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Is Mexico’s soccer league a monopoly? Antitrust officials are looking to find out

By
MND Staff
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Xolos vs Tigres Apertura
Mexico's National Antitrust Commission opened the investigation of its own accord and has not yet targeted any specific individual or entity. However, it feels it has enough evidence for a probe to determine whether there are indeed monopolistic practices in Liga MX. (Chris Noyola/Cuartoscuro)

The National Antitrust Commission (CNA) has unilaterally opened an investigation into Liga MX, Mexico’s top professional soccer league and a massive cultural touchstone that captures the country’s passion for the sport.

An internal CNA document says the investigation aims to identify “the possible commission of relative monopolistic practices in the market of ‘affiliation, organization and access’ to professional federated football competitions in Mexico, as well as similar or related services.”

In short, the CNA wants to know if a small group is violating the Federal Law of Economic Competition by unfairly controlling who can join, who can compete and how tournaments are organized, to the exclusion of other interested parties.

“After analyzing the events that occurred in recent months, the Investigating Authority determined that it has sufficient evidence to formally open an investigation on its own initiative for possible monopolistic practices in the professional soccer market in Mexico,” the CNA said in a public report.

The recent events referred to are likely related to a Liga MX decision in July to scrap promotion/relegation between the top-flight Mexican soccer league and the second-tier Liga Expansión. Liga MX also announced the end to payouts to the second-tier sides.

Promotion and relegation were scrapped in 2020 to insulate the clubs from the financial impacts of lost revenue during the enforced lockdown ordered due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Liga Expansión officials fiercely disputed the decision, even filing a suit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ruled that the 2026-27 campaign was the earliest point at which promotion/relegation ought to be reinstituted.

Critics have also identified the league’s policy regarding possession of television broadcasting rights by teams as a monopolistic practice.

The commission has sought to make clear that there are no defendants identified as yet and it hasn’t been determined exactly who will be investigated. Instead, the probe will simply review whether competition law is being followed.

The investigation can last up to 120 business days, but can be extended up to three times longer if necessary. During that time, the CNA can request documents, visit offices, summon people to testify and conduct inspections.

If guilt is determined, the Liga MX and its member teams could face a penalty of up to 10% of their annual income and would be required to correct any monopolistic practices detected.

With reports from ESPN, El Economista, El Universal and SportCa

Should you be worried about the presence of brain-eating amoeba in Yucatán water bodies?

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MND Staff
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Plaza La Isla
The artificial lake in Mérida's Plaza La Isla, where the 34-year-old victim coached water sports, was found to contain the deadly amoeba Naegleria fowleri. (Inmobiliaria Mendicuti)

A man died of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) in a Mérida hospital last week, most likely from contact with the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri, the Yucatán Health Services (SSY) reported on Monday. 

The SSY confirmed the presence of N. fowleri in an artificial lake at the La Isla shopping center in Mérida, where the 34-year-old man worked as a water sports instructor. 

“It is a serious and extremely rare disease; this is the first case registered in Yucatán,” the SSY said in a statement. 

The microorganism is most commonly found in stagnant, warm waters between 35°C and 46°C. It enters the body when contaminated water is forcefully inhaled through the nose, although it can also occur while swimming, diving or submerging one’s head in lakes, rivers or poorly chlorinated swimming pools. 

PAM is not transmitted from person to person and is not acquired by drinking contaminated water, the SSY emphasized. 

People living in the Yucatán capital have expressed concern about the water quality in nearby cenotes, where swimming is common. However, experts suggest that natural freshwater bodies are cooler, at between 24°C and 26°C, making the presence of N. fowleri far less likely. 

The development of microorganisms in pools can be avoided through chlorination and pH management, and in larger water bodies through adequate water movement, which promotes aeration. Regular cleaning and maintenance can also help avoid the accumulation of sediment, organic matter, algae and biofilms in stagnant water, conditions that attract N. fowleri.

The first symptoms of PAM are usually severe headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. According to initial reports, the victim presented with severe symptoms of central nervous system infection and was taken to a hospital in the city, where he died.

Health authorities ordered the temporary closure of the water feature at La Isla while samples were tested at the Hidalgo State Public Health Laboratory, which confirmed the presence of N. fowleri. Meanwhile, cleaning efforts and technical inspections were carried out at the site. 

Epidemiological investigators are conducting interviews to locate other individuals who may have come into contact with the water.

The SSY said it plans to investigate the companies responsible for water quality and lake maintenance for their compliance with Mexican rules and regulations.

“Anyone who has violated health regulations will be sanctioned,” the SSY stressed. 

According to the SSY statement, once the responsible company demonstrates through laboratory tests that the lake water is suitable for recreational use in accordance with legal standards, a new verification and sampling of the water will be conducted and a decision will be made on whether to lift the temporary closure.

With reports from Reportur, La Jornada and Diario de Yucatán

139 US troops cleared to enter Mexico for joint training in Chihuahua

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MND Staff
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U.S. Soldiers, assigned to the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, conduct the M320 grenade launcher lane as part of the 2026 U.S. Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, Sept. 14, 2026. The annual competition tests squads’ proficiency in warrior tasks and battle drills to identify the most cohesive, highly trained, disciplined and physically fit team ready to fight and win, while demonstrating a commitment to the Army Values and Warrior Ethos.
The U.S. contingent set to arrive in Chihuahua on Sunday is larger than previous ones that have come to Mexico. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tamia Lee)

More than 100 U.S. soldiers will travel to Mexico this month to participate in joint training exercises with Mexican military personnel in the northern state of Chihuahua.

The federal Senate on Monday granted President Claudia Sheinbaum the authority to allow the entry into Mexico of 139 U.S. Army troops, who are scheduled to land at the Santa Gertrudis Air Force Base south of Chihuahua city this Sunday. 

The granting of that authority comes amid security-related tension in the Mexico-U.S. relationship.

Among the causes of that tension are the CIA’s alleged participation in a drug lab raid in Chihuahua in April without the knowledge or authorization of the Mexican government; U.S. prosecutors’ drug-trafficking accusations against Sinaloa Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya and other current and former officials; and suggestions from Trump administration officials that the U.S. could take unilateral action against Mexican drug cartels on Mexican soil.

While each of those developments has drawn the ire of Sheinbaum, the president remains committed to cooperating with the Trump administration on security on the proviso that Mexican sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected. One example of that cooperation is a joint anti-drone operation that is currently taking place on the border between Tijuana and San Diego.

U.S. soldiers have previously traveled to Mexico to undertake joint training exercises with Mexican personnel. However, the U.S. contingent set to arrive in Chihuahua on Sunday is larger than previous ones that have come to Mexico.

Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming military collaboration on Mexican soil.

Where will the joint training exercises take place?

The joint training exercises will take place at the Centro Nacional de Adiestramiento (National Training Center), located in Santa Gertrudis in the municipality of Saucillo, Chihuahua. The CNA is the Mexican military’s largest training facility.

Among the simulated combat exercises U.S. and Mexican military personnel will conduct are the destruction of sniper positions; the seizure of an airfield; an air assault; the destruction of a fuel-supply point; and the capture and extraction of a target using live fire.

The U.S. soldiers will stay at the CNA during their time in Mexico.

What is the objective of the training exercises?

The Senate said in a statement that the aim of the joint training exercises is to “strengthen operational capabilities between the United States and Mexican Armed Forces through the planning and execution of military operations under the principles of respect, sovereignty and territorial integrity; shared responsibility; mutual trust; and collaboration without subordination.

The Senate said that the joint training “will not only have a positive impact on strengthening individual and collective preparedness, but will also contribute to the improvement of bilateral military cooperation mechanisms.”

How long will the US soldiers remain in Mexico?

The U.S. troops will arrive in Chihuahua on a U.S. Air Force plane on Sept. 20 and return to the United States on Sept. 30. Therefore, the soldiers will be in Mexico for a total of 11 days.

The Senate noted that the U.S. troops will enter Mexico “with weapons.”

Which division of the US army to the soldiers belong to?

The 139 soldiers coming to Mexico belong to the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. The division, known as the “Screaming Eagles,” is the only air assault division of the United States Army. It is based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

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

Tehran’s Azadi Tower bears Mexican flag in first-ever Independence Day tribute

By
MND Staff
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Speaking to HispanTV from Tehran, Mexican Ambassador Guillermo Puente Ordorica called the lighting “a great gesture of friendship” that Mexicans will cherish. (Screenshot of video)

For the first time, Iran lit one of its most recognizable landmarks in the green, white and red of the Mexican flag, turning Tehran’s Azadi Tower into a striking Independence Day tribute Tuesday night.

The Azadi Tower illumination marked the 216th anniversary of the Grito de Dolores — the 1810 call by priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla that launched Mexico’s war for independence from Spain.

“Today, Mexico is not in Mexico. It is in the heart of Iran,” the Iranian Embassy in Mexico posted Sept. 15 with a video of the glowing monument.

The display marked the first time Iran has illuminated a monument in honor of Mexico, according to the newspaper El Universal.

Those colors, however, are not inherently unusual at Azadi Tower, since green, white and red are also Iran’s national colors. For example, on Feb. 10, 2024, it was lit up in that way for the 45th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Speaking to HispanTV from Tehran, Mexican Ambassador Guillermo Puente Ordorica called the lighting “a great gesture of friendship” that Mexicans will cherish.

Built in 1971, the 45-meter Azadi Tower was originally called Shahyad Tower, then renamed Azadi (Persian for “freedom”) after the 1979 revolution. The tower and its surrounding square are often the site of major public gatherings.

Beyond Iran, Mexican communities and diplomats marked Día de la Independencia across several continents.

In New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani was grand marshal Sunday at a Mexican Independence Day parade in Brooklyn, wearing a tricolor sash and carrying a Mexican flag. He said he was proud to be the first New York City mayor to march in the parade with “a community that has fostered cultural pride for generations.”

Mamdani’s remarks came just days after U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticized a protester carrying a Mexican flag at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, calling him an “idiot” and telling him, “If you love Mexico so much, get your ass over there. I’ll buy you the plane ticket.”

Elsewhere, Mexico’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Alejandro Gertz Manero, led a Grito ceremony in London, where festivities included music, food, dance and other traditions.

In Madrid, the Mexican Embassy hosted a public Grito in Chamberí Square, followed by folk ballet, mariachi and a circus performance.

Mexican celebrations were also reported in Krakow, Rome, Vienna, Beijing, Seoul, Barcelona, Budapest and Kansas City.

With reports from El Universal, La Jornada and Madrid Gazette

New US-Mexico water agreement means reduced allotments but a heathier Colorado River

By
MND Staff
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Colorado River
The winner in the new bilateral agreement may be the Colorado River itself, as the combined reductions are meant to tackle the river's low water levels and high salinity. (Cuartoscuro)

A long-running dispute between Mexico and the United States over Colorado River water-sharing has been resolved — at least for the next two years — with Mexico getting significantly less water as a result.

The U.S. is also receiving less water as part of a joint effort to mitigate ongoing drought conditions and low reservoir levels in the Colorado River basin.

The leadership of the U.S. and Mexican Sections of the IBWC pose after signing Minute 334 in El Paso, Texas, on Sept. 2, 2026. (Left to right) U.S. IBWC Secretary Sally Spener, U.S. IBWC Commissioner Chad McIntosh, Mexican IBWC Commissioner Adriana Reséndez and Mexican IBWC Secretary Manuel Morales. (USIBWC)

In fact, under the new agreement, formally called Minute 334 and finalized by the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) on Sept. 2, Mexico’s 16.7% (250,000 acre-feet) annual reduction of its previous typical water allocation is equivalent to water-use reductions imposed on U.S. Lower Basin states (Arizona, California and Nevada).

The agreement also implements a strategy to manage the salinity of Colorado River water as it reaches Mexico. Consultations regarding possible further cuts are contemplated for 2028 if conditions worsen. 

Minute 334 was signed by Mexican IBWC Commissioner Adriana Reséndez and her U.S. counterpart, Chad McIntosh, with the participation of Mexican IBWC Secretary Manuel Morales. The U.S. Department of the Interior confirmed the approval of both governments.

“This Minute makes sure water is shared fairly among our users and protects the health of the Colorado River during these difficult times,” McIntosh said in a news release. “Both countries deserve a lot of credit for agreeing to these water reductions and other measures.”

Reséndez insisted on proportionality between the two countries, defending Mexico’s position even as it has struggled to meet its obligations in the original 1944 treaty.

When the most recent five-year cycle of that treaty came to an end on Oct. 24 last year, Mexico still owed 865,136 acre-feet of water, though the terms of the treaty grant Mexico five years to catch up.

The reduction agreed to in Minute 334 is equivalent to one-sixth of Mexico’s annual allocation established in the treaty, about 1.85 billion cubic meters. 

The two nations also agreed to cooperate on managing the Colorado River Delta in Mexico, which has been transformed from a lush 2-million-acre wetland into a mostly dry salt flat due to decades of intensive upstream dam construction and water diversions.

With reports from El Universal, WaterWorld and The Colorado Sun

MND Local: WTA Tennis, an international film fest and more events in Guadalajara

By
Dawn Stoner
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Iva Jovic claims the trophy and a nifty sombrero at the 2025 Guadalajara Open
American Iva Jovic is will defend her crown at the upcoming WTA Guadalajara Open, one of many notable events on the September calendar in Guadalajara. (Guadalajara Open)

Late September in Guadalajara brings an action-packed calendar. Upcoming events include a World Migrant Day celebration benefiting a local nonprofit organization, an international film festival and the 2026 Guadalajara Open, an important stop on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) professional tour.

Top female tennis players to compete at the Guadalajara Open this week

Following hard on the heels of the U.S. Open in New York City, Zapopan welcomes a select group of the WTA’s brightest stars to the Guadalajara Open this week.

Guadalajara Open poster
The WTA 500 event welcomes some of the world’s best women’s tennis players to Guadalajara. (Guadalajara Open)

The annual event, played at the Panamerican Tennis Center in Parque Metropolitano, attracts a diverse group of top female tennis players from around the globe. The field will compete in singles and doubles for a US $1.2 million purse and a top singles prize of US $185,500.

Confirmed players for this year’s event include world number 11 Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine and world number 14 and defending champion Iva Jovic of the United States.

Kostyuk returns to Mexico as one of the hottest players on the WTA tour during the 2026 season, having reached the semifinals of Wimbledon and Roland Garros, in addition to claiming two titles on clay last spring. She last competed at the Guadalajara Open in 2023, where she reached the second round.

MND Local: Pro tennis and golf face uncertainty in Los Cabos

Latin American tennis will also be well represented, with Colombian veteran Camila Osorio and Mexican No. 1 Renata Zarazúa scheduled to compete.

For details, visit the tournament website.

  • Dates: Sept. 13-19, 2026.
  • Location: Centro Panamericano de Tenis, Zapopan, Jalisco.
  • Cost: Individual tickets start at 866 pesos, not including fees. Tournament packages are available on Boletomovil.

Aeroméxico to launch nonstop service from Guadalajara to Paris in 2027

Paris, city scene with the Eiffel Tower in the background
April in Paris, anyone? That’s when new nonstop flights from Guadalajara begin, courtesy of Aeroméxico. (Alexander Kagan/Unsplash)

Savoring the perfect pain au chocolat is about to get a little easier for Francophile Tapatíos. Starting April 13, 2027, the city will have its second direct European flight route, as Aeroméxico launches nonstop service between Guadalajara’s Miguel Hidalgo International Airport (GDL) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG).

The route will run three times per week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, departing Guadalajara at 1:55 p.m. and arriving in Paris at 9:25 a.m. the following day. Return flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, departing Paris at 11:40 a.m. and arriving in Guadalajara at 4:10 p.m. the same day.

“Adding Guadalajara–Paris … strengthens our network, offers customers more travel options and further consolidates our position as the leading airline between Mexico and Europe,” Giancarlo Mulinelli, senior vice president of global sales at Aeroméxico, told Aviacionline last week.

Celebrate World Migrant Day with the Rhizome Center

4th Feria Gastronomica y Cultural for World Migrants Day
Held in honor of World Migrant Day, Guadalajara’s food fest and fundraiser from the Rhizome Center benefits a good cause. (Facebook)

Later this month, Guadalajara residents will have the opportunity to celebrate World Migrant Day at a community celebration featuring local food, culture and a social cause.

Hosted by The Rhizome Center, this year’s festival, “Many Journeys. One Community,” is both a fundraiser and an opportunity to raise awareness about the organization’s work. During the event, guests can sample food from 15 migrant kitchens, enjoy live French, Cuban and Syrian music, listen to storytelling, and meet artists sharing their craft and culture.

The Rhizome Center was founded in 2018 during President Donald Trump’s first term, with a mission to provide direct support to deportees and refugees sent to Mexico.

Mexico rejects US decision to deport Mexicans to Central America: Friday’s mañanera recapped

Since his return to office, the need has grown. Many deportees arrive with no resources or documentation to regularize their status in Mexico. Filling that void, the organization provides legal aid, crisis assistance, counseling and other services.

Run by executive director and founder Tran Dang, The Rhizome Center derived its name from plant rhizomes — the underground roots that provide essential nutrients — symbolizing humanity’s resilience and interconnectedness across borders.

For more information about The Rhizome Center for Migrants and details on how to support the cause, visit the group’s Instagram account. Donations are accepted via PayPal and Zelle.

  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 27, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Location: Casa Zuno, Avenida Unión 2226, Colonia Americana, Guadalajara.
  • Cost: General admission is 375 pesos. VIP tickets are 500 pesos per person and guarantee a seat.

The MUBI film fest lands in Guadalajara next weekend

 

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A post shared by MUBI México (@mubimexico)

Global distributor, producer and streaming service MUBI recently added film festivals to its portfolio and announced a Guadalajara edition from Sept. 18-20. The festival will screen independent feature films and shorts, alongside filmmaker Q&As, workshops, installations and DJ sets.

Anticipated films on the schedule include:

  • “Her Private Hell” by Nicolas Winding Refn
  • “Pulp: What Do You Do for an Encore?” by Garth Jennings
  • “Hope: The First Impact” by Na Hong-jin
  • “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma” by Jane Schoenbrun
  • “Rose” by Markus Schleinzer

For moviegoers seeking nostalgia, Ridley Scott’s 1991 feminist classic “Thelma & Louise,” starring Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis and Brad Pitt, is also on the schedule.

For full program details, visit Mubi Mexico’s website. In addition to Guadalajara, MUBI Fest 2026 made stops in Mexico City, São Paulo, Bogotá and Buenos Aires this year.

  • Dates: Sept. 18-20.
  • Location: FICG Cineteca, Av. Perif. Pte. Manuel Gómez Morin 1695, Rinconada de la Azalea, Belenes Norte, Zapopan.
  • Cost: Tickets available on the MUBI website.

MND writer Dawn Stoner is reporting from Guadalajara.

Mexico City-area airports to halt takeoffs and landings for 4 hours tomorrow

By
MND Staff
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Airport screens showing dozens of canceled and delayed flights.
Travelers passing through AICM and AIFA on Sept. 16 should expect delays. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

Takeoffs and landings at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) will be suspended for four hours on Wednesday, Sept. 16, to ensure that military aircraft can operate safely in the capital’s airspace while the annual Independence Day parade takes place below.

The Mexican Navy, which operates the AICM, announced the suspension in a statement.

“To ensure the safety of the military air maneuvers that will be carried out to commemorate the 216th anniversary of the start of Mexico’s independence, and as directed by the aviation authority, the Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport (AICM) will suspend aircraft takeoffs and landings on September 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” the navy said.

“According to NOTAMs [Notices to Airmen] A8260/26 and B1724/26, … issued by the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) and disseminated through the Mexican Airspace Navigation Services (SENEAM), the airport will be closed to all types of flights during the specified hours.”

The Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) in México state will also suspend takeoffs and landings between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday. Military aircraft that will conduct flyovers as part of the Independence Day festivities will take off from the Santa Lucía Air Force Base, which adjoins AIFA.

The navy advised air passengers who have a flight scheduled for Wednesday to ask their airlines about the status of their flights as “this event will result in some adjustments to scheduled times.”

The Independence Day parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday with a flyover of nearly 100 Air Force and National Guard airplanes and helicopters above the Zócalo, Mexico City’s central square — including F-5 fighters performing a fleur-de-lis maneuver.

The ground procession will start near the Zócalo, pass the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts), continue along Juárez Avenue and Paseo de la Reforma, and end at the Campo Marte military complex near Chapultepec Park.

Mexico News Daily 

Following a higher soda tax, is a salty foods tax coming next?

By
MND Staff
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salty snacks in a grocery aisle
The Mexican adult population consumes an average of 3.3 grams of sodium per day, far exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation, which advises against exceeding 2 grams daily. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

Lawmakers from Mexico’s ruling party Morena, the Workers’ Party (PT) and the Green Party (PVEM) have submitted a congressional proposal to apply a Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS) to certain processed foods with excessive sodium content, such as cured meats, instant soups, sauces and dressings.

The initiative seeks to expand a tax strategy that has been applied since the 1980s to products considered harmful to health, such as sugary drinks, tobacco and high-calorie foods. 

Processed salsas like Valentina would likely increase in price as a result of the proposed salty foods tax. (Salsa Valentina/Instagram)

The bill’s proponents estimate that a tax on products with high sodium levels could generate approximately 12 billion pesos (US $116.6 million) in additional federal revenue, while helping reduce the prevalence of diseases associated with excessive salt consumption.

The focus would be on processed products exceeding technical criteria for sodium content, particularly front-of-package warning labels under NOM-051, which indicate “excess sodium.” This means that the potential measure would not penalize the domestic use of salt, nor would it, in principle, indiscriminately cover all salty foods. 

The initiative follows growing concerns regarding average sodium intake in Mexico. 

According to the NGO El Poder del Consumidor (The Power of the Consumer), the Mexican adult population consumes an average of 3.3 grams of sodium per day, far exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation, which advises against exceeding 2 grams daily. Excess sodium consumption is related to cardiovascular diseases — the leading cause of death in Mexico — and hypertension. 

Meeting the WHO’s target of a 30% reduction in sodium intake by 2030 could save an estimated 7 million lives globally and annually prevent approximately 5% of deaths in Mexico from cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and stomach cancer.  

Dr. Jorge Vargas, a researcher at El Poder del Consumidor, told the news outlet Infobae that “the fact that Mexico is finally considering a sodium tax is positive news,” but cautioned that the technical design would be a decisive factor in determining whether the tax alters consumption habits and drives companies to reduce the salt content of their products. He also urged lawmakers to review the results observed in other countries before voting on the initiative.

The proposal follows a recent IEPS increase targeting domestic sugar consumption, which, according to the government’s 2027 budget proposal, is forecast to bring in over 76.92 billion pesos ($4.5 billion) next year from soft drinks alone.

With reports from El Universal and El Financiero

In latest national survey, Coahuila is ranked the safest state in Mexico

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MND Staff
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Manolo Jiménez Salinas
Coahuila has obtained the enviable designation of "safest state in Mexico" under the leadership of Governor Manolo Jiménez Salinas, who has been in office since December 2023. (Manolo Jiménez Salinas/Facebook)

Almost three-quarters of Mexicans believe their state is an unsafe place to live due to crime, according to the results of the 2026 National Survey of Victimization and Perception of Public Safety (ENVIPE).

The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) conducted the survey at more than 102,000 homes across Mexico between Feb. 16 and April 10. The results were published last Thursday.

The survey found that 74% of adults believe their state is an unsafe place to live due to crime. That figure declined 1.6 percentage points compared to a year earlier.

However, it remains very high at a time when the federal government is touting sharp reductions in homicides and high-impact crimes such as kidnappings, extortion and violent robberies.

Among Mexico’s 32 federal entities, the northern border state of Coahuila stands out as a success story in terms of reducing violence and strengthening residents’ sense that it is a safe place to live.

Where are perceptions of insecurity highest?

According to the ENVIPE 2026 results, 90% of México state residents consider their state an unsafe place to live due to crime. That figure rose 2.2 percentage points compared to 2025.

México state, which includes many municipalities that are part of the greater Mexico City metropolitan area, thus replaced Morelos as the state with the highest percentage of residents who have security concerns. In the first eight months of 2026, México state was the country’s fifth most violent state in terms of total homicides, behind Guanajuato, Baja California, Chihuahua and Sinaloa.

The states with the next highest percentages of residents with security concerns were:

  • Morelos: 88.7% (down 1.4 percentage points compared to 2025)
  • Tabasco: 87.6% (down 2.2 percentage points)
  • Guanajuato: 85.9% (down 2.6 percentage points)
  • Zacatecas: 83.3% (down 4 percentage points)

Where are perceptions of insecurity lowest?

According to the ENVIPE 2026 results, the state with the lowest percentage of residents with security concerns is Coahuila. Just over one quarter of Coahuila residents — 27.8% — consider their state unsafe due to crime.

That figure declined 9.9 percentage points in the space of a year, allowing Coahuila to replace Baja California Sur as the state with the lowest proportion of residents with security concerns.

The states with the next lowest percentages of residents with security concerns were:

  • Yucatán: 35.5% (down 4.1 percentage points compared to 2025)
  • Aguascalientes: 41% (down 8 percentage points)
  • Querétaro: 44.6% (down 12.5 percentage points)
  • Baja California Sur: 49.2% (up 11.8 percentage points)

In a report about the latest ENVIPE results, Televisa’s news division N+ said that 15 years ago, Coahuila was one of Mexico’s most violent states due to the presence of organized crime groups such as Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel.

N+ reported that after the security “crisis” in Coahuila — epitomized by events such as the 2011 Allende massacre —  the presence of federal security forces was beefed up and a “joint strategy” for the state was drawn up.

“Mega military barracks were built … and there were purges of local police forces,” N+ reported, referring to the dismissal of officers in cahoots with organized crime.

Eduardo Guerrero, a security consultant, told N+ that “the case of Coahuila is exceptional.”

What has been achieved in the past 15 years is a “great feat,” he said, referring to the reduction in violence in the northern state.

N+ noted that there were more than 1,100 homicides in Coahuila in 2012 before highlighting that the state registered just 100 murders in 2025, the lowest annual figure on record.

Javier Oliva Posada, a professor and researcher at the National Autonomous University, told N+ that the reduction in violence in Coahuila is not just due to government “force and the show of force.”

He mentioned crime “prevention and deterrence programs” and the “training” of local police forces as factors that have contributed to the reduction in violence.

Coahuila has obtained the enviable designation of “safest state in Mexico” under the leadership of Governor Manolo Jiménez Salinas, who has been in office since December 2023. Coahuila is one of just two states currently governed by the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, which for most of the 20th century was Mexico’s predominant political force.

Jiménez said last week that he and his fellow coahuilenses felt “very proud” to be able to say that “Coahuila is the safest state in Mexico.”

He attributed the achievement to “great teamwork” and pledged to continue “protecting” the state.

“We’re going to keep working on security every day with more prevention, proximity, intelligence and force,” said Jiménez, who acknowledged close coordination between his administration and the federal government and its security forces.

The governor also said that “more police cars, more barracks, … more weapons, more cameras and more training” are coming to Coahuila.

“In this way, we’re going to continue strengthening the greatness of this beautiful state of Coahuila de Zaragoza,” he said.

Additional ENVIPE data 

Among the other data points derived from the 2026 ENVIPE were the following:

  • At least one member of 11.7 million households was a victim of a crime in 2025. That number is equivalent to 28.5% of all households across Mexico.
  • A total of 23 million adults were victims of crimes in Mexico last year. There were 23,473 victims per 100,000 adult residents, a slight reduction compared to 2024.
  • Mexico City recorded the highest crime victimization rate last year (34,930 victims per 100,000 adult residents). Chiapas recorded the lowest rate (13,462 victims per 100,000 adult residents).
  • Fraud was the most common crime committed in Mexico last year (8,290 cases per 100,000 adult residents) followed by extortion and muggings.
  • INEGI estimates that a total of 33.8 million crimes were committed in Mexico in 2025. Just 9% of those crimes were reported to authorities. Authorities opened investigations into 73.5% of reported crimes. All told, 93.4% of crimes committed in Mexico last year were either not reported or not investigated.
  • INEGI said that the total estimated insecurity and crime-related cost for Mexican households in 2025 was 267.3 billion pesos (US $15.57 billion). That amount — equivalent to 1.06% of GDP, according to INEGI — includes economic losses due to crime, expenditure on measures aimed at preventing crime and medical costs associated with being a victim of a crime.
  • The Mexican Navy is considered Mexico’s most trustworthy security authority, with 89.5% of ENVIPE respondents saying they had confidence in it. The Mexican Air Force ranked second (88.9%), followed by the Mexican Army (87%), the National Guard (79.4%) and the Federal Attorney General’s Office (64.6%).
  • Traffic police are considered Mexico’s least trustworthy security authority, with just 45.8% of ENVIPE respondents saying that they had confidence in them. Municipal police forces are seen as the second least trustworthy security authority, with 57.1% of respondents saying that they had confidence in them.

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

MND Local: Fishing, celebrations and storms in Baja California Sur

By
Chris Sands
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Independence Day dinner in Los Cabos at Grand Fiesta Americana
Independence Day celebrations in Baja California Sur include themed dinners at area luxury resorts. (Grand Fiesta Americana)

In Baja California Sur, September is a month of celebrations and storms. The former, like those in towns and cities across Mexico, are largely Independence-themed, with parades on Sept. 16 after regional politicians have delivered the iconic grito on Sept. 15, a symbolic reenactment of Miguel Hidalgo’s call to arms in Dolores, Guanajuato, in 1810. 

In addition to the civic celebrations, there are also many parties … particularly in Los Cabos, which can turn any civic holiday into an excuse for fine dining or revelry. Hilton Los Cabos, for example, is hosting a “Viva Mexico” dinner at onsite restaurant Talavera on Sept. 15; Grand Fiesta Americana is spotlighting dinner and live music at its Independence celebration on the same day; and at El Squid Roe, “tequila and margaritas flow” as DJs and live entertainment are featured across all three levels of the signature Cabo San Lucas nightclub on the eve of Independence Day.

Epic Viva México Celebration at El Squid Roe Cabo! 🎉🌮

September storms and rainfall

September is traditionally the month when Baja California Sur residents take their vacations. Not only because it’s a slow month for tourism, but also because it’s a good month to be somewhere else. 

It’s the month when hurricanes are most likely to hit and to be most potent. Of the 10 strongest hurricanes ever to hit Baja California Sur (measured by sustained wind speed), seven of them struck in September. But even if it’s one of the fortunate years without damaging tropical storms, there’s no dodging the rain. 

Baja California Sur gets less rain than any state in Mexico each year (176 millimeters, or about 6.9 inches). But you wouldn’t know it in September. That’s because the state gets nearly 40% of its annual rainfall (71.6 millimeters) during this single month, per data from Mexico’s national weather service. In Los Cabos, the percentages are even higher, with almost half of annual precipitation falling in September.

MND Local: Hurricane preparedness and fear of a ‘Super El Niño’ in Baja California Sur

That’s on average. During strong storms, the amount of rain can dwarf the average annual rainfall. The best example of this comes from Hurricane Juliette in 2001, when Caduaño and Santiago — small communities in Los Cabos — were deluged with more than three feet of rain (39.8 inches), the most intense downpour ever measured in the state.  

Nothing so dramatic has happened so far this year, although the maximum rainfall from Hurricane Marie in Los Cabos (66.3 millimeters in El Tezal) was equivalent to about 32% of the municipality’s average annual rainfall.

The rainbow that follows

September can be a challenging month due to storms and the attendant fallout — from flooding to power outages — but it’s also transformative, as rains turn the brown landscape a vibrant green. 

Palm trees buffeted by strong winds in Los Cabos
September storms can be challenging, but they are also transformational for the local landscape. (Cabo Adventures)

The speed of this color change is amazing. Palo blanco, palo verde and other trees, which have dropped their leaves to conserve water during the long, hot summer, flush with new leaves within a matter of days following September rains. A mass flowering likewise occurs as many native species of wildflowers, grasses and vines burst into bloom simultaneously. 

Resurrection shrubs like palo Adán, ocotillo and the Baja fairy duster (Calliandra californica) also spring back to life, sprouting not only leaves but vivid pink and red blossoms, while stately cardón and organ pipe cacti swell in size as they absorb and store precious water, giving the landscape a new dimension.

This transformation is a kind of foreshadowing of that of the tourism high season, which begins in October.

MND Local: Is the tourism outlook in Los Cabos improving?

High tourism season draws near

October is now only a few weeks away, promising some of Los Cabos’ biggest annual events. Sammy Hagar’s annual birthday bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina, a local tradition since 1990, return … along with the attendant lines, as Redheads line up around the block for a chance to purchase limited dinner show tickets, sold on a first-come, first-served basis. This year’s shows, as usual, are scheduled for Oct. 9, 11 and 13.

The biggest events in October, however, are the two Bisbee-sponsored fishing tournaments: The Los Cabos Offshore and Black and Blue (aka “The Super Bowl of Fishing”). These are scheduled for Oct. 12-17 and Oct. 19-24, respectively, and offer a chance for fishing glory for those who hook enormous black and blue marlin or other approved billfish and game fish species, but also enormous amounts of prize money.

The Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore, which kicked off Bisbee’s annual trio of tournaments in Los Cabos in August, boasted a prize pool of US $1.6 million this year … and that was the warm-up event. The Black and Blue, in particular, has topped eight figures before, with a world-record in excess of US $11 million in 2022, while the Los Cabos Offshore reached more than US $2.7 million last year. 

Marlin hanging from weighing station in Buenavista on the East Cape of Los Cabos during Bisbee's East Cape Offshore tournament.
The Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore in August was the kickoff for even more lucrative events in Cabo San Lucas in October. (Bisbee’s)

Fishing tournament returns in La Paz

Those are the headliners, but not the only fishing tournament on the October calendar. In the state capital of La Paz, the La Paz Fishing Tournament returns for its second edition on Oct. 18, with a prize pool of 200,000 pesos for those who boat the biggest marlin. 

Chris Sands is a writer and editor for Mexico News Daily, and the former Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best and writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook. He has also contributed to numerous other websites and publications, including The San Diego Union-Tribune, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise and Travel, and Cabo Living.

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