The hundreds of shoes, clothing and other personal items found alongside human remains at the Jalisco ranch have put a harsh spotlight on Mexico's missing persons crisis. (Fiscalía del Estado de Jalisco/Cuartoscuro)
Federal and local officials in Mexico have been in damage control mode since last week’s gruesome discovery by a civilian search group at an alleged cartel training base in the state of Jalisco.
On Friday, President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that the Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) would take over the case. This came a day after she demanded that Jalisco authorities issue a complete report about the ranch, which was first discovered last September.
“It is imperative that we conduct a full investigation before we jump to conclusions,” she said, adding that the FGR would submit a report next week. Sheinbaum also decried the rush to judgment precipitated by “a couple photos and speculation.”
On Wednesday, Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus met with members of Sheinbaum’s security cabinet, saying in a social media post that his administration had agreed to “joint actions” with the federal government.
Lemus, who has been in office only three months, quickly distanced himself from his predecessor, Enrique Alfaro, who was governor when the ranch was found. Both men are members of the opposition Movimiento Ciudadano party.
A volunteer search collective sounded the alarm on the crematoriums at Izaguirre Ranch in Teuchitlán, months after federal officials discovered the site. (Fiscalía del Estado de Jalisco/Cuartoscuro)
Lemus said he will not allow the scandal to be swept under the rug, regardless of who might be found guilty of crimes, whether “by omission or commission.”
The ranch in Teuchitlán — located 60 kilometers (37 miles) west of the state capital Guadalajara — was discovered by National Guard troops, but the site was not secured even after the state prosecutor’s office conducted an inspection. Officials did not report any findings and the investigation went quiet.
On March 5, the Jalisco Search Warriors, a group of citizens looking for missing relatives, visited the site on a tip. They gained access by simply pushing open an unlocked gate.
Search Warriors leader Indira Navarro accused Alfaro of “trying to hide this kind of situation or discovery,” asking how state investigators with technology and training could have failed to find what her group did “using only pick, shovel and metal bar.”
There are more than 120,000 disappeared people in Mexico, according to government data.
The majority of Chihuahua cases have been discovered in the Cuauhtémoc area, in western Chihuahua. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)
Mexican authorities have reported that the measles outbreak in West Texas, which began earlier this year, has now reached the northern state of Chihuahua.
“We are not on alert, we have not declared an emergency; but we are concerned, and we are working hard because measles can spread anywhere in the state,” Dr. Rogelio Covarrubias, head of the Chihuahua Health Department, said.
The majority of Chihuahua’s measles cases have been discovered in the Mennonite communities around Cuauhtémoc. Low vaccination rates among Mennonites over the border in Texas were a factor in the U.S. outbreak, but Mexican officials aren’t sure how many adults in Mexico’s Mennonite communities are immunized against the disease. (Shutterstock)
Most cases were detected in the Mennonite communities north of Cuauhtemoc, 270 miles south of El Paso, Texas. Authorities have confirmed 15 measles cases in a Mennonite community in western Chihuahua. A 16th case has been confirmed in the city of Namiquipa.
Because measles is so contagious, at least 90% of a community must be vaccinated to prevent outbreaks, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends.
Mexican officials are worried because there isn’t an accurate count of how many adults in Mexico’s Mennonite communities are immunized against measles. However, children enrolled in Mexican schools usually get the vaccine.
In Chihuahua, the overall vaccination rate is 75%.
The Undersecretary of Prevention and Health Care, Irma Leticia de Jesús Ruiz González, called on parents to complete their children’s vaccination schedules, and urged adults under 39 years of age to get the measles vaccine if they have not received it.
“It’s essential to recognize that the vaccine is a preventative measure,” Ruiz noted, adding that the vaccine is currently available at all health centers across the various institutions.
Children across Mexico are required to be vaccinated for measles in order to attend school. (Chihuahua Ministry of Health)
Measles is a highly contagious disease characterized by high fever, rash, and, in some cases, respiratory complications that can be fatal. An infected person can transmit the virus to between 16 and 18 people, fueling the rapid spread, explained Dr. Ruiz.
According to the Associated Press, the U.S. outbreak began in a Mennonite community in West Texas with low vaccination rates.
“Many of the children are homeschooled or attend smaller private schools, and many are unvaccinated,”Bill Moss, executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center, said.
Chihuahua health authorities believe residents who have family in Texas or who traveled there, carried the illness back home.
West Texas and New Mexico communities have reported over 250 cases. Two unvaccinated individuals have died from measles-related causes, including an unvaccinated school-aged child. Up until Tuesday, 29 people in Texas remained hospitalized due to measles.
As of March 10, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 32,488 suspected cases and 16,144 cumulative cases worldwide, mainly in Yemen (7,548) India (6,661) Thailand (6,224) and Ethiopia (4,596).
Guadalajara competes on the world stage when it comes to fine dining. Here are 4 of the best. (Erizo de Mar/Facebook)
Most of what I read about dining in Guadalajara tends to focus on old guard restaurants serving Jalisco classics like birria, pozole, menudo, and tortas ahogadas. Often overlooked is the city’s modern, cutting-edge culinary scene.
But there’s plenty for a global foodie to get excited about beyond the tried and true. Below are four can’t miss destinations where Mexican chefs trained in some of the world’s best kitchens deliver modern takes on the classics — or innovate with local ingredients in ways that are entirely their own.
Xocol
Husband and wife chef team Xrysw Ruelas and Oscar Segundo offer cutting-edge cuisine at Xocol. (Dawn Stoner)
Since 2018,husband and wife chef team Xrysw Ruelas and Oscar Segundo have led one of the most creative (and coolest) restaurants in all of Guadalajara.
Located in thehumbleworking-class Santa Tere neighborhood, the restaurant combines a vibrant open kitchen with a single long communal table stretching the entire length of the dining room. Hanging from the black ceiling are hundreds of dried corn cobs usband and wife chef team Xrysw Ruelas and Oscar Segundo part art installation, part political statement.
Around the massive dining table, a festive mix of local foodies and adventurous tourists dine together in the spirit of farm workers breaking bread after a day in the fields.
“Xokol” is the Aztec word for pinto corn. And while corn is a staple of every Mexican kitchen, Xocol’s chefs favor heirloom varieties long absent from the urban culinary scene.
Jalisco is seen as one of Mexico’s most Catholic states, so what better way to pay homage to history than through these virgin-adorned tortillas? (Dawn Stoner)
Xocol’s menu changes seasonally, giving the chefs ample opportunity to showcase the versatility of heritage corn. The menu is divided into three sections: sea, no meat and with meat. While fish and shellfish feature in many dishes, vegetarians are also well cared for at Xocol.
If you find yourself tripping over indigenous words and obscure ingredients (as I do), staff are ready to help with English translations.
Standout dishes from our last visit were a ceviche of snapper bathed in leche de tigre juices with green cactus pear, pumpkin tamales with sea urchin bisque, and wild mushrooms with a side of quesadillas and an earthy mushroom pate.
Whatever you do, please don’t skip the ceremonial taco Mazahua featuring an elaborate design made with indigo colored ink derived naturally from the cochineal insect. This signature dish — a vegetarian taco — is best paired with the complimentary smoky, savory and fiery salsas.
The wine list draws heavily from Europe, with obscure varietals like Gruner Veltliner rarely encountered elsewhere in Guadalajara. There are also local artisanal brews and cocktails, i.e. fermented potions that seemingly emanated from a mad scientist’s lab.
Xocol. Herrera y Cairo 1375, Santa Tere, 44600 Guadalajara, Jal.About US $75 per person.
Alcalde
A top 15 entrant in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, Alcade is the child of star chef Paco Ruano. (Restaurante Alcalde/Facebook)
Ranked #12 in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2023, Alcalde sets the standard for cutting-edge contemporary Mexican cuisine in Guadalajara. Head chef Francisco “Paco” Ruano brings stellar credentials, having worked at Mugaritz and Noma before opening the restaurant in 2013.
Alcalde’s culinary proposition is described by Ruano as “cocina franca.” Think traditional Mexican ingredients with precise European-style plating. Diners can choose from an elaborate tasting menu, which changes about four times a year, or the à la carte menu.
On our last visit my favorite plate was the otherworldly octopus in sikil p’aak. This dish riffed on a traditional Mayan recipe originating in the Yucatan, blending ground pumpkin seeds, roasted tomatoes, habanero chilies, onion, garlic and other seasonings. It delivered smoky, savory, spicy and creamy notes so addictive, I would have licked the bowl if not in public.
Another standout was a tostada with sea bass, black beans, and macha sauce of chilies, garlic and oil. Inspired by Mexican street food, this dish was prepared using the Japanese technique kombujime, which involves curing the sashimi with seaweed to intensify its flavor.
Alcalde is heavy on Mexican culinary history — and on style. (Dawn Stoner)
Besides the stunning food, Alcalde’s service is also exceptional. The staff know every nuance and detail about the ingredients, dishes, and drinks. Our waiter suggested a 2022 Clos Roussely Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire not listed on the menu as the ideal match for our dishes. It paired so beautifully with the meal we were still talking about it days later.
Pro tip: Be sure to visit the restroom at some point during your meal. The staircase provides a bird’s eye view into the kitchen where this beautiful food comes together.
Restaurante Alcalde. Av. México 2903, Vallarta Nte., 44690 Guadalajara.Tasting menu about US 148 per person. A la carte also available. Vegan diners accommodated with advance notice.
Erizo de Mar
Erizo de Mar: Haute Cuisine, but paint it black. (Erizo de Mar/Facebook)
The first thing you notice upon walking into Erizo de Mar, which occupies the ground floor of the Bellwort hotel in Colonia Americana, is that everything is black, including the walls, curtains, barstools, tables and chairs.
You might catch yourself thinking…am I in a nightclub? Once seated, it becomes clear that you’ve entered a food temple where nothing is meant to compete with the food.
Led by head chef and owner Alfredo “Freddy” Monteros, Erizo de Mar (sea urchin in Spanish) is dedicated to serving the freshest ingredients from Mexican waters. While still relatively unknown even amongst locals, Erizo de Mar is rapidly gaining a following for creating some of the most inventive food in Guadalajara.
While Erizo de Mar does offer an à la carte menu, we opted for the tasting menu with wine pairings on our most recent visit. If you’re in the mood to splurge, the tasting menu rewards you with a comprehensive meal showcasing the breadth of ingredients and techniques this talented kitchen can deliver.
A testing menu is the best way to get to grips with Erizo de Mar’s sophisticated offerings. (Erizo de Mar/Instagram)
With culinary influences from Mexico, Spain, Italy, Japan, and China (reflecting Monteros’s culinary experience on 3 continents) dishes could easily become muddled. But that’s not the case here.
Top plates from our recent meal were a delicate brioche with white sturgeon caviar and snails, a crab wonton dumpling bathed in a smoky dashi broth with chili oil, and a sea bass pil pil (a Basque technique of cooking fish with its skin on to maximize flavor). For dessert, we enjoyed a light-as-air mascarpone ice cream served with a profiterole filled with hoja santa cream.
Drink options include European and Mexican wines, Spanish sherry, and cocktails featuring distilled agave spirits. One glass worth seeking out is a sparkling white wine from San Luis Potosi made exclusively for Erizo de Mar. It’s the perfect match for briny, salty shellfish.
Erizo de Mar. C. Miguel Lerdo de Tejada 2257, Col Americana, Obrera, 44150 Guadalajara.Tastingmenu about US $84 per person. A la carte also available.
Allium
Allium has developed a deserved reputation for great dining. (Allium/Instagram)
Since relocating to the Providencia neighborhood from Colonia Americana in 2023, Allium has really hit its stride — becoming a go-to spot for local foodies in search of a satisfying meal.
We regularly bring out of town guests here because the food is consistently delicious, fresh, and unique. The atmosphere feels informal and relaxing, with the best tables on the outdoor patio facing a towering rubber tree.
The chef team of Adolfo Galnares and Maria Ortega bring lofty credentials to Allium, with Galnares having worked at 3-Michelin star Arkelarre in San Sebastian, Spain and Ortega at NOBU.
The dishes evolve seasonally, but the foundational elements never change. Dishes incorporate Allium’s own produce as well as ingredients from small, local farmers. Think vegetables from Lake Chapala, cheeses from Antonilco, and fish from Nayarit. Their creations embody the best of contemporary “farm-to-table” dining.
If you happen to visit in springtime, one dish that’s worth seeking out is escamoles (ant eggs). While this may not sound appetizing to non-natives, they’re a delicacy sometimes referred to as “caviar of the desert.” Unlike caviar of the sea, escamoles can only be harvested from Mexico’s central highlands between February to April. They are oh so creamy, nutty, and delicious!
Other dishes I love at Allium are grouper fish with capers and an earthy, rich risotto with huitlacoche and smoked shiitake mushrooms. But honestly, I’ve never left Allium feeling like I “ordered wrong.”
Besides the delicious food, another reason we’re so fond of Allium is their knowledgeable and attentive servers, who share their deep passion for food with guests. For my money, it’s hard to eat better in Guadalajara for such excellent value.
Allium. Av. Providencia 2411-Local 106, Providencia, 44630 Guadalajara. About US 80 per person.
After discovering that life in Mexico was a lot more fun than working in corporate America, Dawn Stoner moved to Guadalajara in 2022, where she lives with her husband, two cats and Tapatío rescue dog. Her blog livewellmexico.comhelps expats live their best life south of the border.
President Claudia Sheinbaum takes a question from a reporter at her Thursday morning press conference. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
Trade wars, Mexico’s low unemployment rate and the president’s taste in music.
Claudia Sheinbaum answered a wide variety of questions at her Thursday morning press conference.
President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday was up for reporters’ questions about almost anything, including her personal music playlist. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
Here’s how she responded to three of them.
Nobody wins in a trade war
Referring to tariffs imposed by the United States and the retaliatory measures announced by Canada, the European Union and others, a reporter asked the president “who comes out on top in this global tariff war?”
“Nobody. Nobody,” Sheinbaum responded.
“The objective that the United States has set out is that the United States imports too much and what they want is to produce more in their country,” she said.
“In the case of Mexico — I’m not going to refer to the rest of the world, it’s up to us to talk about Mexico — there are a lot of studies that show how investment in Mexico by a U.S. company generates three times as many jobs in the United States due to the productive integration there is,” Sheinbaum said.
Workers outside GM’s auto manufacturing plant in Silao, Guanajuato. All three of the U.S.’s major automakers — Ford, GM and Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) have extensive manufacturing plants in Mexico. (File photo)
“… An entire car isn’t made here, but rather, one part is made here and another is made there,” she said, adding that the same coproduction system across Mexico and the United States is also used for the manufacture of “many other products.”
“So in the case of Mexico and the United States, what is advisable for us is to continue with the trade agreement,” Sheinbaum said in reference to the USMCA.
“Review what has to be reviewed, but compete as the North American region against the rest of the world,” she said.
“… The productivity of U.S. companies will decline if they stop producing in Mexico, if it comes to that,” Sheinbaum added.
“It’s part of what we’ve been speaking about — a different economic model,” the president said.
“It has to do with favoring the internal market, which is helped through the welfare program and the increase to the [minimum] wage,” Sheinbaum said.
“In other words, … if you earn 100 pesos [per day] you’re going to buy less than if you earn 500 pesos. So [welfare support and higher wages] help drive the economy from below,” she said.
“And the other thing that happened in our country was significant foreign direct investment and also investment from national businesspeople,” Sheinbaum said.
A Mexican flight attendant heads to work at Tijuana International Airport. Mexico has one of the lowest unemployment rates among the OECD countries. (Chris Noyola/Cuartoscuro)
“… And the other very important thing is that public investment was reactivated. In the period of president [Andrés Manuel] López Obrador, it was the Maya Train, the interoceanic train, the [Olmeca] Refinery, the highways and water projects. They also drive private investment. There is a lot of indirect employment that is generated from public investment and that is the model we’re following,” she said.
While unemployment is indeed low in Mexico, the percentage of workers who work in the vast informal economy is very high — 54.5% in the last quarter of 2024.
At 20.05 to the U.S. dollar Thursday morning, the peso hit its best rate against the greenback this year. But that's still much weaker than the nine-year high of 16.30 to the dollar that the peso reached last April. (Canva)
The Mexican peso reached its strongest position against the US dollar so far this year on Thursday morning, appreciating to just above 20 to the greenback.
The peso strengthened to 20.05 to the dollar, before weakening slightly to trade at 20.08 to the greenback at 1 p.m. Mexico City time, according to Yahoo Finance.
The peso strengthened Thursday despite 25% tariffs placed by the U.S. President Donald Trump on Mexican aluminum and steel the day before. (Donald Trump/Facebook)
The 20.05 exchange rate represented a 0.6% appreciation for the peso compared to its closing position of 20.18 on Wednesday, according to the Bank of Mexico.
However, it still appears unlikely that the Fed will reduce the federal funds rate after its monetary policy meeting next week, or even in May. Reuters reported Thursday that traders are betting on the Fed restarting interest rate cuts in June.
The Mexican peso benefits from the difference between interest rates in Mexico and interest rates in the United States, but the gap has closed due to the Bank of Mexico’s recent monetary policy easing, including a 50-basis-point cut to its key rate last month.
Mexico’s peso has benefitted in the last year from the large gap between the interest rates set by the United States Federal Reserve, seen here, and the Bank of Mexico’s rates. However, Mexico’s central bank has been closing that gap in its last several meetings. (Dan Smith/Wikimedia Commons)
While the peso reached its strongest position this year on Thursday, it is much weaker than it was a year ago.
The almost nine-year high of 16.30 to the dollar that the peso reached last April now seems like a distant memory, given the ample turbulence the Mexican currency experienced after Mexico’s 2024 elections, Congress’ approval of a controversial judicial reform, Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election and his subsequent — and many — tariff threats directed toward the United States’ southern neighbor.
The peso remains susceptible to volatility as the United States — easily Mexico’s largest trade partner — adopts a protectionist “America first” approach to its trade relationships with its neighbors and countries around the world.
Mexican artist Fabián Cháirez's exhibit at the Academia de San Carlos in Mexico City opened Feb. 5. It was shut down by court order last week by a Catholic group that claimed discrimination against the Church. (Fabián Cháirez/X)
A federal judge rejected a request by Mexico’s Association of Christian Lawyers to indefinitely suspend Mexican artist Fábian Cháirez’s exhibit, “The Coming of the Lord,” allowing him to potentially resume displaying his work.
Announced Wednesday, the decision marked a significant victory for artistic freedom in Mexico, following a period of controversy when the same judge made an earlier ruling that suspended the Mexico City exhibit temporarily — a decision which many viewed as an act of censorship.
Cháirez’s exhibit was decried by religious groups as blasphemous and an attack on the Catholic Church. Mexico’s Association of Catholic Lawyers filed a legal complaint on their behalf, claiming it constituted religious discrimination. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
Judge Francisco Javier Rebolledo Peña, presiding over the Sixth District Court for Administrative Matters, ruled this week that the demand for guarantees made by the Association of Christian Lawyers (AAC) was without merit.
AAC had accused Cháirez’s work of attacking the Catholic faith, sparking a national debate about the balance between artistic expression and religious sensitivity.
“Censorship in the name of God has returned to Mexico,” wrote Mexican journalist and documentary filmmaker Temoris Grecko in the newspaper Milenio, blaming the shutdown of the exhibit on “a religious association and a conservative judge.”
Cháirez, meanwhile, called for a rally last Friday outside the venue that had been displaying the exhibit, the Academia de San Carlos, a 244-year-old institute formerly known as the National School of Fine Arts. It is part of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), which had complied with a provisional injunction last week to close the exhibit within 24 hours.
After the exhibit’s shutdown, artists, civil rights organizations and LGBTQ+ groups joined Cháirez Friday in a rally to support him and his exhibit’s right to be shown publicly. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Drawing support from artists, writers, and human rights organizations, the rally event featured readings of manifestos and statements in support of creative freedom. Among the supporters were the collective known as Catholics for the Right to Decide, an organization dedicated to defending human rights, particularly those related to sexuality and reproduction.
The Mexico City Council to Prevent and Eliminate Discrimination (Copred) also condemned the suspension.
“Religion cannot be used as a weapon to overthrow democratic principles such as freedom of expression,” Copred stated.
Copred emphasized that criticism or artistic representation of religious symbols does not constitute discrimination unless it unjustifiably treats individuals as inferior based on their faith.
Because its scheduled closing date, March 7, had already passed before the suspension was lifted, “The Coming of the Lord” (“La Venida del Señor” in Spanish) has an unclear future.
Cháirez, who is originally from Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, said the lifting of his exhibit’s suspension was a “achievement for the artistic community.” (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
Cháirez announced this week that he will reopen it, with a date and Mexico City location to be revealed on his Instagram and/or Facebook. He’s also already working on a new project called “The Second Coming of the Lord.”
The case has drawn attention to the role of judicial harassment by conservative groups in Mexico, mirroring tactics used by similar organizations in Spain.
After the court’s decision, Cháirez was pleased.
“It’s a victory for social democracy,” he said in the newspaper El País. “I find it quite gratifying, and I think it’s an achievement for the artistic community and for all of us who defend freedoms.”
Starting around 9 p.m. in Mexico City, the moon will be transformed as Earth's shadow creeps across its face. (Margarito Pérez Retana/Cuartoscuro)
One of the most anticipated astronomical phenomena of 2025 — a total lunar eclipse that will turn the moon red — will be visible throughout Mexico tonight.
The dramatic six-phase event during which the moon will change color from white to red will begin at approximately 9 p.m. Central Mexican Time, but it will be a slow-developing phenomenon. The peak of the total eclipse will not occur until roughly 12:26 a.m. and will last for about an hour.
March 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse: Shadow View (UTC).mp4
Here are the six phases to look for:
Phase 1: The moon enters the Earth’s penumbra, the outer part of the shadow and begins to dim, but the effect is quite subtle.
Phase 2: The partial eclipse becomes visible by 10:30 p.m. as the moon enters the Earth’s umbra (the dark central shadow cast by our planet). By 11:10 p.m., as the shadow moves from lower left to upper right, it will look like someone has taken a bite out of the side of the moon.
Phase 3: Total eclipse as the moon passes completely behind the Earth, the shadow moving from lower left to upper right of the moon.
Phase 4: The moon begins to emerge from the umbra, Earth’s inner shadow, receding from upper left to lower right as the red hue diminishes and looks like someone has taken a bite out of the other side of the moon.
Phase 5: The moon begins to pass out of the penumbra around 2:45 a.m., leaving a slight shadow on the moon.
Phase 6: The total lunar eclipse comes to a close at around 4 a.m.
Why a total lunar eclipse appears red
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth’s orbit places it between the sun and moon, all three celestial objects lined up in a nearly perfect row. The alignment — called a syzygy — sees the moon pass into Earth’s shadow.
According to NASA, the shadow on the moon isn’t perfect as “faint sunbeams sneak around the shadow’s edges on all sides in the colors of a sunset, bathing the moon in brilliant, warm hues.”
“When the moon is within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, called the umbra, it takes on a dramatic reddish hue, which has led to the nickname ‘blood moon’ for a lunar eclipse,” NASA explains.
In a total lunar eclipse, the moon blushes red as sunlight filters through Earth’s atmosphere. (NASA Scientific Visualization Studio)
Unlike a solar eclipse, the moon remains visible during a total lunar eclipse “because sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere reaches the moon’s surface.”
The dim lighting causes the moon to appear orange or red, NASA says, because “air molecules from Earth’s atmosphere scatter out most of the blue light.” That’s because colors with shorter wavelengths — blues and violets — scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, such as red and orange.
The remaining light from the sun reflects onto the Moon’s surface with a red glow, making the Moon appear red in the night sky.”
Additionally, the presence of clouds or dust in the atmosphere will make the moon appear even redder.
Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard has been leading Mexico's ongoing tariff negotiations with the U.S. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Thursday that there are “many measures” Mexico can take in response to U.S. tariffs, but he stressed that the federal government won’t take them “at a bad time.”
Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her government would wait until April 2 to decide whether it would retaliate against those tariffs and any others that are applied to Mexican goods. April 2 is the date the United States has said it will impose reciprocal tariffs on imports from all its trade partners.
Ebrard told reporters that placing tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminum was a “bad idea because the integration of Mexico and the United States … is very high.”
“We’re the two most integrated economies,” he said, adding that the 25% tariffs will affect “a lot of industries.”
On the instructions of Sheinbaum, the Economy Ministry will commence “consultations” on the U.S. tariffs with representatives of Mexico’s steel, aluminum and auto industries, Ebrard said.
In a nutshell, Economy Secretary @m_ebrard on 🇺🇸 steel & aluminum tariffs:
-Consultations starting tomorrow with affected industries.
-We will be ready with specific measures in case they’re needed on April 2, but we won’t act precipitiously.
“We’re going to carry out consultations so that later, depending on what the United States government announces and what we manage to achieve … [before] April 2, we can take other measures to defend our companies,” he said.
“… There are many measures that can be taken but we’re not going to take them at a bad time,” Ebrard said.
“… In summary, we’re going to do the proper consultations and we’re going to prepare to use all the instruments we have depending on what is advisable for Mexico,” he said.
Ebrard, who was in Washington earlier this week for tariff talks with United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, said that he had received instructions from Sheinbaum to ensure that Mexico is in a better position “than any other country” after the U.S. implements reciprocal tariffs on April 2.
“That’s the goal because we’re very integrated with the United States. We have a certain exceptionality,” he said.
“… We have to achieve the best [trading] conditions possible. With what objective? To protect jobs, to protect companies and jobs,” Ebrard said. “That is the instruction we have.”
The economy minister stressed that Mexico won’t take any retaliatory action against the United States until it knows how it is affected by U.S. reciprocal tariffs.
The high level of integration between the U.S. and Mexican economies mean that steel and aluminum tariffs will hit a wide range of industries, Ebrard said. (Shutterstock)
Sheinbaum has expressed confidence that Mexico will avoid additional duties on its exports to the United States given that it doesn’t impose tariffs on the vast majority of imports from the U.S.
Ebrard said that he and other federal government officials will have “very intense” talks with their U.S. counterparts in the coming weeks. The economy minister said he will put forward “Mexico’s point of view” based on “what I have just told you.”
“The [United States’] integration with Mexico is exceptional. There is no other country, not even Canada, that has economic integration [with the United States] like there is between Mexico and the United States,” he said.
Ebrard has previously said that tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminum are illogical and “not justified” given that the U.S. has a surplus with Mexico on the trade of those metals.
He said Thursday that the Mexican government will act with “cold blood, resolve and firmness” in talks with the U.S. government in order to achieve “the best possible position for Mexico.”
“… I can’t give you details of the negotiation. … That would be imprudence because it hasn’t concluded,” Ebrard said.
Ebrard emphasized the need for level-headed persistence in negotiations with the U.S. (Marcelo Ebrard/X)
“… Every day we’re in talks. How many meetings have there been? A lot, and there will be more. And we’re not going to give up until we achieve what the President Claudia Sheinbaum instructed us,” he said.
“From my point of view, with the experience I have, this strategy of firmness and cold blood is the best possible strategy, and it’s getting results,” Ebrard said.
In earlier remarks, the economy minister said that “without the intervention of President Sheinbaum with President Trump” all Mexican goods would face 25% tariffs when exported to the United States.
Sheinbaum spoke to Trump last Thursday after which the U.S. president announced that imports from Mexico covered by the USMCA free trade pact would not be subject to U.S. tariffs until at least early April. The U.S. had imposed 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico and most imports from Canada two days earlier due to what the White House said was the two countries’ failure to adequately stem the flow of “lethal drugs” such as fentanyl into the U.S.
Trump said he was suspending tariffs on imports from Mexico covered by the USMCA “as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum.”
Sheinbaum had planned to announce retaliatory “tariff and non-tariff measures” against the United States’ blanket tariffs at a rally in Mexico City’s central square last Sunday, but she instead delivered a celebratory address due to the suspension of the duties.
Lutnick praises Mexico’s restraint after steel tariffs take effect
In contrast, Mexico and the United Kingdom were “pragmatic and thoughtful” in response to the steel and aluminum tariffs, the commerce secretary said.
Consequently, “the way in which we’re going to deal with them is going to be better,” Lutnick said.
Trade War: Commerce Secretary Lutnick Says EU, Canada Are Raising Stakes, Being Disrespectful
In earlier remarks, he noted that “the British didn’t respond” and “the Mexicans didn’t respond” to the tariffs — at least not yet.
“You have some countries that actually thoughtfully examine how they do business with us,” Lutnick said.
It remains to be seen whether Mexico can win an exemption from the steel and aluminium tariffs, and avoid other additional duties, as a result of its strategy in responding to and dealing with its largest trade partner.
The United States’ trade relationships were also on Trump’s mind on Thursday morning.
“Canada needs America, America does not need Canada,” Trump said in another post, quoting businessman Grant Cardone.
US trade official: ‘Even the USMCA is not working for us now’
In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Trump’s senior counselor for trade and manufacturing Peter Navarro took aim at the United State-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the North American free trade pact that Trump signed in 2018 and which superseded NAFTA in 2020.
“We lost 90,000 factories — NAFTA, WTO, NAFTA shafta, even the USMCA is not working for us now because Biden didn’t enforce it,” Navarro said.
"It’s now time to turn this year’s increase into a lasting trend," WWF Mexico chief Jorge Rickards said. (File photo)
The population of the eastern monarch butterflies in Mexican forests doubled this past winter season compared to the area occupied last year, according to a survey conducted by World Wildlife (WWF) Mexico and the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), in collaboration with local communities.
The annual survey, dubbed “Forest Area Occupied by Monarch Butterflies Colonies in Mexico During the 2024-2025 Hibernation Season,” revealed that the occupied area went from 1.79 hectares, to 0.90 during the 2023-2024 period. Despite the late arrival of the butterfly — which arrived mid-November — scientists believe that improved weather conditions during the butterfly migration favored the population’s increase.
Monarch butterfly are considered a “poster species,” and efforts to conserve them also benefit less glamorous pollinators as well. (CorreoRealMX/X)
Still, WWF said that while monarchs occupied nearly double the forest habitat as last year, populations remain far beneath the long-term average.
Conanp chief Pedro Álvarez Icaza noted that they spotted eight monarch butterflies’ colonies: Three were located within the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoacán, covering 1.21 hectares, and five outside the reserve, covering 0.57 hectares in the state of Mexico.
The largest colony, measuring 0.99 hectares, was recorded in the El Rosario ejido, Michoacán, while the smallest colony, measuring 0.002 hectares, was located in San Andrés, in the Azufres sanctuary, in the same state. The colony in Atlautla, México state, was adjacent to Iztaccíhuatl Popocatépetl National Park (outside the reserve)and occupied 0.09 hectares.
A monarch chrysalis, shortly before hatching. (Flickr CC BY 2.0)
Michoacán is home to the world-famous Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that annually welcomes millions of butterflies that migrate from the northern United States and southern Canada to nest in Mexico’s pine and fir forests.
In the survey’s presentation, scientists highlighted the preservation effort “as an example of tripartite cooperation between Mexico, the United States, and Canada.”
Jorge Rickards, head of WWF Mexico, emphasized the role of local communities in the survey as they monitor the sanctuary to measure the butterflies’ population and ensure their preservation.
“We recognize the key role of local communities, as well as the support of the government of Mexico in conserving the forest and providing this iconic species with the opportunity to thrive,” Rickards said. “It’s now time to turn this year’s increase into a lasting trend with an all-hands approach where governments, landowners, conservationists, and citizens continue to safeguard critical habitats along the monarch’s North American migratory route.”
La Chicharra was one of the most wanted fugitives in both Guatemala and the United States. (Francisco Jiménez/X)
Guatemala’s most wanted fugitive, Aler Baldomero Samayoa Recinos, aka “La Chicharra,” was captured in the southern state of Chiapas on Tuesday.
Mexico’s Security Ministry processed Samayoa in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the Chiapas state capital, then transported him to the Guatemalan border that same day where he was handed over to Interpol.
Guatemala’s most wanted criminal captured in Mexico
The fugitive a.k.a. “La Chicharra” was arrested on March 11 in Chiapas, Mexico. The leader of the criminal organisation “Los Huistas” is subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice and was transferred to 🇬🇹@MinGobGuate@FJimenezmingobpic.twitter.com/Yukj9x81d4
— INTERPOL #MostWanted 🟥 #RedNotice fugitives (@interpolwanted) March 13, 2025
The three-month operation to capture “La Chicharra” — the alleged leader of the notorious Guatemalan crime gang Los Huistas — was a joint effort carried out by Mexican, Guatemalan and U.S. authorities.
“La Chicharra” had fled Guatemala late last year after escaping arrest during an earlier stage of the joint operation.
Guatemalan Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez applauded the apprehension of Samayoa Recinos in a social media post, referring to him as the country’s No. 1 fugitive. The suspect faces charges of “illicit association” in Guatemala.
In addition to being the most wanted man in Guatemala, “La Chicharra” was sought by U.S. authorities, appearing on a U.S. list of the 100 most wanted criminals.
Samayoa and his co-leader Eugenio Darío Molina López are both wanted in the U.S. for drug trafficking. (U.S. Treasury)
A U.S. federal indictment accusing the suspect of cocaine trafficking and money laundering was unsealed in 2022. The indictment links “La Chicharra” to major drug distribution networks, alleging he was in charge of shipping cocaine from the department of Huehuetenango in the western highlands of Guatemala across the Mexican border and into Chiapas.
In a social media post, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala praised the operation that led to the capture of “La Chicharra.”
“Major progress in the fight against drug trafficking!” the embassy wrote, adding that the arrest will “ensure his swift extradition to the United States.” The message also lauded the joint operation for “strengthening the fight against organized crime.”
Also mentioned in the indictment is Eugenio Darío Molina López, another alleged leader of Los Huistas. The group’s name is derived from the municipality of Santa Ana Huista, a municipality in Huehuetenango.
La cooperación interagencial entre Guatemala, Estados Unidos de América y México, permitió la captura y traslado hacia torres de tribunales del extraditable alias “Chicharra”, uno de los máximos líderes de la organización criminal “Los Huistas”. pic.twitter.com/AF6OTVGScD
The U.S. Treasury is offering US $10 million for information leading to the capture of Molina, who is wanted on drug trafficking charges in the southern district of California.
Los Huistas, characterized as a violent crime gang by Guatemala authorities, are said to traffic in cocaine, methamphetamines and heroin, while also controlling poppy fields in the departments of Huehuetenango and San Marcos.
The U.S. indictment alleges that Los Huistas maintained close ties to Mexico’s two biggest criminal organizations, the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
“La Chicharra” was taken to Guatemala’s Federal Court Towers and is awaiting extradition procedures that could send him to the U.S. However, extradition could be delayed because Guatemalan law requires suspects to face justice at home before they can be extradited.
