Discover San Miguel de Allende’s most iconic landmarks

By

-

April 6, 2024

San Miguel skyline — The Guanajuato state government has officially requested permision for an airport in San Miguel de Allende. (Jillian Kim/Unsplash)

In the second part of our journey through San Miguel de Allende’s landmarks, we delve deeper into the heart of this enchanting colonial town. Join us on this overview of sites that have undergone remarkable metamorphoses and define San Miguel’s ageless charm.

Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez “El Nigromante”

The Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez, also known as Bellas Artes or El Nigromante, is housed in the former convent of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, built by María Josefa Lina de la Canal and inaugurated in 1765. However, its religious activities came to a halt following the Reform Laws of 1860, which led to the government seizing church property. In 1914, during the Mexican Revolution, the site functioned as a military barracks, a role it kept through 1936.

Like many buildings in San Miguel de Allende, Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez was once a convent. (María Ruiz)

In 1938, a private initiative repurposed the building as the Escuela Universitaria de Bellas Artes (University School of Fine Arts). Among the many treasures on display around the striking inner courtyard is the mural “Life and Work of Generalissimo Don Ignacio de Allende,” the independence leader San Miguel is named for. Crafted in 1948 by the iconic Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros while teaching a class to a group of U.S. veterans studying art, this mural showcases the artist’s creative process, as it remains incomplete due to a disagreement with the institute’s director. In 1951, the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL) assumed control of the building and undertook a comprehensive renovation. It opened in 1962 as an arts school that continues to operate to this day.

Instituto Allende

This massive complex was built in 1735 by nobleman Manuel Tomás de la Canal as his manor house, despite his main mansion being just a few blocks away. The institute’s notable façade features a niche displaying the image of the de la Canal family’s patron saint, the Virgin of Loreto. In 1809, the building was acquired by the Discalced Carmelite nuns of Querétaro, who commissioned master architect Manuel Tolsá to remodel it as a neoclassical-style church with Ionic columns. However, construction was halted due to the outbreak of the War of Independence and the absence of a royal confirmatory certificate.

Abandoned until 1949, the same visionaries who had originally created an art school at the former convent transformed this building into the renowned Allende Institute. Since its inauguration in 1951, the high-quality courses offered at this private school have attracted students from around the world. It is also a popular venue for a wide array of events, especially weddings, owing to its striking architecture featuring a central fountain, high arches and picturesque murals.

Fábrica La Aurora

Fabrica La Aurora, San Miguel de Allende — The former factory is now a prestigious art gallery. (Fabrica La Aurora)

From 1902 to 1991, La Aurora served as a textile factory, processing cotton from northern Mexico into high-quality fabrics distributed nationwide. In 2004, the factory was repurposed as an arts center, and contemporary art galleries, boutiques, antiques, jewelry shops and restaurants now line its corridors, drawing a diverse crowd of visitors. La Aurora’s main attraction is its gallery studios, where artists work and showcase their creations.

A stroll through La Aurora offers a multifaceted experience, from leisurely exploration of its walkways and galleries to conversations with artists in their studios. The walls of the former factory add their unique charm, displaying the marks of the building’s industrial past. Renowned national and international artists have found a haven here where they can nurture their creativity and share their work with the world.

El Charco del Ingenio

El Charco del Ingeniero, San Miguel de Allende — The reserve at El Charco del Ingeniero offers a calm space for relaxation just a few minutes from the city. (El Charco del Ingeniero)

In 1990, a nonprofit organization turned 67 hectares of land on the edge of San Miguel into the botanical garden and nature reserve known as El Charco del Ingenio. The sanctuary hosts a thriving ecosystem of plants and wildlife, playing a vital role in raising awareness on environmental stewardship. Despite its proximity to the city, this peaceful oasis offers a tranquil retreat that visitors can explore freely along a network of trails. In addition to the varied array of species that flourish here naturally, the botanical garden preserves an extensive collection of rare and endangered plants.

The canyon, with its rocky formations, caves, pools and cliffs, is intersected by a seasonal stream and nourished by a permanent water source at its center. Scrubland covers the elevated slopes surrounding the ravine and the dam, dominating much of the conservation area’s landscape. The site also preserves traces of the area’s history, including pre-Columbian ceramics and lithics found along its ravine. In 2004, during a visit to Mexico, the Dalai Lama designated El Charco del Ingenio as a Peace Zone, a space free of violence and weapons and dedicated to conservation and community development.

These sites offer a journey through time, where a glorious past intertwines with the vibrant energy of the present. Serving as windows into the resilient soul of San Miguel de Allende, they demonstrate how a city can gracefully evolve while upholding a profound reverence for its essence.

Sandra Gancz Kahan is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at: [email protected]

Dating in Mexico: Why cultural translation is key to a happy partnership

By

Bethany Platanella

-

April 6, 2024

15

Couple getting married in the torre latinoamericana — Finding love in a different culture is a challenge all of its own. Bethany Platanella shares her tips on how to make it work for you. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)

Dating in Mexico can be a challenge. My date had promised to pick me up at 8:45 p.m. It was our first outing, and I was excited.

My chosen attire was casual yet elegant, creating the illusion that I was interested but not over-eager. I hadn’t dated a Mexican before and this gentleman was, as far as I could tell, the man of my dreams. I had to approach this delicate situation with precision and grace.

Couple kissing behind a hat — This could be you, with some patience and understanding. (Allef Vinicius)

As the butterflies in my stomach flitted their tiny wings ferociously, I checked the time.

8:45 p.m.

Hm. Shouldn’t he be here by now?

I applied another layer of lipstick.

8:55 p.m.

Hmm. Maybe he’s stuck in traffic?

9:05 p.m.

Hmmm.

I sat on the sofa, dissecting our earlier conversation over WhatsApp. Yes, he definitely said 8:45 p.m. Is he standing me up? The thought made my limbs go numb. I placed the phone on the table in slow motion and slumped further into the couch. Why would he…

DING.

The blood gushed back to my extremities as I lunged forward to seize the dinging phone.

“I’m here!”

Welcome to dating in Mexico.

It’s different here.

Woman staring out the window sitting on a chair waiting — The Mexican perception of time can be very different to what many Anglo-centric cultures are used to. (Anthony Tran/Unsplash)

Dating ain’t for the weary, wherever you are. Regardless of your country of origin, similar themes arise in all kinds of relationships. Psychology Today claims the most common sources of conflict include (but are not limited to) jealousy, intimacy, screen time, and communication.

Add to that cultural nuance and a possible language barrier, you’ve stumbled upon a recipe for disaster. Or a recipe for success. Cross-cultural relationships have the potential to be extremely rewarding, especially if both parties enter the courtship with open minds and a willingness to learn.

Learn what, exactly? Each other’s languages, for starters. More than spoken word, the language of your romance involves cultural traditions, history, role expectations, even your country’s financial situation. To interpret each other’s behavior, it’s crucial to understand that belief systems can vary across cultures. Core relationship truths that exist in the US, for example, are likely not identical to those in Mexico.

Like, promptness.

Let’s say your Mexican girlfriend is late for dinner. Again. You’re fed up with her lack of respect for your schedule, so you lash out when she finally arrives. She’s confused and doesn’t seem to know what she did wrong.

“We often insert a cultural meaning on a behavior that doesn’t apply. Challenges arise when we apply an interpretation [of what a behavior means] that’s not culturally matched,” says Jenna Mayhew, founder of Hola Therapy in Mexico City’s trendy Condesa neighbourhood.

If like Jenna, your home country is Australia, tardiness could be seen as a lack of respect. In Mexico, where start times are more fluid, it likely isn’t. An intercultural relationship may require you to “renegotiate your concrete beliefs”, according to Jenna. Especially when your concrete belief doesn’t seem to exist here.

This can be a significant obstacle for the foreign partner. For one, cultural interpretations are implicit, and difficult to identify and change in yourself. In addition, you are experiencing a level of stress that your Mexican partner is not. Living across a border from your family and friends can have an underlying effect on your relationship. So can the mental load of navigating a new country in a second language, with limited access to care and amenities in your native tongue.

The road to cross cultural dating is often paved with misunderstandings. (Christopher Lemercier/Unsplash)

And while a lifestyle like this “builds up your level of resistance, it doesn’t mean it’s not hard”, says Jenna.

To balance that with an intercultural relationship requires a lot of patience and curiosity. If you’re feeling like a fish out of water in the Mexican dating pool, arm yourself with the following personal flotation devices. Then you’ll be ready to dive right back in.

Trust might be exhibited in different ways

According to Jenna, clients from the United States tend to build trust based on their partner’s previous actions. If there has never been a previous violation or transgression, the bond strengthens. That’s not always the case in Mexico.

One Mexico City-based couples therapist at Hola Therapy has noticed that many of her Mexican clients build trust by evaluating “their partner’s access to having an affair”. Meaning, your boyfriend expects you to avoid any situation that might be interpreted as romantic, even if it’s not. This could be confusing to an American, who likely doesn’t see coffee with a coworker as threatening. While these beliefs are certainly changing, especially in Mexico City, much of Mexican society is still traditional in this way.

Your partner might feel uncomfortable saying no

Saying “no” can be quite difficult in a society as polite as Mexico. (Jarritos)

Mexican culture is extremely polite. Think about the phrases you hear often in Mexico:

¿Me regalas un café, por favor? Literally, can you gift me a coffee, please?
¿Mande? It means “command”, but in Mexico it is used in place of the harsher “Qué? (What?)” when you’d like something repeated.
Con permiso! Used when trying to pass by the little señora on the sidewalk whose snail pace is slowing you down. You’re essentially asking to pass her “with permission”.

That etiquette has made it hard for many to say “no” outright, which can be baffling at first. Try to identify the phrases used to replace the dreaded word to reduce miscommunication. Alternatives to “no” might include “maybe, I’ll let you know ahorita, you know I heard the new sushi restaurant on Calle Independencia is really delicious, but we can still go to the Italian place that you like. Whatever you want!”.

There might be role expectations that you’re no longer used to

Financial inequality between genders has long played a role in Mexican society. Statista shows that in 2022, male workers were still earning an average income 13.15% higher than women. This disparity can manifest in expectations that are disappearing in your home country.

Tipping by card — Splitting the bill is not always the best idea in Mexico – usually one party foots the bill for dates. (Blake Wisz/Unsplash)

Generally speaking, a man will pick up the tab in a male-female relationship or, in the case of a same-sex relationship, the person who initiated the date will usually pay.

Be careful when offering to split the bill. There’s a chance your date might interpret that as romantic disinterest and stop pursuing you.

If you’re dating a Mexican man you will likely cease to open doors of any kind

If you’re dating a caballero, the likelihood that you will ever have to open a door again will plummet. This includes car doors, so if you’re in the passenger seat of a parked car, there’s a very good chance your date will ask you to wait until he comes around and assists you out. Whether you interpret this as chivalry or machismo is up to you, but knowing this cultural nuance will make dating here much easier.

Conflict can be an opportunity for connection

Cross cultural relationships are classified as high risk, high reward relationships. As much potential as there is for conflict, there’s equal potential for growth. To reap the full benefits of your international relationship, enter from a place of wonder and focus on understanding the reason behind each other’s behavior instead of trying to change it.

And, of course, learn how to make a mouthwatering quesadilla.

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.

Mexican April Fools memes for Spanish language laughter

By

Sarah DeVries

-

April 6, 2024

3

Captura de pantalla 2024-04-05 092536 — Estas listo para reir? The Mexican memes are back once again.

Though this won’t be published until later, I’m sending these Mexican memes in to the editor on April 1st – the favorite day for cracking jokes for many of us!

April 1st isn’t necessarily a special day for jokes here, though: Mexico’s version of April Fool’s Day is on December 28, which is called Día de los Inocentes (Day of the Innocents). That’s when you’ll typically see the fake positive pregnancy test Facebook posts from Mexicans.

But if you ask me, every day is a good day for a joke. So, without further ado, here is your curated list of Mexican memes!

Meme translation: “I don’t like the organ grinders or banda music either, but I’m not going to let some freaking (note: this is a polite translation of the word) foreigner come here to criticize my people’s horrible taste in music.”

What does it meme? Oh, dear… it seems quite a few nerves have been touched of late regarding this issue of “noisiness” on the beaches of Mazatlán at a time when the city is doing its best to attract luxury-seeking foreign tourists with very clear ideas about what “luxury beach vacations” sound like.

To be fair, my reading of the above article led me to conclude that it had been a Mexican (sounds like a whitexican?) luxury hotel owner who was trying to get the banda players off the beach, and not, as many emotional Mexican patriots believe, a band of angry tourists with pitchforks and bad Yelp reviews. Sigh.

But I get it: I’m allowed to say my kid’s being difficult, but if someone else suggests she’s a brat, I go for the jugular. Seems like Mexicans who don’t like banda are in the same boat!

Meme translation: “When they confuse your plant collection with a plant nursery.” (on sign: “NOT A PLANT NURSERY”).

What does it meme? I mean, the above space does look a lot like it might be selling some of those plants – there are so many!

If I had a greener thumb, I’d have a similar setup…and likely be pretty annoyed if people were constantly ringing my doorbell trying to buy them from me! Still, it’s a small price to pay for enjoying as much greenery as one can, even in the (very common) absence of a yard. Thankfully, there are plenty of other viveros around!

Meme translation: Well, this one’s in English.

What does it meme? Ah, “ahorita.” Could a word so urgent to understand and use be more confusing?

The joke is, of course, that ahorita means all of those things. Sometimes, you can tell from the context and the tone of voice in which it’s said:

“Te dije que ahorita en este momento!” (“I said right now, this very moment!”)

“Claro, ahorita…” said with a wink and a smile, which means, basically, “Maybe if I remember it after 100 other things I’d like to do first, but really, I have absolutely no intention of doing it.”

“Ahorita te lo traigo.” – “I’ll get it for you in just a second.”

“Ahorita que llegue mi hermana vamos.” – “As soon as my sister gets here we’ll go.” (so, later).

When you really need to know what it means, maybe ask for a specific time. Fair warning: most Mexicans will find that kind of abrasive. But hey – sometimes you need to know!

Meme translation: “Time heals nothing; what really heals is the frog’s tail.”

What does it meme? I’ll admit that it was the little froggy butt that really got me on this one.

There’s a little rhyme (which is apparently also a song, but I’ve not heard the tune once in my 20-plus years here) that people say, especially to little children who have a “booboo,” and it goes like this: “Sana, sana, colita de rana, si no sana hoy, sanará mañana.” (Heal, heal, little frog’s tail, if it doesn’t heal today then it will tomorrow.” Trust me, it’s catchier in Spanish).

This is usually said while giving a light massage to wherever they’ve hurt themselves, and as far as I’m concerned, is a magic spell. Learn to say it, and you’ll be ready to comfort toddlers all over the country!

Meme translation: “Beginner. I can’t even handle my life, to say nothing of this car… I’m new to driving a standard. Be patient with me because I still screw up and roll backwards. Keep your distance and don’t honk because it makes me anxious.” (note the spelling, “amsiedad” which should be spelled with an “n” instead of an “m.” I don’t know why, but the “m” just make it sound funnier!

What does it meme? Oh, what sympathy I have!

Driving in Mexico can be quite a doozy, and lots of even brand-new cars are standard shifts (they’re cheaper). I wish I’d thought of putting up a sign like this when I was learning!

Meme translation: “Shit.”

What does it meme? I usually try to stay away from curse words in these memes, but this one really cracked me up! That’s Freddy Kruger, of course, caught in a dreamcatcher.

Dreamcatchers are pretty popular around here lately – I’ve been seeing them more and more in artisan markets. Too bad the characters in the original story didn’t have them!

Meme translation: “Male animals. Female animals.”

What does it meme? I’ve seen this before in English, and I am very happy to see the Mexican meme version appear as well! Seeing the elaborate colors and drama, especially of male birds compared to female birds, is always a fun thing to observe!

A note on these words: unless they’ve humanized their pets quite a bit (which certainly happens), most Mexicans don’t say the equivalent of “boy” and “girl” when indicating the sex of an animal; it’s “macho” or “hembra.”

Likewise, you should be careful not to use those words on human beings, lest you want them to think you see them as animals! For us, it’s hombres (men) and mujeres (women), or the gendered endings of words like niño/a, muchacho/a, chavo/a, etc.

Even though I know this, I pause at one of my most frequented restaurants every time I approach the bathrooms and think to myself, “Wait, is it M for “macho” and H for “hembra,” or M for “mujeres” and H for “hombres”? (It’s the second one).

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

Got 1 min? Where to get glasses for the total solar eclipse in Mexico

By

MND Staff

-

April 5, 2024

6

Boy wearing eclipse glasses — To safely view the celestial spectacle, protective eyewear is a must. (Adolfo Vladimir/Cuartoscuro)

On Monday, April 8, parts of Mexico, the United States and Canada will experience a total solar eclipse.

To watch the eclipse, it is vital to wear proper eye protection, such as solar eclipse glasses or solar filters for telescopes and binoculars. Looking directly at the sun during an eclipse can cause severe eye damage, including permanent blindness. The correct glasses to see the eclipse safely should meet ISO 12312-2 certification.

Here is a list of places where you can pick up eclipse glasses in selected cities in Mexico.

Sinaloa

Mazatlán is one of the best spots to watch the eclipse. This coastal city will experience 100% totality and go dark for 4 minutes and 17 seconds.

Through their social networks, the government of Sinaloa and the municipal government of Mazatlán reported that they would hand out certified glasses free of charge to view the eclipse safely.

The glasses can be picked up this Saturday and Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., in the following locations:

City Hall
Chaflan Sports Field
Plaza Urías
Francisco Villa colony square
Pradera Dorada Sports Unit
Plaza Benito Juárez
Plazuela Villa Unión (this location is only open until 5:00 p.m.).

On the day of the eclipse, glasses will also be available at various monuments and tourist spots around the city.

Coahuila

In Torreón, the city selected by NASA for official broadcasting, the darkening caused by the eclipse will last 4 minutes and 12 seconds.

The city’s Planetarium will sell certified glasses for 90 pesos each from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Canaco Torreon will also have eclipse glasses available.

Local media reported that the government had distributed over 100,000 glasses to the planetarium, city hall, university, and the state, but that they seem to be sold out.

Other stores that reportedly sell certified glasses in Torreón include Corazón Canino, Bips Soriana Triana, Busher Cocdril’s Plaza el Kiosko, Panaderías Macarius, Restaurante La Chalupa, and Dulcerías Chavita.

Mexico City

The sky over Mexico City is predicted to darken by up to 79%.

The National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) will distribute the solar glasses at the ticket offices of the Tezozómoco Museum or the Luis Enrique Erro Planetarium. To obtain them, people must request an Astropass and participate in some of the offered activities.

The IPN will offer around 2,000 pairs of sunglasses to the student community, while 6,000 will be available to the public for $60 pesos per unit.

The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) will provide solar glasses for the student community, teachers, and the public on eclipse day. The distribution location will be at Ciudad Universitaria.

With reports from Milenio, Milenio, Telediario, México AS, Milenio, México AS

Sheinbaum says keep kids ‘out of it’ after video of Gálvez’s son goes viral

By

MND Staff

-

April 5, 2024

0

Xóchitl Gálvez with her son and daughter — Xóchitl Gálvez (center) is seen here with her son and daughter earlier this year. A video circulating this week on social media got her son in hot water. (Cuartoscuro)

Claudia Sheinbaum said in a press conference on Thursday that family members of candidates should be left out of the 2024 presidential campaign.

This comes after a video surfaced this week in which the son of rival candidate Xóchitl Gálvez is seen in a drunken, semi-belligerent state as he confronts security personnel outside of a club in the affluent Mexico City neighborhood of Polanco.

Claudia Sheinbaum at a press conference — Sheinbaum said family members should be left out of campaigns and that “the focus should be on the issues.” (Screen capture/X)

In the widely disseminated video, said to be from 2023, Juan Pablo Sánchez Gálvez is seen kicking and punching a security guard about twice his size and disrespecting the bouncers with a string of homophobic vulgarities when they refuse to let him pass.

“My position is to leave the children out of it,” Sheinbaum said during a campaign stop in Aguascalientes. “Those of us who are in the race are the candidates, and the focus should be on the issues.”

“So I do not agree with whoever posted this video, and it should not be used as part of the race.”

Sheinbaum, the race’s frontrunner, is the candidate for the Let’s Keep Making History coalition, composed of the ruling Morena party with the Labor Party (PT) and the Ecological Green Party of Mexico (PVEM).

Juan Sánchez Gálvez apology video — Xóchitl Gálvez’s son posted an apology video to X this week. (Screen capture/X)

Gálvez is representing Strength and Heart for Mexico, an alliance of the National Action Party (PAN), the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD).

The third candidate in the race is Jorge Álvarez Máynez of the Citizens Movement (MC) party.

All three will be participating in their first debate this Sunday in Mexico City.

Not much is known about Sánchez Gálvez, including his age. He is the younger of Xóchitl Gálvez’s two children and reportedly earned a business administration degree at Mexico City’s Ibero-American University from 2019 to 2023.

He had been in charge of engaging young voters in his mother’s campaign, but he resigned that position on Wednesday.

After the video surfaced, Sánchez Gálvez uploaded an apology to the social media network X. In it, he explains that since the incident he has worked “to be a better person” and will continue to support his mother.

“A video is circulating where unfortunately I am in a very bad condition,” he says. “First of all I want to apologize to all the people I have offended. At the time, I apologized to the club’s security staff and all the club’s staff, and they know it.

“I am here to stand up, recognize my mistakes and assume my responsibility, which is why I have decided to step aside from my position as leader of youth social networks.”

Though President Andrés Manuel López Obrador refused to comment on the situation “to be respectful,” his wife went public and asked that candidates “play fair.”

“Maybe it’s too much to ask. But as a Mexican, I reject that family members continue to be ‘collateral damage,’” she wrote on her social networks, through which she also sent a “hug” to Sánchez Gálvez.

Xóchitl Gálvez did express her gratitude for Gutiérrez’s “words of solidarity” in a Wednesday post to X, but later accused her rivals of starting a “dirty war” after a campaign rally in México state.

“They are going to start a dirty war,” she said. “Since they can’t find anything on me, they are going to try to harm my family.”

With reports from El País, Milenio and Reforma

Migrant detentions in Mexico up over 200% this year

By

MND Staff

-

April 5, 2024

0

Members of Mexico's National Guard stand near migrants at the border with the United States — National Guard agents and migrants on the northern border. (Omar Martínez/Cuartoscuro)

Migrant detentions in Mexico are on the rise, even as violence at both the southern and northern borders makes the trek to the United States increasingly fraught with danger.

As a new migrant caravan left Chiapas this week, the Interior Ministry (Segob) reported that the number of migrants detained in Mexico during the first two months of 2024 was up 218% over the same period a year ago.

Migrants negotiate a razor wire barrier as they cross from Ciudad Juárez in Mexico to El Paso, Texas, in the U.S. (Rey R. Jáuregui/Cuartoscuro)

During January and February of 2023, Mexican authorities apprehended 75,401 migrants; this year, 239,948 migrants were detained during the same period. This year’s total is the highest for January-February since 2018, reported newspaper El Economista.

Segob data shows that most of the undocumented migrants taken into custody by immigration authorities were Venezuelan nationals (56,312), followed by Guatemalans (28,250) and Hondurans (25,924).

Nearly half of the migrant detentions tallied by Segob (109,677) took place in the southern Gulf Coast state of Tabasco, with another 71,510 recorded in the state of Chiapas, which borders Guatemala.

On Thursday, the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), a human rights NGO, also issued a report that called out the violence migrants face when they reach Mexico’s northern border.

Authorities have found nearly 1,000 migrants enduring extreme transport conditions just this year. (X)

WOLA interviewed personnel at migrant shelters and its findings revealed that upon reaching the border state of Tamaulipas, migrants and asylum applicants are subject to systematic kidnapping, sexual violence and physical as well as psychological abuse by drug cartels that have branched out into human trafficking.

The crime gangs intercept buses filled with migrants and kidnap them from shelters and campsites, extorting the victims and their families back home. Most disturbingly, the WOLA report included testimony alleging official complicity in the abuse that migrants suffer. That complicity takes both active forms — the organization reports having heard stories of state police “selling” migrants to cartels — and passive ones, such as authorities failing to react to or investigate migrant kidnappings, “sometimes responding to calls for help with silence or refusals.”

Violence at the southern border is also a concern. Late last month, a video of a confrontation between an immigration officer and migrants wielding sticks to avoid being detained went viral. The immigration officer and a National Guard (GN) contingent were attempting to apprehend members of a caravan traveling along the Costera highway in Mapastepec, Chiapas.

Witnesses told the newspaper La Silla Rota that more than 100 migrants were detained and their whereabouts have since been unknown, an incident that activists say illustrates the lack of respect for human rights of migrants in Mexico.

Also last month, the newspaper El País reported that the latest caravan of migrants was heading north from the city of Tapachula, Chiapas, fleeing cartel-related violence.

El País reported that Tapachula is besieged by rival criminal gangs battling over control of the drug trade and human trafficking routes, prompting a spike in kidnappings and murders.

Violence across Chiapas has been on the rise since the Jalisco New Generation Cartel began challenging the Sinaloa Cartel’s dominance in the state.

With reports from El Economista, El País and La Silla Rota

‘Super peso’ surges, closes below 16.50 against US dollar

By

MND Staff

-

April 5, 2024

12

Mexican peso bills and coin with US dollar bills — At its weakest point on Monday, the peso was trading at 20.05 to the dollar. (Shutterstock)

The “super peso” rose again on Friday, starting the day trading at 16.47 pesos to the US dollar and closing at 16.46, according to Reuters. This is reported to be its strongest rate since November 2015.

On Thursday, the peso traded briefly at its strongest rate against the dollar this year (16.50) before closing at 16.54.

Despite a strengthening dollar, the peso continues to defy predictions from even the sharpest of currency experts.

“Even Banxico’s rate cut [in March] failed to undermine optimism towards the currency, and the fiscal austerity measures imposed by the government have helped amid tensions with some business sectors,” Eduardo Ramos, senior market strategist for HFM Markets, told the news site Expansión.

In his Friday morning press conference, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador celebrated the peso’s strength, saying that this exchange rate is possible “because corruption has been eradicated and companies are confident about investing [in Mexico].”

The March jobs report released by the United States Department of Labor on Friday morning again confirmed that a strong dollar does not necessarily translate to a weaker peso.

According to analysts at Banco Base, the peso is expected to oscillate in a range of 16.41 to 16.67 per dollar in the short term. Meanwhile, the greenback has appreciated about 3.3% this year against a basket of major currencies, and foreign currency specialists polled by Reuters predict it will remain strong.

Presidential elections in Mexico and the United States in 2024, however, may create a more volatile environment for both currencies later in the year.

With reports from El Universal, Debate, Expansión and Reuters

Cruise ship tourist is reported missing in Cozumel

By

MND Staff

-

April 5, 2024

1

A tourist traveling on the Icon of the Seas cruise ship went missing on Wednesday in Cozumel, Quintana Roo. The passenger was last seen near the cruise ship docks boarding a taxi to the island of La Pasión, according to anecdotal reports.

Authorities have identified the missing tourist to be Edmond Bradley Solomon, aged 66 from the United States.

The missings person poster for Edmond Soloman — Edmond Soloman was reported missing near Cozumel, Quintana Roo. (FGE Quintana Roo/Facebook)

His disappearance was reported by his wife to the municipal police of Cozumel, prompting an urgent search operation. Other relatives turned to social media to ask the local population for help finding him.

The director of the Municipal Police of Cozumel reported that Edmond suffers from dementia.

Municipal authorities said that they received information from a taxi driver who called the 911 emergency number to report that he had picked up a foreign tourist matching Edmond Solomon’s description on the road to La Pasión island.

Solomon allegedly boarded the taxi on 65th Avenue at approximately 2:30 p.m. on April 3 and asked the driver to drop him off at a road with access to the beach. The taxi driver stated that Solomon paid for the ride with a wristwatch because he claimed to have no money.

The search file issued by the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Quintana Roo (FGR) went into effect on Thursday.

At the time of his disappearance, Edmond Solomon had the following characteristics: wearing a white shirt, gray shorts, white shoes, a blue cap and sunglasses.

Reports of his whereabouts should be communicated to the following phone number: 9 998 8817150 extension 2130.

With reports from La Jornada Maya, Por Esto and Azteca Quintana Roo

Ecuador declares Mexican ambassador persona non-grata

By

MND Staff

-

April 5, 2024

1

Raquel Serur, Mexican ambassador to Ecuador — Former Mexican ambassador to Ecuador Raquel Serur was declared a persona non grata in her country of residence last week. (Raquel Serur/X)

Ecuador responded to perceived insults by Mexico’s president by declaring the Mexican ambassador to the country a persona non-grata on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador insinuated that Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa benefited from the assassination of a rival candidate during last year’s presidential elections in the South American nation.

Daniel Noboa, Ecuador’s 36-year-old president, expelled Mexico’s ambassador to the country following remarks by AMLO. (Daniel Noboa Azin/Facebook)

The next day, Noboa formally declared Raquel Serur Smeke persona non-grata, effectively banishing the Mexican diplomat from Ecuador.

“Ecuador is still mourning this horrific act that shocked the public and was an attack on democracy, peace and security,” said Ecuador’s Foreign Relations Ministry in its statement announcing the president’s declaration.

Mexico’s Foreign Ministry (SRE) instructed Serur to return to Mexico and defended the ambassador in a statement.

The SRE declared that Serur had served honorably since presenting her credentials in Quito in June 2019, meeting with all three Ecuadorian presidents that had served during that time. “[The ambassador] strengthened ties between businesses in both countries and energetically promoted cultural exchanges.”

Fernando_Villavicencio — Fernando Villavicencio, an Ecuadorian politician and former journalist, was assassinated in August 2023 ahead of the last presidential election. (Asamblea Nacional del Ecuador/Wikimedia)

During his Wednesday morning press conference, López Obrador questioned the course of the Ecuadorian election after the assassination of candidate Fernando Villavicencio, leader of the right-leaning Movimiento Construye (MC25), last August.

López Obrador claimed that left-leaning candidate Luisa González was unfairly smeared by the local media and that unjust hints of her involvement caused her to drop in the polls. Although she won the first round of elections just 11 days after the murder with 33% of the vote, González lost to Noboa 52% to 48% in the Oct. 15 run-off.

González is a protégé of former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, a political ally of López Obrador.

Fernando Villavicencio, a former investigative journalist, was an ardent critic of Correa, who forced Villavicencio into exile after jailing him briefly. He was killed by armed civilians in Quito after holding a campaign event.

In response to speculation at the time that an Ecuadorian criminal gang linked to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel was responsible for the murder, both López Obrador and Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena denied there was any evidence of the cartel’s involvement.

Hard feelings between the two countries emerged last December when former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas sought asylum at Mexico’s Embassy in Quito after escaping from prison.

Glas served under Correa but was kicked out of office in 2017, after which he was convicted of taking bribes and given a 16-year prison sentence. On March 1, Mexico denied Noboa’s request to enter the Quito embassy to arrest Glas.

AMLO announced on Friday that Mexico would grant former Vice President of Ecuador Jorge Glas asylum. (vicepresidencia.gob.ec)

On Friday morning, Mexico announced it would grant Glas asylum and request that Ecuador guarantee safe conduct out of the country. Noboa has said in the past that he would not grant free passage to Glas and there is a heavy police presence around the embassy to prevent his escape.

The SRE officially objected to the police presence around its embassy in its Friday statement, calling it a flagrant violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

According to the statement released by Ecuador’s Foreign Relations Ministry, diplomatic relations between the two countries have not been broken, despite the tensions.

With reports from El País, Aristegui Noticias and Eme Equis

14 Mexican states could face extreme water stress by 2030

By

MND Staff

-

April 5, 2024

7

Sequía Laguna Zumpango (5) — Latin America is expected to see a 43% increase in water demand by 2050. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Almost half of Mexican states will face severe water scarcity by 2030, according to projections by the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas of the World Resources Institute (WRI).

The WRI, which identifies and assesses water-related risks globally, has identified that 14 out of the country’s 32 states are expected to experience extremely high water depletion, exceeding 80%, by 2030.

Conagua extraction from reservoir — Experts have recommended massive investment in repairing water infrastructure and in water catchment to help mitigate the crisis. (Cuartoscuro)

In assessing water availability for agricultural, domestic and industrial use, the WRI uses a rating scale from 0 to 5, with 0 representing low water stress and 5 indicating extremely high stress.

Based on those indicators, the following states are projected to have extremely high water depletion: Aguascalientes, Coahuila, Colima, Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Morelos, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora and Zacatecas.

Additionally, six states — Jalisco, México state, Michoacán, Puebla, Tamaulipas and Tlaxcala — are expected to experience high water depletion, ranging between 40% and 80%, while Nuevo León could reach a medium-high level of depletion, between 20% and 40%.

Meanwhile, Campeche, Quintana Roo, Veracruz and Yucatán got a positive forecast compared to the rest of the country: they’re expected to reach a level of water exhaustion between 10 and 20%, categorized as medium-low. These states are followed by Chiapas, Guerrero, Nayarit, Oaxaca and Tabasco, which are projected to have a water exhaustion percentage below 10%.

Baja California Sur may face the most severe drought conditions by 2030, followed by Mexico City.

The WRI states that this measurement reflects the connection between total water usage and accessible renewable water sources. The organization notes that higher percentages indicate a more significant strain on local water resources and reduced availability for users.

Campeche, Quintana Roo, Veracruz and Yucatán got a positive forecast compared to the rest of the country: the southeast is expected to reach a level of water exhaustion between 10 and 20%. (Shutterstock)

“Living with this level of water stress jeopardizes people’s lives, jobs, food and energy security,” the WRI said in its report.

According to the study, 1 billion people are expected to live with extremely high water stress worldwide by 2050. Regionally, Latin America is expected to see a 43% increase in water demand by 2050, making it the world’s second-highest demand region after sub-Saharan Africa.

By 2050, US $70 trillion in GDP, or 31% of projected global GDP in 2050, will be at risk of high water stress, up from $15 trillion in 2010. Just four countries — India, Mexico, Egypt, and Turkey — will account for over half of the exposed GDP in 2050. More than half of Mexico is experiencing drought conditions, according to the most recent data from the National Water Commission (Conagua).

Pablo Lazo, director of Urban Development and Accessibility for WRI Mexico, emphasized the urgent need to implement a change in public policies, raise social awareness about the value of water, and optimize irrigation systems in agriculture.

In an interview with the newspaper El Economista, Lazo warned that failure to do so will have serious consequences for water supply in the short and long term.

“Currently, all that’s being discussed is extraction and distribution, but no one is talking about the need for replenishment policies,” he said.

“What we need on the level of public policy and the regulatory framework is to be able to give operating agencies financing mechanisms so they can really modernize and invest in their infrastructure that can increase water recycling, be that through rainwater capture, gray water treatment or increased use in urban areas.”

With reports from El Informador and El Economista