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Maybe what Mexico needs is … more Americans? A perspective from our CEO

By
Travis Bembenek
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66
A blond woman holds churros in a Mexican street
Immigration goes hand in hand with social tension, but also incredible opportunites for bicultural connection and even economic growth. What would happen if Mexico decides to open its doors wider to immigrants? (Shutterstock)

For those of you already wishing to tune me out based on the title alone, please stick with me and let’s look at some facts and figures that will help to connect the dots on my argument.

The foreign-born population of Mexico — and Americans in particular — have been getting a lot of attention lately.

(Please don’t scold me for using the term “American.” I am aware that all people born in the Americas are technically Americans but right or wrong, most people refer to people born in the United States as Americans and I will do the same in this article.)

Some would say the fuse was first lit with foreigners complaining about local music on the beach in Mazatlán or others asking for “salsa que no pica.” Here in San Miguel de Allende, the tension is usually around foreigners complaining about the fireworks and the stress it causes on their dogs. Imagine for a moment a foreign-born population moving into the United States and complaining about how a local long-standing tradition negatively affected their dogs … How well would that go over?

Tensions, of course, have heated up recently with anti-gentrification protests in certain neighborhoods of Mexico City — as well as valid complaints about rapidly rising rents, English-language menus and increasingly bland salsas. But as is often the case in emotionally charged issues, facts and figures tend to be overlooked. So let’s take a minute to review some of them with respect to the foreign population and foreign visitors in Mexico.

Mexico has a population of 132 million people, of which an estimated 1.6 million are American, 400,000 are Canadian, and another several hundred thousand are from Central America, South America, Europe and the rest of the world. Reasonable estimates would be a maximum of 2.5 million foreign-born people in the country — less than 2% of the population. Americans make up around 1.2% of the population in Mexico.

Foreigners in Mexico are bringing an eroding gentrification phenomenon that heavily affects the local population.
Americans make up 1.2% of the population in Mexico — far less than Mexicans in the United States. (Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)

For some perspective, the foreign-born population in the United States is now over 53 million or nearly 16% of the population. People of Mexican origin living in the United States make up almost 12% of the U.S. population. The foreign-born population in Canada is now 8.4 million or nearly 22% of the population. In other words, the foreign-born population in the United States is eight times more than Mexico’s while Canada’s is 11 times more. Other big countries with large economies in Europe also have significant foreign-born populations. To name a few, Germany’s foreign-born population is 21%, the United Kingdom’s is 17%, and in France it’s 14%.

A major influx of foreign-born residents does not come without its problems and challenges. We have seen first hand across the globe how a large inflow of foreigners (especially when it happens quickly) has caused problems with housing availability and costs, the labor market, and at times led to social issues. In many countries, a rightward move in politics has occurred, with anti-immigrant or closed border candidates increasingly winning elections. That being said, most would agree that immigrantion has a net positive affect on a country — due to everything from an influx of labor, an increase in GDP, and an increased richness of culture in everything from food to traditions to music. Imagine for a moment the U.K. without Indian food! 🙂

So let’s look specifically at Americans in Mexico. To begin with, they are spread out across the country. Even San Miguel de Allende, which has been “ground zero” for gringo-gentrification in Mexico for decades, is still less than 10% American. Think about that for a minute: The Mexican city with the highest percentage of Americans and a nearly 100 year history of American residents is still at only 10% … compared to the ENTIRE United States being 12% Mexican. The exact number of Americans living in Mexico City is difficult to estimate, but even if you take the very highest estimates, it is still far below one half of one percent of the city’s population!

But there’s another important aspect to the foreign-born population discussion, beyond the raw numbers: What impacts are the foreigners having? In the case of immigrants in the United States and Canada, most people would agree that they are often coming to work, earn more money and give a better life to their families. Arguments have been made that they are “taking jobs from locals,” but they tend to be quite weak and with little evidence. That being said, immigrants are likely suppressing wages in some areas and certain industries. They are also often putting a strain on everything from housing to schools to medical resources to government services. In other words, they provide a clear economic benefit, but also create some very real and difficult strains on local communities.

Protesters in Mexico City
Rising home prices caused in part by a short-term rental boom have strained housing supply in Mexico City and other areas of the country. (Gatitos contra la desigualdad/X)

In the case of Americans and Canadians in Mexico, the vast majority historically have come to retire. They buy or rent a home and spend their retirement money locally. They are rarely taking the job of a local, and likely not putting a strain on public schools, public housing, government services, or public healthcare. They are certainly contributing to housing prices rising in many areas. They likely don’t pay any payroll or income taxes (as they often aren’t working) but they pay property taxes on their homes and IVA taxes on items that they buy.

I looked into the number of foreign tourists coming into the country as a percentage of total population to see if that might be part of what makes it “feel like” there are more foreigners in Mexico. In 2024, Mexico had nearly 45 million international tourists — 34% of the population. That compares to 72 million international tourists to the U.S., representing 21% of the population. Canada’s 2024 international tourist arrivals were almost 20 million, or 48% of the population. In Spain, which has experienced a backlash in tourism levels, the number of international tourists as a percentage of the total population is a whopping 193%! In the UK it is 61%, France 146% and Italy 116%. Based on this data, Mexico in comparison still receives a relatively low number of international tourists given the size of its population.

A final consideration and very important reality check — Mexico’s economy is not growing. In GDP growth it has underperformed compared to the U.S. for years, and current expectations for this year, 2026 and even 2027 are for flat growth at best. With tariff threats on Mexican-made goods and a U.S. push for reshoring of manufacturing in the U.S. (versus in Mexico), growth might even be negative for years to come.

In the wake of Trump’s tariff chaos, Mexico’s economy needs a rethink: A perspective from our CEO, Part 1

In a previous article, I argued that Mexico’s economy needs a rethink. I think a big part of that rethink needs to focus on how to attract significantly more foreigners (and yes, Americans) to the country to vacation, live, work and invest. A focused plan to attract two times more tourists and five times more foreign residents would have a hugely positive impact on Mexico in terms of investment and economic growth. This influx of foreigners most certainly would not come without its share of headaches, but an economy that has a large young population and no economic growth will have other significant issues. For those of you that disagree with my thinking here, what would you suggest to get the economy going again and improve living standards for many?

Mexico City based MND writer María Meléndez wrote the following in a recent article on gentrification in her neighborhoods: “I have seen how dedicated many foreigners are in their efforts to learn Spanish, integrate into our communities, show respect, and gain a better understanding of this country.”

Another side of the story: A Mexican perspective on gentrification

I think that is such an important point. As the foreign-born population coming to Mexico to live, work and vacation likely continues to grow, it will become more important than ever for them to take María’s comments seriously. For sure there will be issues — cost of living increases, being offered bland salsa options in restaurants, increasingly being asked if we have any allergy restrictions, and too many people (including myself) wearing shorts in the cities. That being said, I have no doubt that the net impact of a lot more Americans (and foreigners in general) in Mexico would be a positive one.

You can be assured that Mexico News Daily will do our part in helping these new arrivals better understand and respect the country and its wonderful people.

Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for nearly 30 years.

MND Tutor | La Tiendita

By
MND Plus
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0

Welcome to MND Tutor! This interactive learning tool is designed to help you improve your Spanish by exploring real news articles from Mexico News Daily. Instead of just memorizing vocabulary lists or grammar rules, you’ll dive into authentic stories about Mexican culture, current events, and daily life… What better way to learn Spanish?

There’s nothing more Mexican than visiting your local tiendita. These convenience stores are on almost every street and carry everything from coke to flowers — or even the latest gossip.

Sadly, these stores are becoming increasingly threatened by major convenience chains like Oxxo and 7-Eleven, but you can help play your part by supporting your local business. Discover why these tienditas are such an important part of daily life and learn Spanish at the same time in the latest edition of MND Tutor!


The MND News Quiz of the Week: August 2nd

By
MND Plus
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0
News quiz
(Mexico News Daily)

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

Get informed, stay smart.

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

Puerto Vallarta was voted the third safest city in Mexico this week. Which city came out on top?
A street in Puerto Vallarta's Zona Romantica

Mexico has bagged 4 silver medals at the World Aquatic Championships. What for?
two swimmers holding medals

Warner Brothers have unveiled a new Batman movie. Where is it set?

Mexico was wet during June — but how wet?
A man with an umbrella rides a bicycle in the rain in Mexico City

Tech giant Nvidia is partnering with the Mexican government. What will they produce together?
man at mike in front of Nvidia sign

Ports across Mexico's Pacific coast were closed earlier this week. Why?
Cargo shipping containers

Which auto manufacturer announced the closure of their Cuernavaca plant?
The Mexican auto parts industry

Which Mexican city announced a new cable car network?
Cablebús cabins carry passengers over Mexico City.

Spanish energy firm Iberdrola has annouced it will depart the Mexican market. Who has it sold to?
Modern windmills along a mountainous backdrop in Oaxaca, Mexico

Noted Mexican photographer Rodrigo Moya, who famously shot portraits of Che Guevara, died this week. In which country was he born?
couple at an art exhibit

Where does farm-to-table food come from in Baja California Sur?

By
Chris Sands
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0
Baja California Sur has embraced the farm-to-table concept, but where exactly does the food come from? (Jazamango)

The secret to why so much great food is found in restaurants in Baja California Sur is that so many of the ingredients are grown nearby. That’s certainly true in Los Cabos, and also in La Paz, although it’s important to make a distinction between the capital city and the larger municipality of which it is a part. 

Agricultural bounty in La Paz, as one might expect, doesn’t come from the city, but rather from a few small production areas like El Carrizal, El Centenario, Los Planes, and Todos Santos that account for only a fraction of the land in the larger municipality, but the vast majority of crops. Todos Santos is particularly notable, not only because it and the neighboring community of El Pescadero account for a significant portion of the total growing area in La Paz. But also because they’re the heart and soul of the municipality’s thriving farm-to-table restaurant scene. 

Farm-to-table restaurants in Todos Santos and El Pescadero

The garden at Hierbabuena. (Hierbabuena)

Although there’s a history of farming centuries old in these areas, the farm-to-table movement has flourished in the last two decades, led by restaurants such as Cocina de Campo by Agricole, Hierbabuena, and Jazamango. 

Of course, each is distinct. Hierbabuena, founded in 2013 in El Pescadero, has a small garden of perhaps one acre, but grows upwards of 40 different varieties of fruits, flowers, herbs, and vegetables, which it incorporates into its delicious menu specialties. Contrast this with Agricole, the 37-acre El Pescadero farming cooperative founded by Elizabeth Ibarra Vivanco, whose abundant produce may be found in its farm store market and also in its restaurant, Cocina de Campo by Agricole — the latter of which has been celebrated as a Bib Gourmand selection by the Michelin Guide, certifying exceptional quality and value.

Javier Plascencia, the scion of a Tijuana family of restaurateurs, needed no introduction when he opened Jazamango in Todos Santos in 2017. He’s the most famous chef in the Baja California peninsula and has his own Michelin Guide credentials, having received a coveted star for Animalón in Valle de Guadalupe. The restaurant was thus eagerly anticipated, and has lived up to its billing thanks not only to kitchen talent, but the restaurant’s reliance on local ingredients, many of them coming from the onsite garden. 

There are other farm-to-table attractions, too, as well as those that don’t fit so neatly under the farm-to-table label, but certainly merit attention from visitors. Baja Beans, for example, is best known for its coffee, which can be sipped in fashionable resorts throughout the region and at its burgeoning number of cafés. The original is in El Pescadero and is also worth visiting for its Sunday Market, a great place to find fresh, local produce. Meanwhile, boutique hotel Paradero Todos Santos, which opened in early 2021, is bounded by family farms, a fortunate occurrence for diners at Tenoch by Paradero, its Michelin Guide-recognized restaurant. 

Agricultural production in the La Paz municipality

Just under 4,000 hectares, or nearly 10,000 acres, are farmed in the municipality of La Paz, producing close to 140,000 tons annually of fruits and vegetables, including asparagus, basil, chile peppers, mango, melon, and tomato. Chile peppers, oddly, are botanically classed as a fruit, and account for over half (51.1%) of all agricultural production in La Paz. The fruit most associated with the region, though, is mango, so ubiquitous during the summer months that its fresh juice can be found at restaurants around the region, and particularly so in Todos Santos, where there’s even an annual festival dedicated to its many uses. 

La Paz mango festival
Todos Santos hosts an annual mango festival to celebrate it’s most famous crop. (Turismo La Paz)

However, tomatoes and chile peppers remain the staple crops and account for close to 80% of all produce grown in the La Paz municipality. Each is also planted in Todos Santos and El Pescadero, too, although these communities each have their own specialties. In a 2015 study, for instance, it was noted that 41% of the planting area in Todos Santos was set aside for poblano peppers, 17% for basil, 16% for green beans, and 10% for herbs such as chives, marjoram, mint, rosemary, tarragon, and thyme. Plantings in El Pescadero were similarly allotted, with the vast majority of its 488 hectares given over to poblano peppers, basil, green beans, and culinary herbs. 

How meat and seafood are sourced locally

Do restaurants in Todos Santos, El Pescadero, and elsewhere in the municipality source meat and seafood locally? You bet they do, although not exclusively. La Paz is the leading poultry producer in Baja California Sur, accounting for 482.7 tons according to the most recent yearly statistics. The municipality also provided 304.7 tons of pork, 92.7 tons of goat meat, 61 tons of lamb, and was a significant source of dairy products, too. Nearly 9 million liters of cow’s milk were squeezed from udders last year, and 384,000 liters of goat’s milk.

Seafood is an even more traditional part of the local economy, with the most important species harvested from the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortés (as the Gulf of California is always referred to locally) being, from a value perspective, scale fish like tuna, dorado, snapper, and grouper (52.5%), lobster (21.6%), shark (13.3%), octopus (4.2%), shrimp (2.2%), abalone (2.2%), and oyster (0.7%). The fresher these catches are, the better. Hierbabuena, for example, sources its seafood from a fishmonger in nearby Punta Lobos.

The importance of regional aquaculture 

However, not all fish consumed locally are caught. Aquaculture has also become big business in La Paz, and is a valuable source of fish that are critically endangered in the wild due to overfishing, like totoaba, as well as red snapper, shrimp, clams, oysters, and scallops. As Forbes Mexico reports, over one million totoaba are currently being nurtured in nurseries in La Paz by the aquaculture fishery Santomar, with a portion by Mexican law earmarked for return to the wild to replenish the natural population. 

It’s important to note that wild totoaba cannot be legally consumed, but second-generation fish from aquaculture facilities can, and those are the fish that are finding their way onto menus in popular tourist destinations like Los Cabos and Todos Santos.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

What’s on in San Miguel de Allende in August?

By
María Ruiz
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3
(FASMA)

August is one of the most active months on San Miguel de Allende’s cultural calendar, offering something for every taste: art, music, wine, workshops, theater, and more.

FASMA

The most important summer arts festival in town. From August 1 to 17, enjoy over 100 cultural activities including concerts, exhibitions, theater, workshops, lectures, and literary presentations at various venues throughout the city. It features international collaborations and participation from local institutions such as the National Institute of Fine Arts, Museo La Esquina, Instituto Allende, Fábrica La Aurora, and the Public Library. For the full program, click here.

Date: August 1-17 
Location: Instituto Allende, Teatro Santa Ana, Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez, etc…
Cost: Depends on the event

Art Walk 

Fábrica La Aurora invites you on Saturday, August 2, to celebrate the traditional Art Walk, where you can mingle with artists and their works in an extraordinary atmosphere. Don’t miss live music at the factory’s restaurant either!

Date: Saturday, August 2, 5–7 p.m.
Location: Fábrica la Aurora s/n 
Cost: Free 

Zandunga: Gil Gutierrez and Friends

Zandunga is a charming countryside venue about 15 minutes from San Miguel de Allende, featuring live jazz and blues with guitarist Gil Gutíerrez and his wife, Rebecca. Much of the ranch was hand-built by Gil and friends, offering a delightful open-air setting blending indoor and outdoor spaces. Zandunga also hosts art exhibits, concerts, and private events, making it perfect for unique gatherings near San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. Buy tickets at Hernández Macías 129 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 am to 3 pm.

Date: Sunday, August 3, 1–5 p.m.
Location: Rancho Zandunga
Cost: 800 pesos

The 8 Seasons of Vivaldi

A must for chamber music lovers, Casa Europa México presents “The 8 Seasons of Vivaldi and Piazzolla” featuring Adolfo Alejo and the Kukulkán Kamerata. Alejo, a leading figure in classical music in Mexico and recognized by Forbes as one of the “most creative Mexicans in the world,” captivates audiences with impeccable technique and deep expressiveness.  Tickets available online or at the Casa Europa México box office.

Date: Thursday, August 7, 7 p.m.
Location: Casa Europa México, San Francisco 23
Cost: 400 pesos

Folkloric Dance

If you love Mexican traditions and art, celebrate half a century of dance, color, and tradition with the Ballet Folklórico Representativo de San Miguel de Allende, founded in 1975 by Maestra Gloria Rodríguez Navarrete and officially recognized in 1998 as a representative group of the Casa de la Cultura. The troupe features three generations — children, youth, and adults — and has performed hundreds of shows in Mexico and abroad.

Date: Thursday, August 14, 6 p.m.
Location: Casa Europa Mexico, San Francisco 23 
Cost: 200 pesos 

Tribute to Mercedes Sosa

Get ready for an extraordinary and emotional night with Liliana Medrano in “Tribute to Mercedes Sosa” at Casa Europa México. Join on August 21, 2025, at 7:00 PM for a moving journey through the timeless music of “The Voice of Latin America.” Liliana Medrano is an acclaimed vocalist known for her powerful and authentic interpretations, reviving Mercedes Sosa’s legacy with talented musicians, promising a touching and unforgettable experience.

Date: Thursday, August 21, 7 p.m.
Location: Casa Europa México, San Francisco 23
Cost: 450 pesos

The Young Actors of San Miguel proudly present: Alice in Wonderland

Dive into a world of wonder with this charming theater adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland,” performed by young actors of San Miguel de Allende. Follow Alice on her whimsical journey after the White Rabbit, meeting eccentric characters like the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts. This family-friendly English show features imaginative costumes, magic, and fun for all ages. Presented Friday and Saturday, August 22 and 23 at 6 p.m. at Teatro Santa Ana de La Biblioteca. Entry by donation of 220 pesos. Don’t miss it!

Date: Friday and Saturday, August 22 and 23, 6 p.m.

Location: Teatro Santa Ana de La Biblioteca

Cost: 220 pesos 

Literature Seminar

Mexican writer Julián Herbert presents his book Overol. Notes on recent Mexican narrative in conversation with Carmen Rioja as part of the Literature Seminar at the Public Library.

Date: Saturday, August 23, 1 p.m.

Location: Teatro Santa Ana de La Biblioteca

Cost: Free

Viva la vid

The grape harvest season begins. Save the date for Saturday, August 30, for an unforgettable experience in San Miguel’s vineyards. Enjoy delicious food, live music plus a DJ, unlimited wine, a welcome kit, and participate in the traditional grape stomping. Buy tickets soon, as space is limited.

Date: Saturday, August 30 
Location: Viñedo San Miguel, Carretera Comonfort San Miguel de Allende #1, 38206 Comonfort, Gto
Cost: 2,700 pesos

Sheinbaum talks US organized crime: Friday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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6
president SHeinbaum at podium
President Sheinbaum's Aug. 1 press conference fell on the ten-month anniversary of her swearing in as president. (Presidencia)

Friday marked 10 months to the day since Claudia Sheinbaum’s inauguration as Mexico’s first female president.

On Sept. 1, she will present her first informe del gobierno, or government report, to the Congress, and in a major speech.

press members seated at press conference
One of the reporters assembled at the press conference brought up the subject of how little attention the role of criminal gangs in the United States is receiving in discussions of the drug trade. The preseident stressed that both the U.S. and Mexico have to take responbility for solving the problem. (Presidencia)

Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador delivered his sixth and final informe speech last September in front of a large crowd in Mexico City’s Zócalo a month before he finished his six-year term.

Sheinbaum said earlier this week that she has begun preparing her inaugural informe, but she has not yet decided where she will deliver her speech.

On Friday, she presided over her regular morning press conference, a day after reaching a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump that allowed Mexico to avoid a 30% tariff that was scheduled to take effect this Friday Aug. 1.

US has a ‘very big responsibility’ to combat narcotics  because that’s where drug use occurs  

A reporter highlighted that a number of U.S.-based organized crime groups, including the Border Brothers, the Crips, Florencia 13 and the New Mexico Syndicate, are mentioned in the non-fiction book “Los cárteles gringos” by J. Jesús Esquivel.

“However,” the reporter added, “we don’t see significant seizures of drugs” in the United States or the imprisonment of “narco leaders on the other side.”

“Do you think that the fight against drug trafficking is asymmetrical between Mexico and the United States?” the reporter asked the president.

Sheinbaum first stressed that it is up to Mexico to tackle the drug problem in its own territory and the responsibility of the United States to do the same north of the border.

“And we collaborate and coordinate; that’s why there are extradition treaties and other mechanisms for cooperation,” she added.

“… But I’ve mentioned here that the United States, in general, dedicates itself to talking about organized crime in Mexico. They have the right to mention it, but on the other side of the border, who sells the drugs?” Sheinbaum asked.

“Who launders the money?” she asked. “That part has to be investigated.”

Sheinbaum subsequently asserted that the United States has a “very big responsibility” to combat drug use, drug trafficking and associated criminal activity because use of narcotics primarily occurs “on the other side” of the border.

She said that in her call with Trump on Thursday, she and the U.S. leader spoke once again about Mexico’s anti-fentanyl campaign.

“And I told him that we were going to start a campaign against the use of methamphetamine and the harm it causes to young people and to health in general,” Sheinbaum said.

“And he asked me: ‘Do you think these campaigns have helped to keep young people away from drugs?’ And I said, ‘Yes,'” she said.

“I told him about the work we’re doing in schools. And he agreed that, in addition to targeting criminal gangs, there must be attention to the causes [of drug use] and addiction, in particular,” Sheinbaum said.

Is there a ‘we’re going to wipe the cartels off the face of the earth’ clause in the new Mexico-US security agreement? Sheinbaum says no

A reporter noted that U.S. border czar Tom Homan spoke on Thursday about the United States’ intention to “wipe the cartels off the face of the earth.”

“Under Biden the cartels made more money than they ever made — smuggling aliens, sex trafficking of women and children, smuggling dope across the border. Now we have a secure border the cartels are going bankrupt. And President Trump, through all his efforts and his leadership, we’re going to wipe the cartels off the face of the earth, which makes not only this country safer but Mexico safer,” Homan said.

Trump's newly appointed 'border czar' Tom Homan speaks at a microphone
Sheinbaum characterized U.S. border czar Tom Homan’s statements on cartels as just “their way of talking.” (Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

The reporter asked the president whether the intent to “wipe the cartels off the face of the earth” is included in any sense in the new bilateral security agreement Mexico and the United States are set to sign soon.

“It’s their way of talking, right?” said Sheinbaum, who has said on several occasions that Trump has his own unique “way of communicating.”

She said that her government, “within the framework of the law and our constitution,” does what it has to do to prosecute crime.

Sheinbaum subsequently assured reporters that “these words” spoken by Homan “are not established in the agreement” on security that Mexico and the U.S. are set to sign soon.

Sheinbaum happy that Mexico will soon have a new judiciary

On Sept. 1, the same day that Sheinbaum will present her first informe, the candidates elected as judges, magistrates and Supreme Court justices in Mexico’s first (and controversial) judicial elections will assume their positions.

Sheinbaum reiterated on Friday that she will attend the swearing-in ceremony for the new Supreme Court justices, if she is invited.

“Of course we’re very happy about this popular election process for the Supreme Court,” said the president, who argued that judicial elections were needed to rid the nation’s courts of corruption and other ills.

Sheinbaum expressed her belief that the incoming chief justice of the Supreme Court, Hugo Aguilar Ortiz, is “an honest and knowledgable person.”

She also noted that Aguilar, an indigenous lawyer from Oaxaca, has worked to defend indigenous people’s rights during his career.

“Of course we are pleased that the new judiciary is coming in,” Sheinbaum said.

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

Post-AMLO, Mexican household income is up and inequality is slightly down

By
MND Staff
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0
A woman takes a product off a grocery store shelf
Between 2022 and 2024, average household income in Mexico increased more than 10%. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

Mexican household income has grown significantly since 2016, according to a report by the National Survey of Household Income and Expenditure (ENIGH) 2024.

The report, which covered the years 2016-2024, revealed that these changes in income were driven primarily by increases in the minimum wage, the expansion of formal employment and the strengthening of social programs. The survey covers Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s presidency as well as the last two years of former President Enrique Peña Nieto’s term.

Published in July by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the survey reveals that between 2022 and 2024, the average quarterly household income reached 77,864 pesos, up 10.6% compared to the survey’s 2020-2022 edition.

Notably, the poorest 10% of households saw a substantial income increase since 2016 — over 35% — while earners in the top 10% saw their income drop by 8%.

Income inequality has slowly and steadily diminished since 2016, the survey showed. However, a significant income gap still remains between the highest and lowest brackets: In 2024, while the lowest-income households reported an average quarterly income of 16,795 pesos, those in the highest decile earned 236,095 pesos per quarter — roughly 14 times more.

Gender and regional inequality also persist. Between 2022-2024 women on average earned 34% less than men, meaning that for every 100 pesos a man earned, a woman earned 66 pesos. Disparity is also seen regionally, with households in the northern state of Nuevo León earning almost three times as much on average as those in Chiapas, a southern state that historically has lagged in various economic indicators. After Nuevo León, Mexico City concentrates the highest household income.

The main source of household income continues to be labor income (66%), followed by transfers (18%), which is household income that does not come directly from work activities or rental properties. It can include remittances, private or public scholarships, gifts from other households and social programs, among others.

According to INEGI, transfers recorded the greatest growth as a source of income between 2016 and 2024, with an increase of 26.5%.

As income grows, households are shrinking and getting older 

The survey reported an 8.5% reduction in household size between 2016 and 2024. During this period, the number of household members under the age of 15 decreased by 24.8%, while the number of members aged 15 to 64 decreased by an average of 5.2%.

In contrast, the number of household members aged 65 and over increased by 21.3%. During this same period, the country saw a 10.2% drop in the number of income earners per household. Furthermore, among employed household members, there was a 3.4% decrease during the same period.

Mexico News Daily

Cox Energy buys departing Iberdrola’s Mexican assets for US $4.2 billion 

By
MND Staff
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1
Letters spelling Cox
The Spanish company's acquisition of 15 functioning power plants will be followed by a US $4 billion investment in new energy assets in Mexic. (COX)

Madrid-based Cox Energy has agreed to acquire Iberdrola México in a deal valued at US $4.2 billion including debt, the two companies announced on Friday.

President Claudia Sheinbaum called the acquisition “a sign of certainty in our country, of confidence and of a desire to keep investing,” at her Friday morning press conference.

Windmill
Part of the Mexican assets that Iberdrola is leaving behind for Cox are five wind farms.
(Bolsamania.com/on X)

“I have spoken to Cox management and they are very committed to investing in Mexico and to the development of various projects,” Sheinbaum said.

Cox, an 11-year-old water and renewable energy company with a market capitalization of around US $958 million, will buy Iberdrola’s 15 power plants. The news agency Reuters said 75% of the deal will be funded with debt and the remainder with equity.

Reuters said closing is expected by the first quarter of 2026. Approval is virtually assured since shareholders representing 84% of the company’s capital have already expressed support for the acquisition.

In a statement, Cox said it will invest more than US $10.7 billion in Mexico between 2025 and 2030.

The company defined the deal as a landmark acquisition, adding that it “aims to leverage [our] established presence and in-depth knowledge of the Mexican market, reinforcing its position in high-growth strategic markets.”

The company said it sees Mexico as a strategic market “thanks to its strong legal certainty” under the new energy regulatory guidelines in the government’s Plan México.

Cox referred to Mexico as the second most-important electricity market in Latin America (only Brazil has a larger consumer market). It highlighted the country’s “solid macroeconomic fundamentals and an investment-grade economy underpinned by a responsible fiscal policy.” It also lauded Mexico’s banking system as “sound and stable.”

The acquisition of Iberdrola’s platform offers vast potential for increased penetration and growth in Mexico’s power sector, Cox believes, especially due to “a rising demand for energy” that is driving investment.

The company’s five-year investment target not only includes the Iberdrola acquisition, but also “more than US $4 billion in new energy assets, up to US $1.5 billion in water concession assets and the development of a hub focused on Mexican welfare.”

Cox said it also hopes to co-invest in new energy projects alongside Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), the state-owned electric utility.

The company says the deal creates “significant synergies within its strategy to make Mexico one of its key business hubs in Latin America by integrating water and energy solutions.”

Iberdrola, a Spanish multinational electric utility which has operated in Mexico since 1999, announced its intention to sell its remaining Mexico assets last week, hiring Barclay’s Investment Bank to manage the sale. At the time of that announcement, the assets for sale were valued at US $4.7 billion.

The 15 power plants being sold — six wind parks, three solar parks and six gas and cogeneration plants — have a combined 2.6 gigawatts (GW) of capacity..

The acquisition also includes a pipeline of 11.8 GW of various renewable energy sources. Cox says 1.4 GW of the renewable energy projects in the pipeline are at an advanced stage of development and may start commercial operations in 2027-28.

Iberdrola began divesting its assets in Mexico, including a US $6 billion sale to the government in 2023, as it became a frequent target of then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s attacks. 

The Cox sale will complete Iberdrola’s exit from the country. 

With reports from El Economista, El Financiero, La Jornada and Reuters

What’s next for Mexico’s growing rail system? Officials share advances in Nuevo León, Guadalajara, SLP, Sinaloa and more

By
MND Staff
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A red, white and green train speeds through a field.
Work is currently underway to extend the Valley of Mexico Suburban Train to AIFA airport then on to Pachuca, Hidalgo. The final result will be the Mexico City-Pachuca passenger rail line. (Presidencia)

President Claudia Sheinbaum’s ambitious railroad plans will get under way in earnest this month with construction beginning on sections of two trunk lines: one connecting Querétaro to Irapuato and another from Saltillo to the U.S. border via Monterrey.

Contract bidding for three other tranches and the provision of more than 60 trains is well advanced, and studies are underway for new lines connection to Guadalajara, San Luis Potosí, Mazatlán and more.

The Mexico City-Pachuca train will be electric while Mexico City-Querétaro and the rest of the rail network will use diesel fuel, director Andrés Lajous said. (Presidencia)

Sheinbaum opened her Wednesday morning press conference by introducing the three men responsible for meeting an ambitious goal: that of building more than 3,000 kilometers of railway track for passenger trains before her term ends in 2030.

Andrés Lajous, director of Mexico’s Rail Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF), provided a brief update on progress on the Mexico City-Querétaro and Mexico City-Pachuca lines, before turning his attention to the Querétaro-Irapuato line, construction of which is expected to begin this month.

Lajous said the Querétaro-Irapuato line will be built in two sections: from Querétaro to Apaseo el Grande (a distance of 33 km) and from Apaseo el Grande to Irapuato (78 km). Construction contracts will be announced in mid-August and October respectively.

The Mexico City-Querétaro and Querétaro-Irapuato lines are tranches of the Mexico City-Guadalajara-Nogales line that aims to serve 6 million passengers a year upon completion.

A map of under-construction and proposed train routes around Mexico
Nearly 800 km of passenger rail lines are currently under construction, with studies underway for over 1,300 km of rail lines. The proposed routes would allow passengers to travel by train from Guadalajara to Mexico City or from Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo, among other routes. (Presidencia)

Another section of track that could see construction begin this month is the Unión San Javier to Arroyo El Sauz tranche of the Saltillo-Monterrey-Nuevo Laredo train. The winning bid for this 100-kilometer section in the northern state of Nuevo León will be announced this month.

With regards to the remainder of the Saltillo-to-Nuevo Laredo line, the Saltillo-Santa Catarina section (70 km) tender will be published on Sept. 18 and the Arroyo El Sauz-Nuevo Laredo tranche (133 km) will be determined on Oct. 3.

Larous said that four other lines — Irapuato to Guadalajara; Querétaro to San Luis Potosí; San Luis Potosí to Saltillo and Mazatlán to Los Mochis — are entering the study phase. The call for proposals for environmental assessments was published on Wednesday.

Also this month, the ARTF will award contracts for trains for three lines: Mexico City-Pachuca, Mexico City-Irapuato and Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo.

General Gustavo Ricardo Vallejo, commander of the Army engineers overseeing the construction of the Mexico City-Pachuca line, said construction there will generate more than 60,000 direct and indirect jobs.

“There are already 6,000 people employed in building embankments, compacting track platforms, excavation and pouring of piles and foundation footings,” he said.

Additionally, Vallejo said, the Mexico City-Querétaro job is expected to create employment for roughly 200,000 people. More than 5,000 people have already found jobs on this route.

Sheinbaum interjected that her passenger railway project has two purposes — better communication across the country and economic benefits for the communities along the routes.

“The objective … is to benefit communities during and after construction, not just provide a means of transportation,” she said, adding that another goal is to ensure safe, rapid and high-quality transportation.

Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation Minister Jesús Esteva was also present, but his comments were limited to progress on the Amado Nervo Bridge that will connect the Pacific Coast resort cities of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit. The bridge is scheduled to be completed in November 2026.

With reports from Infobae and Milenio

Mexican diver Osmar Olvera ends China’s run with a 3m springboard gold at the World Aquatics Championships

By
MND Staff
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swimmer showing medal by a pool
Osmar Olvera Ibarra's first-place finish in the 3-meter springboard event brought Mexico its first gold and sixth overall diving medal at this year's World Aquatics Championships, which runs through the weekend in Singapore. (Conade)

Mexican diver Osmar Olvera ended nearly two decades of Chinese dominance to claim the gold medal in the men’s 3-meter springboard competition at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Friday.

Olvera, 21, overcame a poor third dive to surge past his two Chinese rivals with his next three dives, including a fifth dive of 102.60 points, and a flawless finish. 

The Mexico City native finished with 529.55 points over six dives, edging four-time Olympic gold medalist Cao Yuan (522.70) who is also an 11-time World medalist, and three-time reigning World champion Wang Zongyuan, who scored 515.55.

Olvera became the first non-Chinese diver to win this event since Canada’s Alexandre Despatie won in 2005.

“I feel amazing,” Olvera said. “It’s a dream come true, to be a world champion … in an Olympic event.”

Olvera said he’ll now focus on maintaining his gold-medal form in order to continue battling the Chinese divers who have dominated these events, including a gold medal sweep at the Paris Olympics last year and taking seven out of eight golds at the two previous Olympics.

The Mexican diver’s victory is by no means a surprise. He won the 1-meter springboard competition at the 2024 World Championships in Doha and has eight career Worlds medals, including four this year in Singapore. 

Olvera also won bronze in the 3-meter springboard event at the Paris Olympics last year as well as a silver in the 3-meter synchronized springboard competition.

Olvera’s gold on Friday was the sixth diving medal for Mexico at the Worlds, behind only China’s 14 and well ahead of the rest of the pack, including the USA’s one.

The path to gold for Olvera at the Worlds was not easy. 

Wang was first and Cao was second in every round of the semifinals. But, according to Swimming World Magazine, Olvera leaped ahead in the finals with the best dive in each of the first two rounds.

Two Chinese divers in red jackets flank champion Mexicandiver Osmar Olvera. All three hold medals
To get to the top of the podium, Olvera had to beat 11-time World medalist Cao Yuan (left) and three-time reigning World champion Wang Zongyuan (right). (Conade)

Olvera wobbled in Round 3 and was in third place after four rounds. Then came what Swimming World Magazine called “the best dive of the final and maybe the meet writ large.”

The Mexican nailed a forward 4 1/2 somersault dive in a pike position to move a half-point ahead of Cao. He clinched the gold medal with the best dive of the final round — a forward 2 1/2 somersault dive with three twists, performed in a pike position . It earned 97.50 points.

“I felt a lot of pressure [on the sixth dive],” Olvera said afterward. “I knew I needed a great dive, so I just focused, controlled myself and did my job.”

During her daily morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum showed reporters a video of the event and applauded Olvera’s triumphant performance.

In a chat with El Universal newspaper afterward, Olvera thanked Mexican fans who followed his performance despite the time difference with Singapore, sharing an emotional message with them.

“Thank you to all those who supported me, to all of Mexico who stayed up all night to cheer me on, thank you for sending the best vibes,” he said. “And to those of you who didn’t, I ask you to support me too, because Mexico isn’t just about soccer.”

With reports from ESPN, El Universal and Swimming World Magazine

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