taught Anastasia something unexpected: the beauty of spending more time alone.

Do expats feel welcome?

But feeling welcome and feeling at home are different things. Everyone interviewed has built a real life in Mexico City. Whether they feel truly accepted is more complicated.

Rotem felt welcomed from the start, but the real test came during the peak of the Israel-Palestine war.

A banner reading "La Gentrificación no es progreso, es despojo" hangs over a Mexico City street — “Gentrification isn’t progress, it’s dispossession,” reads a banner hung in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City in July. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

“Some tourists who came to eat in Pasta Mestiza would turn around when they realized I’m from Israel,” he said. “Not one Mexican reacted that way — they were always empathetic, even asking about my family.”

In six years, Orlando said he has had only one negative experience: a bank representative who took issue with his Venezuelan roots.

How long did it take for the city to feel like home? For some, like Anastasia, it was immediate. For Jessica, it’s been more cyclical.

“There are times when it felt like home and times when it didn’t,” she acknowledged.

Rotem captures the duality.

“I have moments where I can still feel on vacation, like being at a wedding and having chilaquiles at 1 a.m., then washing them down with tequila and dancing to banda music. That’s probably something I’ll never get used to — and I’m happy for that.”

Two young men and two young women dine and converse around a restaurant table with Mexican food in a bright, tree-shaded courtyard restaurant. — Spanish language fluency makes it easier to make friends and fit in. (Christian Rojas/Pexels)

Does Spanish fluency increase belonging? Everyone interviewed has at least an intermediate understanding of the language, although mastery remains elusive for most.

Luke feels language is crucial, especially in social settings, where being able to keep up with fast-paced conversations is the difference between being a spectator and a participant:

“Something that haunts me is that you could replace me with a potted fern, and nobody at the party would spot the difference. At that point, I’m essentially a less aesthetically pleasing version of a houseplant.”

Navigating Mexico City’s systems and challenges

Jessica, who’s lived in Mexico’s capital the longest, experienced something no one warns you about.

“I feel the initial arrival is easier — the romance phase with great weather, affordable rent, friendly faces and delicious fruit. What was harder was not being prepared for how culture shock reveals itself the further you integrate. It’s not something you go through once at the start. It’s cyclical. The hardest times have been much later, in my experience.”

Mexico’s systems are proof of this. In Australia, the U.S., Canada and the U.K., rules-based environments mean that by following regulations, you’ll be protected. Consumer protection bodies can pressure banks and companies to honor refunds or compensate for errors. In Mexico, however, consumer protection agencies like Profeco exist on paper, but fines for illegal behavior go to the state rather than the harmed party — enforcing your rights usually means hiring a lawyer.

Monica misses the “customer is always right” mentality when dealing with suppliers for her cafe. Opening even a small business involves navigating multiple offices and portals — often in person — that can delay opening for weeks. Mexico’s tax collection agency, known as the SAT, relies heavily on a specific method of electronic invoicing, so a missing or incorrect factura can result in losing a deduction entirely — even if the expense was documented by other means.

For Jessica, this makes running a business feel precarious. The moment one link fails — an unhelpful bank, a supplier who won’t honor a contract, a permit delayed with no explanation — the whole structure wobbles, and there’s no obvious safety net.

Both Monica and Logan also said they faced landlord struggles. Each was threatened with illegal lease termination when higher-paying tenants appeared. Logan fought back.

“I scared him off with a legal text asserting my tenant rights, opening a case with PROSOC [Mexico City’s housing rights agency] and asking for his CFDI [proof that he was declaring the rental income from Logan to the SAT] and facturas, because I suspected he wasn’t paying taxes.”

Luke acknowledges the broader tension.

“The anti-gentrification movement is understandable, but it’s a reminder that you will always be seen as an outsider,” he said, then turned philosophical. “Ultimately, I think the answer is a reflection of your own internal reality, and we can create whatever reality we choose.”

Will they stay?

Mexico City zocalo — Most foreigners who move to Mexico City fall in love with the city. But not everyone wants to stay forever. (Bhargava Marripati/Unsplash)

Can they imagine leaving? Some can, but not yet.

Anastasia isn’t quite ready.

“I’m still a bit traumatized by visa experiences, and nothing is ever guaranteed,” she said.

Luke joked he’d need “a world war, another pandemic or free tickets to Disneyland” to consider leaving Mexico. Orlando said he’d reconsider living here if democracy were threatened or if he needed better schools and safety for a future family.

The common thread is family. Rotem thinks about it often.

“The distance from my family is a big factor,” he said. “I believe that at some point I’ll want to spend more time with my parents, helping them when they get older.”

Xochimilco ecological park — There’s a pull between missing family and wanting to start one’s own. (Roberto Carlos Román Don)

Jessica feels the same pull.

“As my parents age, it’s a thought that is often on my mind. The thrill of adventure is giving way to the pull of family, familiarity and a feeling of security.”

Monica and Logan said they would only leave Mexico for safety crises or family emergencies.

But none are planning exits now. Logan, a year and a half in, is still in the honeymoon phase. Orlando’s gratitude for Mexico has only grown — so much so that he became a Mexican citizen six months ago.

“The more grateful I became, the more it felt like mine,” he said.

Jessica captures it best.

CDMX — Mexico City is welcoming, but it can also become isolating for those who have moved from other countries. (Carlos Aranda/Unsplash)

“My Mexico journey is far from complete — it’s now a permanent part of my story and my life, and I suspect it will remain so in some form or another.”

Those contradictions promised at the start — welcoming yet isolating, affordable yet expensive, home and foreign all at once — aren’t problems to solve. They’re the reality of building a life in a place that isn’t yours by birth but that becomes yours through commitment.

Luke offers the final word:

“I believe people should be free to move where they want, even for economic reasons,” Luke says. “It comes down to a base human level: Are you being a good neighbor? Contribute something, integrate.”

Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog or follow her on Instagram.

Sheinbaum’s ‘productive’ and ‘friendly’ call with Trump: Thursday’s mañanera recapped

By

MND Staff

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January 29, 2026

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President Sheinbaum speaks on the phone — President Sheinbaum discussed her morning phone call with U.S. President Trump at Thursday's press conference, as well as other topics related to trade and national security. (Claudia Sheinbaum/X)

President Claudia Sheinbaum held her Thursday morning press conference after speaking by phone to U.S. President Donald Trump.

“It was a cordial, friendly call, and it lasted about 40 minutes,” she told reporters at the beginning of the mañanera.

Trump also referred to the call in positive terms, writing on social media that it was “very productive” and “went extremely well for both countries.”

“Much of it was focused on the Border, stopping Drug Trafficking, and Trade. We will be speaking again, soon, and ultimately, setting up meetings in our respective Countries. Mexico has a wonderful and highly intelligent Leader — They should be very happy about that!” he wrote on Truth Social.

The conversation came 17 days after Sheinbaum and Trump discussed security issues in a Jan. 12 call.

On Thursday morning, Sheinbaum said that she and her U.S. counterpart discussed “various issues,” including trade and security.

A Truth Social post from Trump reading: "I had a very productive telephone conversation with President Claudia Sheinbaum, of Mexico. It went extremely well for both Countries. Much of it was focused on the Border, stopping Drug Trafficking, and Trade. We will be speaking again, soon, and ultimately, setting up meetings in our respective Countries. Mexico has a wonderful and highly intelligent Leader — They should be very happy about that! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP" — Trump praised Sheinbaum as “wonderful and highly intelligent” after a 40-minute call that both leaders described in positive terms. (Truth Social)

“While we were speaking, his wife arrived, Melania. So I had the opportunity to say hello to her. You already know that I met her in Washington when we were at the FIFA thing,” she said, referring to the World Cup draw in December.

Sheinbaum: Trump acknowledged that Mexico is making progress on security issues

Sheinbaum told reporters that Trump agreed with her that Mexico is making progress on a range of security issues.

The presidents’ conversation on Thursday came nine days after the Sheinbaum administration sent 37 cartel figures to the United States, the third large transfer of prisoners from Mexico to the U.S. since the current Mexican government took office.

Sheinbaum said that Trump was “totally aware” of the latest transfer.

Sheinbaum: Trump didn’t speak about a US intervention against cartels in Mexico

A reporter noted that Trump has spoken about the United States’ intention to start attacking cartels on land, and asked the president whether he “insisted” on such “interventions” during the call.

“No,” Sheinbaum responded.

“On the contrary, we agreed that [things are] going very well. We’re making a lot of progress on the issue of security,” she said.

Sheinbaum has recently been touting the reduction in homicides in Mexico, including during her Jan. 12 call with Trump. However, the accuracy of the federal government’s data on homicides has been questioned by security experts and non-governmental organizations.

Is security in Mexico improving or are the numbers being manipulated?

Sheinbaum: Trade negotiations with US are going well

Sheinbaum told reporters that Mexico’s trade talks with the United States are going well.

“There’s nothing concrete yet, but things are progressing very well,” she said.

Mexico is seeking relief from tariffs the Trump administration has imposed on a range of Mexican goods including steel, aluminum and vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Mexican and U.S. governments agreed on Wednesday to “begin formal discussions on possible structural and strategic reforms in the context of the first USMCA Joint Review,” according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

Sheinbaum acknowledged that announcement, and said that Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard — who met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday — will provide more details next week.

Sheinbaum advocated for maintenance of trilateral trade pact

Sheinbaum said that she and Trump discussed Canada during her call, and noted that she spoke in favor of “maintaining the agreement” — the USMCA — “with the three countries.”

Tension between the United States and Canada has recently increased, and Trump in the past has floated the idea of the U.S. entering into bilateral trade pacts with each of its neighbors.

Canada PM Mark Carney gives a speech at the World Economic Forum — Canada’s growing distance from the U.S. was on display at Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent World Economic Forum address, where he called on middle powers to unite in a clear rebuke of the current U.S. administration. (World Economic Forum)

However, even if Mexico, the United States and Canada don’t agree to extend the USMCA during this year’s review process, the pact would not be terminated until 2036.

Sheinbaum: Neither Cuba nor the arrest of Ryan Wedding were discussed in call with Trump

Sheinbaum said that she and Trump didn’t discuss “the issue of Cuba.”

Bloomberg reported on Monday that Mexico’s state oil company Pemex had canceled plans to send a shipment of crude oil to Cuba this month. Sheinbaum didn’t deny the report, but stressed that Mexico makes its own sovereign decisions regarding oil shipments to Cuba — i.e. not under any duress from the United States.

On Thursday, she indicated that Mexico would continue to send oil to Cuba as “humanitarian aid.”

Sheinbaum also told reporters that she and Trump didn’t speak about the arrest in Mexico last week of alleged drug boss Ryan Wedding.

At her press conference, however, she responded to a Wall Street Journal report that referred to “the FBI’s involvement in the Jan. 22 operation” to capture Wedding. (Read Mexico News Daily’s report here.)

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

Assassination attempt leaves 2 Sinaloa state legislators hospitalized in Culiacán

By

MND Staff

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January 29, 2026

1

bullet hole fro assasination attempt in Culiacán — Sinaloa state Deputies Sergio Torres and Elizabeth Montoya were attacked by gunmen while in their car. (José Betanzos Zarate/Cuartoscuro.com)

Two state legislators from the Citizens’ Movement party (MC) were attacked by gunmen on Wednesday in Culiacán, the capital of the northern state of Sinaloa.

Representatives Sergio Torres Félix and Elizabeth Rafaela Montoya Ojeda were wounded while in their vehicle near the boardwalk in downtown Culiacán. The incident occurred around noon, shortly after the legislators had left the Congress building.

State deputy Sinaloa Torres — Sergio Torres served as mayor of Culiacán (2014-2016) and unsuccessfully ran for governor of Sinaloa in 2021. He is considered to be a leading candidate for governor in 2027. (Facebook)

Responding to reports of gunfire, public safety officers arrived shortly thereafter, but the assailants had already fled the area.

Montoya was hit by a bullet and was reported to be in stable condition, while Torres — wounded by shrapnel — is said to be in delicate, but stable condition. Gonzalo Quintero, the lawmakers’ bodyguard who was wounded while attempting to repel the attack, is also in stable condition.

Wednesday’s violence occurred the day after Culiacán police chief Alejandro Bravo was fired upon when he and several policemen responded to complaints about gunfire near the city airport. Bravo’s car was pierced by several bullets, but he was unharmed. The attackers escaped after placing spike stripes in the path of the patrol cars.

Culiacán is the locus of a fratricidal war within one of the world’s most powerful transnational criminal organizations — the Sinaloa Cartel. The infighting began in earnest in September 2024, a few weeks after rival cartel leaders were arrested in the U.S.

Before she was elected as a state lawmaker, Elizabeth Montoya served as a Culiacán city councilmember and state director of the DIF family assistance agency. (Facebook)

Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha immediately ordered the state Security Ministry to conduct a “search and capture operation” to locate those responsible for the attack. A special intelligence unit was also dispatched to the scene.

“I have communicated with the … state Attorney General’s Office so that action is taken promptly and efficiently (as the investigation proceeds),” Rocha posted on his X account.

Rocha also contacted President Claudia Sheinbaum who authorized the federal Security Cabinet to take part in the investigation.

“From the moment the events were reported, direct communication was established with authorities of the Sinaloa State Government and inter-institutional actions were coordinated to support the investigation,” the Security Cabinet said in a statement.

The Security Cabinet analyzed video surveillance footage from the area in an effort to identify the attackers’ escape route.

Media reports indicated that the vehicle allegedly used in the attack had been located Wednesday afternoon.

Torres served as mayor of Culiacán (2014-2016) while with the Institutional Revolutionary Party. Shortly after his term ended, he switched to the MC and unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2021. He is considered to be a leading candidate for governor in 2027.

With reports from La Jornada, Reforma, El Universal and El Financiero