Señor Frog's Playa del Carmen location had been closed since October 2024. (Noticaribe/X)
Señor Frog’s, the chain of fiesta-themed eateries and bars often cited as the antithesis to “authentic Mexico,” has been reduced to nothing but a memory in what once stood as one of its prime locations — near the pier in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo.
Demolition began last week on the building that had housed Señor Frog’s for more than 25 years, adjacent to the terminal where people catch the ferry to Cozumel.
The building, which also housed offices and apartments on its upper floor, had deteriorated to the point where the possibility of collapse could not be ignored, officials said.
“There was a risk. That’s why the decision was made to intervene immediately,” said Hernán González, head of the city’s sustainable planning bureau.
This particular Señor Frog’s had already shut down last October, a closure that surprised tourists who considered the lively restaurant and bar a must-visit on the Riviera Maya.
Others, however, frequently use Señor Frog’s as shorthand for “tourist trap” and contrast it with authentic local experiences.
Although the company did not provide an official explanation for last October’s closure, local reports indicated that declining visitor numbers and reduced income contributed to the decision, with the venue having seen fewer guests for months prior to shuttering its doors.
Playa del Carmen still has two other Señor Frog’s in operation — each less than 1.5 km away from the razed location. One opened in December 2022, and both are on the city’s main commercial strip, Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue.
Overall, Señor Frog’s has “over 17 locations worldwide” according to a summary on its website that also touts its restaurant-bars as places where “the fun never stops.”
Their Tex-Mex-heavy menu includes Mexican and American fare, from tacos, nachos and burritos to hamburgers and seafood — along with an extensive selection of beer, margaritas and other alcoholic drinks.
Señor Frog’s was founded in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, in 1971 by Jesús Humberto “Chuy” Juarez and Carlos Anderson.
The brand is owned by Cancún-based Grupo Anderson’s, which claims to be Mexico’s largest restaurateur, operating more than 50 restaurants. Two of its other prime holdings are Porfirio’s and Harry’s Prime Steakhouse & Raw Bar.
The Playa del Carmen closure follows other high-profile shutdowns, such as the Las Vegas location, which ceased operations at the end of 2024, and the original Mazatlán spot, which shut down in 2018.
A small example of the more than 2,600 hectares of cleared forest land indicates the kind of radical land use change the landowners were undertaking. (Profepa)
More than 2,600 hectares of forest were destroyed in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, leading to the closure of seven properties, the Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa) reported on Monday.
Profepa inspectors carried out operations between May 28 and June 14 on forest properties located in the states of Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo, where they discovered the removal of trees and other vegetation, resulting in unauthorized use of forest lands across 2,608.9 hectares (ha).
Farm equipment found on the properties betrayed the intention to convert the forest into agricultural land. (Profepa)
Such activities have the effect of transforming forests into agro-industrial monocultures, Profeca wrote on the X social media site.
The agency seized 108.5 square meters of round and square timber, three tractors and a variety of agricultural equipment.
Of the seven properties that were closed, two were in Campeche, totaling 702 ha, two in Yucatán (606.4 ha) and three in Quintana Roo (1,300.5 ha). All seven are within an area where Mennonite populations have been expanding, according to Profepa.
In the popular tourist state of Quintana Roo, inspectors visited the municipalities of José María Morelos and Othón P. Blanco.
In the Piedras Negras ejido (communal farmland) in José María Morelos, inspectors identified a change in land use on 10.68 ha of forest, where a total of 1,057 square meters of native rainforest species had been removed without permission.
Profepa also sent inspectors to the municipalities of Hopelchén and Calakmul in Campeche and Tekax in Yucatán.
The inspectors found that natural vegetation had been replaced by leveled terrain in San Diego Buenavista in Tekax, where the cutting, felling, sectioning and elimination by fire of adult trees and sapling trees had taken place.
In a statement, Profepa said it plans to continue operations to halt and reverse the environmental impacts of deforestation on forest ecosystems on the Yucatán Peninsula.
Dance, swim and savor your way into the second half of the year throughout the Yucatán peninsula. (Martha xucunostli / CC BY-SA 3.0)
July is summer in the Riviera Maya, and it’s a steamy time of year. It gets steamier, either with sexy tangos and wine, or in the literal sense of enjoying a full moon temazcal. But the fun doesn’t stop there, we’ve got a weird and wonderful month of fermented foods, nature going wild and all the spiritual healing the region is known for.
Argentine Night at Panza Tulum
(Eventbrite)
An asado is an Argentine barbecue gathering, and who doesn’t love a gathering with wine and sexy dancing? An asado plus a live orchestra and chance to get out on the dance floor sounds wonderful to me. If you’re more of a listener than a dancer just sit back and sip wine watching the dazzling dance show and live orchestra.
Date: July 5, 7:30 – 10:30 pm Location: Panza Tulum, Av. Aldea Zama 10, Aldea Zama, Tulum Cost:270 pesos
Naturalist challenge at the Riviera Maya Forestry Nursery
(Facebook/Programa de Areas Verdes Flora, Fauna y Cultura de México)
Discover the beauty of the Riviera Maya’s biodiversity with conservation nonprofit Flora, Fauna y Cultura de México. Join other nature lovers for two hours exploring the Riviera Maya Forestry Nursery with a guide. Photograph and learn about the birds and bugs, plants and flowers, then submit your data iNaturalist Mexico, a citizen science platform. Come help contribute to a global database of biodiversity while learning about the natural world around you.
Date: 5 July at 8 a.m. Location: Vivero Forestal Riviera Maya,Km. 282, Carretera Federal Chetumal-Puerto Juárez, Playa del Carmen Cost: 50 pesos
Full moon temazcal
(Facebook/Centro Ceremonial Maya Oxlajuj)
If you’ve never experienced a temazcal — a traditional Mesoamerican sweat lodge — I highly recommend it. I’ve done a bunch and loved every experience at every location. It’s a chance to look within, heal your heart, let go of what no longer serves you and ask for healing. This temazcal takes place every sunday at the Centro Ceremonial Maya Oxlajuj.
Date: July 6, 13 and 20 at 6 p.m. Location:Centro Ceremonial Maya Oxlajuj, Carretera Chicxulub Puerto Km. 13, Mérida Cost: 300 pesos
Feria del Carmen
(Fiestas de México)
Playa del Carmen’s largest annual fair offers a cultural week full of family activities, music, fabulous foods, traditions and much more. Like all fairs, it’s open daily and goes into the night. You can see the program online to be sure you don’t miss anything. I’ll be popping over from Cozumel to enjoy some gastronomical treats and hopefully see you there!
Date: July 13 through August 6 Location: Playa del Carmen Cost: Free
Cozumel Vivo Fest 2025
(México Informa)
Cozumel’s Vivo Fest is a cultural experience of art, ocean conservation, live concerts, gastronomic sensations and much more. It’s a true celebration of life with guest chefs, Maya cultural activities and wellness practices. This is the way of the island and you’re all welcome to come down and enjoy it as well. See the full itinerary online.
Date: July 11 through 13 Location: Cozumel, with a lot of events happening at Hotel B Cost: 1955 pesos
Tequila University at La Sirena
(Eventbrite)
Want to learn more about gourmet tequila? This is the event for you. La Sirena is my favorite restaurant in Puerto Morelos, with great food and picturesque Caribbean views to watch as you sip and learn all about tequila in style. Taking place every Monday, Tequila University teaches attendees “how to truly taste, appreciate, and understand Mexico’s most iconic spirit.”
Date: July 7, 14 and 21 at 4 p.m. Location: La Sirena, Calle Jose Maria Morelos Mz 4, Puerto Morelos Cost: 150 pesos
Spiritual workshop with dolphins
(Facebook/Donna Kassewitz)
The Gathering of Light Workers and Dolphins promises a beautiful four-day event building heart connections with a pod of dolphins. These special creatures will help transform mind, body, and spirit in joyous co-creating sessions. It’s an experience of a lifetime, led by professionals of the Dolphin Ambassador Program who have studied and worked with dolphins for five decades.
Feeling disconnected, overwhelmed or just ‘meh’ on the inside? Then perhaps some self-care is what you need. The Sacred Awakening retreat offers six days of self-love and connection to nourish your soul. Experience sacred ceremonies and learn how to release stress and heal through breathwork and movement.
Date: July 21 through 26 Location: Lunita Jungle Retreat Center, Puerto Morelos Cost:Rooms start at 2297 pesos
Kombucha making course at Diosa Organics
(Facebook/Diosa Organics)
Delve into the world of the ever-popular kombucha. In this brewmaster’s course, you’ll make three kombuchas, try ten, get recipes and learn how to make the drink from scratch. It’s all included, complete with a starter kit to take home to continue making your own. No prior knowledge needed: just turn up and enjoy the day of getting down and healthy with this fermented beverage.
Date: July 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27 Location: Diosa Organics, Playa del Carmen Cost: 1,500 pesos
Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over seven years now, she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon.
As San Miguel de Allende competes for another Travel + Leisure honor this month, the city is improving public safety and readying itself for a week-long cultural festival. (Wikimedia Commons)
San Miguel de Allende (SMA) continues to make headlines, from global travel honors to vibrant cultural festivals and public safety efforts. Here’s a snapshot of what’s happening in this beloved city.
SMA again eyes World’s Best Small City title
(Pau Morfin/Unsplash)
San Miguel de Allende continues to shine on the global stage as a finalist for the 2025 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, competing once more for the title of Best City in the World. The city last won this prestigious honor in 2024.
San Miguel is also distinguished by multiple accolades from Condé Nast Traveler, including being named the No. 1 Small City in the World in years 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Additionally, San Miguel was named the Best Wedding Destination in Mexico earlier this year by Mexican magazine, México Desconocido, further cementing its status as a top choice for travelers worldwide.
San Miguel is one of two final cities in the running. Results are expected in the coming days.
FASMA 2025 brings 2 weeks of arts and culture
(Adolfo Alejos/FASMA)
From August 1 to 17, the Festival of the Arts San Miguel de Allende (FASMA) returns for its third edition, bringing more than 100 events featuring opera, jazz, ballet, and visual arts to venues across the city.
Festival highlights include concerts at the historic Angela Peralta Theatre, such as a Cuban jazz evening with 13-time Grammy winner Chuchito Valdés and prize-winning classical pianist Gile Bae. Casa Europa will host events like The Eight Seasons by violinist Adolfo Alejos and a Lyric Gala by Operísima México, while Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez “El Nigromante” will present a retrospective of Leonard Brooks’ collage work. An exhibit of paintings by Enrique Guillén Sáenz also opens at Fábrica La Aurora during the festival.
Running alongside the festival is “The Diary of Anne Frank: Notes of Hope,” now open at Casa de la Cultura, offering an immersive exhibit with replicas of Anne’s personal belongings.
Festival president Eduardo Adame Goddard says FASMA was born from a desire to unify the city’s diverse artistic offerings into one annual celebration.
“We realized we didn’t have a festival that brought all the arts together. FASMA is a celebration of the fine arts and a way to give even more relevance to the city’s cultural life.”
FASMA brings together 25 of the city’s leading cultural organizations, from the Biblioteca Pública and the Opera of San Miguel to the San Miguel Writers’ Conference and many others representing the city’s diverse artistic community.
San Miguel gears up for month-long Pride celebrations
(Instagram)
COSMA (Colectivo Orgullo San Miguel de Allende) has announced the return of its LGBTQ+ Pride March, set for Friday, July 12 at 4 p.m. The march will begin at Parque Juárez and conclude in the Jardín Principal, anchoring a monthlong series of events centered on visibility, inclusion, and structural change.
This year’s march is both a celebration and a call to action in a state that continues to face barriers to equality for LGBTQ+ individuals.
“Visibility is not enough if it isn’t accompanied by guarantees,” COSMA emphasized in a statement. “Our fight is not for symbolic inclusion but for structural justice. We thank our sponsors and allies. All people are welcome to march, regardless of their gender identity or expression.”
Rafael Cabrera, cofounder of COSMA, added that this year’s march will highlight demands for structural reforms supporting LGBTQ+ rights in San Miguel. Key issues include ending oppression in public spaces, securing proper funding for the city’s diversity office and promoting ongoing sensitivity training for public officials.
City government to raise bus fares
(Autobuses en Guanajuato/Facebook)
After 13 years without changes, San Miguel de Allende’s municipal government has approved a public transportation fare increase from 8 pesos to 10 pesos (about US $0.50). The previous 8-peso fare had been the lowest in the entire state of Guanajuato, according to Mayor Mauricio Trejo.
The decision comes after weeks of negotiations between the mayor’s office and transportation operators, who had initially proposed raising the fare by as much as 7 pesos, with some reports speculating a jump as high as 18 pesos.
As part of the process, the mayor emphasized that although transportation operators have the right to request a fare adjustment, citizens also have the right to demand improved service. Among the conditions being discussed are a cleaner, more professional appearance for drivers and the removal of tinted windows.
The fare will remain discounted at 50% for students and seniors. Before taking effect, the increase will undergo a feasibility study and must be approved by the city council.
SMA strengthens public safety measures
San Miguel de Allende fortalece el C4 y mejor la seguridad ciudadana
Local officials are stepping up prevention efforts in response to shifting crime patterns in the region. Mayor Mauricio Trejo acknowledged the increasing pressure on the city as organized crime groups move north within the state.
“The worst thing a mayor can do is deny a problem. San Miguel de Allende is not an unsafe city, but there’s pressure coming from all sides, and it’s taking a lot of work to keep it secure,” Trejo said.
He added that the issue is not exclusive to San Miguel but rather the result of being surrounded by some of the most insecure municipalities in the country.
In response, the city has doubled the capacity of its C4 surveillance center (now the most advanced in the state), which coordinates emergency response and monitors activity across the city. Officials have also invested in better-equipped patrol units and expanded police training.
San Miguel is hosting a state-level coordination meeting this week, bringing together security leaders from across Guanajuato, including the National Guard (GN) and state officials. This meeting will address the issue of criminal group migration.
Did you know?
Ignacio Ramírez Calzada, known as “El Nigromante” (the necromancer), was born in San Miguel de Allende in 1818. A fierce defender of human rights, secular education and free speech, his legacy remains strong in the city through the Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez “El Nigromante.” Last month, San Miguel honored his 207th birthday with a ceremony at the Jardín Principal and a tribute at his historic home, celebrating his lasting influence on Mexico’s values and culture.
On Tuesday, the president acknowledged that the growing prevalence of motorbikes on Mexican roads "has caused many problems," particularly for emergency rooms. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
President Claudia Sheinbaum has now completed nine months in Mexico’s top job, having been sworn in as the country’s first female leader on Oct. 1.
Following in the steps of her predecessor and political mentor Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), Sheinbaum holds weekday morning press conferences (mañaneras) at the National Palace in Mexico City.
Here is a recap of some of the issues Sheinbaum spoke about at her first mañanera in July.
Sheinbaum defends decision to cancel Peña Nieto’s airport project
A reporter noted that former president Enrique Peña Nieto “reappeared” in a documentary about the cancelation of the Mexico City airport project in Texcoco, México state.
Construction of what was called the new Mexico City International Airport (NAICM) began during Peña Nieto’s 2012-18 presidency, but ex-president Andrés Manuel López Obrador canceled the partially built project after a controversial public consultation held in October 2018, before AMLO had taken office.
The government of Enrique Peña Nieto spent between US $2 and 5 billion on the Texcoco airport before it was canceled. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
About 70% of just over 1 million citizens who voted in the consultation favored the conversion of a México state air force base as a commercial airport over the completion of the NAICM.
The administration of López Obrador — who argued against the Texcoco project on the basis that it was corrupt, too expensive and being built on land that was sinking — consequently went ahead with the construction of a new airport on the Santa Lucía Air Force Base. The army-built Felipe Ángeles International Airport opened on the site in March 2022.
On Tuesday morning, the aforesaid reporter asked the president how she interpreted the “reappearance” of Peña Nieto, who asserted in the documentary that claims of corruption related to the construction of the airport have not been confirmed or proven.
“It’s too early to know why he appears in this … documentary,” Sheinbaum said.
“The important thing about the airport, regardless of whether there was mismanagement [of resources]; … the essence is that they were going to build an airport on a site with subsidence, a site that is a regulating reservoir for water that leaves the Valley of Mexico metropolitan area in the rainy season,” she said.
Sheinbaum asserted that flooding that has recently occurred in Mexico City “would have been worse” if there was an airport in Texcoco “because there is no channel for the different rivers that flow into this area.”
Sheinbaum said that another reason for canceling the NAICM was because “they wanted to turn the current Mexico City airport into a real estate development.”
“That was where the big business was,” she said, insinuating that corrupt dealings would have taken place if the Mexico City airport had been closed and redeveloped.
“… So those were the reasons it was decided — that the people of Mexico decided because there was a consultation — to build the airport at Santa Lucía,” Sheinbaum said.
Sheinbaum asked about ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
A reporter asked the president her opinion on the United States government’s plans to lock up immigrants at a detention center in the Florida Everglades dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
“Alligators, crocodiles and pythons in the surrounding wetlands are expected to keep detainees from escaping the centre, which is being built on an old airfield,” the BBC reported.
Sheinbaum didn’t make any direct comment about “Alligator Alcatraz,” but said that her government doesn’t agree with “treating migrants as criminals.”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2025
“… The United States was built by migrants, it’s a country built by migrants from many places around the world. … In particular, the Latino and Mexican migrants are very important for the United States economy, that’s what we’ve been saying,” she said.
Sheinbaum advocated respect for immigrants’ human rights, and reiterated that her government will defend all Mexicans in the United States, whether they’ve been there for “a month, two months, three months, a year, two years, 10 years or 20 years.”
Sheinbaum: The increase in the use of motorbikes ‘has caused many problems’
A reporter noted that emergency room visits due to motorcycle accidents are on the rise, and mentioned that ridesharing companies such as Uber and Didi now offer trips by motorbike.
Sheinbaum said that the growing prevalence of motorbikes on Mexican roads “has caused many problems.”
“Here [in Mexico City] the doctors are saying it because trauma care due to the use of motorbikes has indeed increased a lot,” she said.
“We’re working on a [safety] campaign … but we want it to be more than a campaign,” Sheinbaum said.
“Normally, the regulations related to the use of motorcycles are state regulations,” she added.
“So we have to work with the states and see if national regulations can be made. It’s not about banning motorbikes, but rather, what are the regulations for using a motorcycle. And second, what fines will there be if it not used in the [correct] way,” Sheinbaum said.
“And the other thing is education. If you have a motorbike, [you have to know] how to use it,” she said.
In May, Mexico's budget deficit stood at 251 billion pesos, 160 billion pesos (US $8.5B) lower than the programmed 411 billion. (Francesca Albert/Unsplash)
The highest increase in tax revenue in almost a decade. A year-over-year reduction in public spending of over 5%. A reduction in government debt as a percentage of GDP. A lower-than-expected budget deficit.
Mexico’s Finance Ministry (SHCP) reported these results on Monday in a report on “public finances and public debt” in the first five months of 2025.
Here is the key information.
Tax revenue up 8.9%
The SHCP reported that tax collection increased 8.9% annually in real terms between January and May. That increase was the largest for the first five months of the year since 2016, the ministry said.
Total tax revenue for the January-May period was 2.41 trillion pesos (US $128.36 billion at the current exchange rate), 83 billion pesos higher than expected.
The SHCP said that the growth in tax revenue “was mainly driven” by increases in the collection of Mexico’s value-added tax (up 12.5% annually), income tax (up 8.2% annually) and taxes collected by customs (up 38.4% annually).
It said that the increase in tax revenue reflected “both the strength of the internal market and greater tax collection efficiency.”
The SHCP said that the increase in the collection of import taxes was driven by “increased customs surveillance” and the imposition of taxes on products brought into the country by “digital platforms.” (Cuartoscuro)
IVA:
The 12.5% growth in value-added tax (IVA) revenue was the highest increase for the January-May period since 2014.
Revenue collected via the IEPS excise tax — levied on products such as gasoline, alcohol and cigarettes — declined 1.1% annually in real terms between January and May.
IEPS revenue totaled 268.44 billion pesos in the first five months of the year.
Non-tax revenue rose almost 30%, but oil sales slumped
The SHCP reported that non-tax revenue increased 28.4% annually in real terms between January and May. It said the growth was driven by increases in revenue from royalties (+11%), the sale of “products” (+20.2%) and windfall gains (+42.6%).
Domestic and foreign petroleum sales brought in revenue of 375.21 billion pesos in the first five months of the year, a 23.8% reduction compared to the same period of 2024. Oil income was 175.56 billion pesos lower than anticipated.
The newspaper El Economista said that lower-than-expected oil production was the cause of the year-over-year decline in petroleum sales and the failure to reach the predicted revenue level.
Total government revenue, including tax and non-tax income, in the first five months of the year was 3.47 trillion pesos (US $185.15 billion), a 3.7% increase compared to the same period of 2024. Total revenue was 64.47 billion pesos lower than projected.
Public spending down 5.3%
The federal government spent 3.72 trillion pesos (US $198.26 billion) between January and May, a 5.3% decrease compared to the first five months of 2024.
“In compliance with fiscal goals, public spending decreased 5.3% annually in real terms,” the SHCP said, adding that there was an “efficient” use of resources in the January-May period.
Expenditure was lower than expected, accounting for 94.3% of the projected outlay, the Finance Ministry said.
Nevertheless, the government’s outlay “guaranteed the provision of social programs, infrastructure and public services,” the SHCP said.
Expenditure in detail:
The government spent around 2.6 trillion pesos on “programmed,” or planned, expenses.
The government spent 648.71 billion pesos on unprogrammed expenses.
Federal allocations to Mexico’s states increased 3% annually in the first five months of the year.
Public sector debt dips below 50% of GDP
The SHCP reported that public sector debt at the end of May totaled 17.67 trillion pesos (US $942.4 billion), a 13% increase compared to a year earlier.
It said that amount is equivalent to 49.2% of Mexico’s gross domestic product.
The current level of debt as a percentage of GDP “compares favorably with the 51.3% of GDP recorded at the close of 2024,” the SHCP said.
“Between December 2024 and May 2025, the debt balance increased 250 billion pesos, which represented a reduction of 0.1% in real terms, mainly attributable to the appreciation of the exchange rate [for the Mexican peso] on foreign debt,” the ministry said.
The SHCP said that the costs of serving Mexico’s debt increased 13.1% annually due to “restrictive local and global financial conditions.”
Nevertheless, those costs — 460.55 billion pesos — were 21 billion pesos lower than budgeted “thanks to financial management operations that generated savings and improved the maturity profile of the federal government’s debt,” the ministry said.
Budget deficit 160 billion pesos lower than expected
The SHCP said that at the end of May, Mexico’s “fiscal balances reflected a solid performance” and were better than expected.
“The budget deficit stood at 251 billion pesos, lower than the programmed 411 billion,” the ministry said.
The Finance Ministry said that “the balance of public finances at the close of May was maintained in line with the annual goals approved by the Congress of the Union, supported by a sustained growth in budget income and strategic management of public expenditure.”
The tougher immigration environment and overall fear among the Mexican community in the United States have impacted the number of people willing to risk the commute from Tijuana to San Diego. (Omar Martínez/Cuartoscuro)
The influx of cross-border workers from Mexico’s Baja California state to the U.S. has dropped by 20% between January 2024 and March 2025, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) reported on Friday.
INEGI’s 2025 National Survey of Occupation and Employment showed that Baja California residents who commute regularly to work in Southern California stood at 87,190 in the first quarter of 2024 before falling to 82,421 in the second quarter and to 71,471 in the third. Figures rose to 72,000 commuters in Q4, before falling to 70,642 in Q1 of 2025.
According to real estate industry representatives, the drop in cross-border traffic could create an imbalance in the Tijuana economy due to a decrease in both residential and commercial tenants.
A series of high-profile immigration raids in San Diego county recently has only added to concerns about the economic impacts of reduced cross-border mobility on both sides of the border.
Last week, San Diego County lawmakers Brian Jones and Laurie Davis signed a letter addressed to U.S. President Trump, which asked the current administration “to avoid the kinds of sweeping raids that instill fear and disrupt the workplace.”
“We have heard from employers in our districts that recent ICE raids are not only targeting undocumented workers, but also … those with legal immigration status,” the letter reads. “This fear is driving vital workers out of critical industries, taking California’s affordability crisis and making it even worse for our constituents.”
A 2024 study on international commuters at the Mexico-U.S. border found that between 2000 and 2020, the number of cross-border workers living in Tijuana grew by 30%, and the share of U.S.-born within this group increased substantially.
In 2020, cross-border workers accounted for 7.3% of the wage bill of Mexico’s northwestern border municipalities, down from 8.4% in 2000.
Remittances fell 4.6% in May
Remittances sent to Mexico from the U.S. fell by 4.6% in May compared to one year earlier, according to central bank data published on Tuesday.
Total remittances stood at US $5.36 billion (100.5 billion pesos) in May, consisting of 13.9 million transactions averaging $385 each.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate passed a bill establishing a 1% tax on remittances, though only those sent in cash.
In Mexico, cash makes up 1% of all remittances received, though remittances sent electronically via cash deposit (at a Western Union, for example) may account for up to 40% of all remittances sent from the U.S. to Mexico.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said that if signed into law, the Mexican government would announce on Friday a program to reimburse the 1% lost to the tax on cash transactions.
Mexico's cattle exports to the United States were put on hold in May out of concern for a re-infestation of the screwworm pest that had been eradicated north of the border (USDA/on X)
United States Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins on Monday announced gradual, “risk-based port re-openings for cattle, bison and equines” from Mexico beginning next week.
The border crossing at Douglas, Arizona, was chosen as the first port of entry in the phase-in of renewed cattle imports from Mexico, in part for the bordering state of Sonora’s history of collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (cochise.az.gov/X)
The screwworm, a species of fly eradicated in the U.S. for decades, had been moving northward in Mexico. The pest can infest livestock and wildlife and carry maggots that burrow into the skin of living animals, causing serious and often fatal damage.
The port re-openings will occur as follows:
Douglas, Arizona – July 7
Columbus, New Mexico – July 14
Santa Teresa, New Mexico – July 21
Del Rio, Texas – Aug. 18
Laredo, Texas – Sept. 15
After each re-opening, the USDA will evaluate the situation to ensure no adverse effects arise.
The USDA said the Douglas, Arizona, port will be the first to open because it offers the lowest risk, based on neighboring Sonora’s geography and history of collaboration with the USDA on animal health issues.
The Agricultural Markets Consulting Group (GCMA) — a Mexican company that provides market analysis, price forecasts, and consulting services for the agricultural and food sectors — applauded the USDA announcement.
“This gradual reopening is the result of a responsible binational effort, highlighting the importance of maintaining animal health as a pillar of Mexico’s agricultural competitiveness,” GCMA general director Juan Carlos Anaya said.
“At the same time, this development provides certainty to producers and exporters, promoting the orderly recovery of live cattle exports and contributing to market stability on the northern border,” Anaya said.
The USDA attributed its decision to the results of “extensive collaboration between USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service experts and their counterparts in Mexico to increase New World Screwworm (NWS) surveillance, detection, and eradication efforts.”
The USDA said it will continue working with Mexico’s National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality (Senasica) on outreach, education and training efforts “to raise awareness and put producers on high alert about NWS.” It will also continue relying on Senasica’s central laboratory for diagnosing cases.
The Mexican Meat Council said that since ports were closed on May 11 domestic livestock producers were unable to export approximately 650,000 head of cattle and other livestock, a loss of roughly US $700 million.
CIBanco, with over US $7 billion in assets, confirmed the unilateral decision by Visa, which was announced suddenly on Sunday and took effect on Monday afternoon. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
CIBanco, with over US $7 billion in assets, confirmed the unilateral decision by Visa, which was announced suddenly on Sunday and took effect on Monday afternoon.
S&P Global Ratings also terminated its contract with CIBanco on Monday and withdrew its ratings data, including the downgrade to “CreditWatch with negative implications” S&P had issued on Friday.
“We believe CIBanco is in a very vulnerable situation given the consequences that may arise from FinCEN’s announcement,” the ratings agency said.
Additionally, Mexican real estate trusts Terrafina and Fibra Inn said they would remove lender CIBanco as their trustee, according to Reuters.
Visa not only suspended all transactions without prior coordination with CIBanco, but also did so before the 21-day period the Treasury Department typically allows for such actions, according to the magazine Expansión.
The suspension specifically affects CIBanco’s international transactions, including those made with the CICash Multicurrency card. CIBanco has stated that client funds are safe and can be reimbursed.
On Thursday, Mexico’s National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV) decreed a “temporary managerial intervention” at CIBanco after the FinCEN announcement, saying the move was aimed at protecting the bank’s creditors and depositors.
On Friday, Mexico’s Finance Minister Edgar Amador said the interventions at the three financial institutions “provide certainty” to account holders.
CIBanco issued a similar statement to clients:
“Your funds are safe and can be reimbursed through our branch network in the original currency (if available) or in local currency using the method the customer chooses,” it said.
S&P is not so bullish, however. According to the ratings agency, there is a risk that the bank will not be able to access financial transfers with U.S. and domestic institutions, which would limit the sustainability of the business over the next 12 months.
S&P warned that CIBanco’s profitability and capital levels could also be weakened given the contraction in revenue.
CIBanco was originally established in 1983 as Consultoría Internacional (CI), a currency exchange house. It later transformed into a multiple banking institution in 2008.
The battle between the "Los Chapitos" and "Los Mayos" factions of the Sinaloa Cartel has claimed well over 1,000 lives since September 2024. (José Betanzos/Cuartoscuro)
Authorities in the violence-plagued northern state of Sinaloa reported on Monday the discovery of 20 bodies in Culiacán, five of which were decapitated.
Four decapitated bodies were found hanging from a bridge above Federal Highway 15, according to the Sinaloa Attorney General’s Office (FGE).
Sixteen other bodies, one of which was decapitated, were found in a van left on the side of the highway beneath the bridge.
The FGE said that a bag containing five heads was found at the scene. It said that all the victims were men and had gunshot wounds on their bodies.
The bodies were found late on Sunday night north of central Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa and an epicenter of cartel violence. None of the victims had been identified by late Monday.
The grisly discovery came almost one year after alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García was arrested in the United States after he was allegedly kidnapped and forced onto a private plane by Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera.
The alleged kidnapping and arrest of Zambada triggered an escalation in a long-running dispute between the “Los Chapitos” and “Los Mayos” factions of the Sinaloa Cartel. The battle between the rival groups has claimed well over 1,000 lives since September 2024. More than 1,000 people have disappeared in Sinaloa in the same period.
Narco-message was left with the bodies
A narcomanta (narco banner) was left inside or on the Ford Transit Van in which 16 bodies were found, according to media reports.
The Reforma newspaper reported that the message on the banner was directed to “the sons of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, specifically … Iván Archivaldo, leader of the debilitated ‘Los Chapos’ group.”
Casi 300 días de violencia en #Culiacán y lo de esta mañana supera la ficción:
20 sujetos fueron encontrados asesinados: cuatro colgados de un puente carretero en la salida norte y otros 16 cuerpos al interior de una vagoneta.
— Juan Pablo Pérez-Díaz (@perezdiazmx) June 30, 2025
According to Reforma, the message said:
“Start fighting, stop hiding, stealing, and screwing over the people. … This is what will happen to the entire bunch of delusional ones who go along with the ‘Chapozetas’. We’ll be waiting for you here — welcome to the new Sinaloa, without extortion and fighting against scum. Sincerely, The People of Sinaloa.”
The massacre of 20 people is the deadliest single episode of violence of what has widely been described as a “war” between “Los Chapitos” and “Los Mayos.”
Citing four sources, The New York Times reported on Monday that amid the turmoil “Los Chapitos” have entered into an alliance with “an old and powerful adversary, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel,” or CJNG.
“The risky move by El Chapo’s sons could ultimately turn the Jalisco cartel into the world’s biggest drug trafficker — a shift that could potentially redraw alliances and power structures across international drug markets, analysts say,” the Times reported.
Sinaloa government: ‘Military and police forces are working together to reestablish total peace’
Feliciano Castro Meléndrez, general secretary of the Sinaloa government, said that the murders of the 20 people whose bodies were found in Culiacán “is part of the the violence and insecurity” plaguing Sinaloa.
“[It’s a] regrettable situation, all deaths are regrettable, even more so when they are deaths imposed by violence,” he said.
Castro said that the Sinaloa government, led by Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, “in coordination” with the federal government, is committed to “implementing the measures necessary to continue making progress in the fight against this situation of violence and security.”
The “military and police forces are working together to reestablish total peace in Sinaloa,” he said.
Almost 10,000 members of federal security forces, including the army and the National Guard, have been deployed to Sinaloa in the past year. (José Betanzos Zarate/Cuartoscuro)
Almost 10,000 members of federal security forces, including the army and the National Guard, have been deployed to the state, but have been unable to quell the violence to any significant extent.
Castro said that “every occurrence” of violence obliges authorities to “review the process of the [security] strategy,” adding that it was especially incumbent on them to do so after “events of the magnitude such as that we have just recorded.”
He asserted that “very significant results” have been achieved in the fight against violence in Sinaloa, and noted that in early July the state government will present “a complete report” on the security situation based on the events of the first six months of the year.
The task authorities face is a monumental one. Sinaloa was the fifth most violent state in Mexico in the first five months of the year in terms of total homicides with 686, according to federal data. Murders in the northern state increased by 244% compared to the 199 recorded in the first five months of 2024.
In Culiacán, “intense fighting between the heavily armed” rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel “has become the new normal” since the escalation of their dispute last year, according to the Associated Press.
The news agency reported that “dead bodies appear scattered across Culiacán on a daily basis, homes are riddled with bullets, businesses shutter and schools regularly close down during waves of violence.”
“Masked young men on motorcycles watch over the main avenues of the city,” AP added.
In addition to the discovery of the 20 bodies on Federal Highway 15 late Sunday, there were numerous other murders in Culiacán and other parts of Sinaloa in recent days. The news website La Silla Rota reported that there were a total of 45 murders across six Sinaloa municipalities in the four days between last Friday and Monday.
