Extreme cold and hunger increase migration out of the Sierra Tarahumara

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December 7, 2023

Freezing winter temperatures and famine are driving an increase in the migration of Indigenous Rarámuri people from Chihuahua’s Sierra Tarahumara to cities such as Ciudad Juárez.

Although every winter sees some Rarámuri migration, El Universal newspaper reports that numbers have surged this year, as temperatures in their native mountain villages plunge as low as -12 degrees Celsius. The extreme cold is adding to problems of food shortages caused by the summer’s severe drought.

Copper Canyon region, Chihuahua, Mexico — Chihuahua’s Raramurí traditionally live in isolated mountain regions, and are often unfamiliar with urban life. (Eugenio Barrios)

“For about a month now, we have seen people from the mountains come down a lot,” Rosalinda Guadalajara, an Indigenous rights activist in Ciudad Juárez, told El Universal. “When the harvest failed, many said they got only a pinch of corn. Many people have left there to look for work, and because of the cold.”

In a press conference on Tuesday, the Chihuahua’s Health Minister, Gilberto Baeza Mendoza, said that the ministry has detected 67 cases of severe malnutrition in babies and children under the age of five in the Sierra Tarahumara this year. Of these, 16 died and six remain in hospital.

Baeza added that medical consultations for Indigenous children in the 19 municipalities of the Sierra Tarahumara increased from 344 in 2022 to 486 in 2023 so far. Infant malnutrition is most severe in the municipalities of Urique, Guadalupe and Calvo.

Chihuahua’s state government has tried to address the crisis by distributing around 96 tonnes of basic grain to 1,200 families in villages of the Sierra Tarahumara, but this has not halted the migration.

Rarámuris in the city are often forced to take up jobs on the margins of Mexico’s large informal economy to survive. (Juan Ortega Solís/Cuartoscuro)

Guadalajara told El Universal that the largest Rarámuri exodus has been from the municipalities of Carichí and Cuautémoc, with most families heading to Ciudad Juarez. On arrival, many of these migrants stay with family in Rarámuri colonies at the edge of the city, some of them permanently.

Once they arrive in the city, the Rarámuri (many of whom aren’t native Spanish speakers) often encounter discrimination, and struggle to access government aid.

“There are people who, because they don’t know the [Spanish] language, lend people their card to take out support payments and are victims of abuse; others charge them for taking the money out,” Guadalajara explained.

As a result, many Rarámuri migrants are forced to survive through begging or selling sweets, handicrafts and herbs on the street.

With reports from El Universal and La Jornada Maya

Explore the Puuc route in Yucatán this holiday season

By

Thilini Wijesinhe

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December 7, 2023

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fernando-gago-IuYL3sEqAOk-unsplash (1) — Uxmal is usually the busiest archaeological site on the Puuc Route. (Unsplash)

The Maya state of Yucatán is home to spectacular archaeological sites, many of which have also become popular tourist destinations. While sites like Chichén Itzá and Tulum are global icons, if you want to dive deeper into the region’s pre-Columbian history and explore ancient ruins off the tourist path, travel the lesser-known but rewarding Ruta Puuc.

What is the Puuc Route?

Ruta Puuc (or Puuc Route) is a travel route through several archaeological sites – Uxmal, Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak, Labná, and the Loltún Caves – in the Puuc region, a hilly area in the Yucatán peninsula. According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), Puuc is Mayan for “group of hills,” and it is also the name of an architectural style seen in this region.

Besides ancient ruins, visitors can also discover charming towns, museums, haciendas, and more! Whether you want to make a day trip or spend a few days, the Puuc region has something for everyone. Here is a list of key attractions you can see on or around the Ruta Puuc.

Uxmal

Once the capital of the Puuc region, Uxmal, pronounced “oosh mal,” together with a few connected towns, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located around 80 kilometers from Mérida. Uxmal’s architectural marvels, such as the unique House of Magician, a pyramid with an elliptic shape steeped in legendary tales, and the majestic Governor’s Palace, are absolute must-see structures.

Despite the archaeological findings from multiple building phases, the legend says the House of the Magician was built overnight by a dwarf, born out of an egg, in response to a king’s challenge. After completing multiple challenges with the help of his sorceress mother, including one which resulted in the king’s death, the dwarf supposedly became the king of Uxmal. This building’s western facade and the upper temple with the earth-monster mask are magnificent. Meanwhile, the Governor’s Palace is built to track the planet Venus and the occurrences of solstices, according to INAH. Other beautiful buildings at Uxmal include the Quadrangle of the Nuns with its richly decorated facades, the Ball Court, and the Great Pyramid. It’s fascinating that this site was first occupied as far back as 500 B.C. or even earlier, although it became the Puuc capital during A.D. 700-950, according to INAH.

Uxmal is usually the busiest archaeological site on the Puuc Route. You can find some restaurants just outside the site as well as other interesting attractions close by.

Choco-Story Uxmal

Across the highway from the Uxmal ruins is the Choco-Story Ecopark Chocolate Museum in an old Hacienda. Visitors can learn about the region’s connection to cacao since ancient times and taste cacao drinks topped up with different flavors like cinnamon and chili (we loved them!). If you are visiting Yucatán, this is an ideal place to buy some unique chocolates to take home.

The park is also home to different types of animals, including rescued leopards, crocodiles, and colorful birds, as well as a meliponario – bee house of Melipona bees (stingless bees). They also have ceremonies dedicated to the Maya rain god Chaac, held at regular intervals throughout the day.

Town of Santa Elena

Situated between Uxmal and Kabah, Santa Elena is a beautiful town worth stopping by for a break or even staying overnight. It has a museum with remains (mummies) of young children discovered in the town’s San Mateo church. If you are craving some regional food, check out Pickled Onion, famous for its Yucatecan food – and they also offer accommodation.

Oxkintok ruins

About 30 kilometers from the Ruta Puuc town of Muna is Oxkintok, which has much to see, including anthropomorphic statues (non-human characters with human features) and a building called the Satunsat or the Labyrinth, which supposedly represents the multiple levels of the Maya universe. Unfortunately, accessing the Labyrinth’s interior was not allowed during our visit. Nearby Oxkintok are the Calcehtok caves, perhaps an ideal outing for those looking for physically challenging adventures.

Hacienda Yaxcopoil

Visiting haciendas is a great way to learn about Yucatán’s history of the henequen industry, which used fiber extracted from henequen plants. I have yet to visit this hacienda, but given its location between Mérida and Uxmal, it makes for a good stop for those wanting to spend more time in the area. They also offer accommodation with Yucatecan food.

Kabah

Situated around 22 kilometers from Uxmal and home to several magnificent buildings and features, Kabah surprisingly gets fewer crowds. Based on the previously mentioned “Legend of the Dwarf,” Kabah was the home city of the dwarf, who supposedly also built a sacbé or white road (ancient stone road) connecting Kabah and Uxmal in response to one of the said challenges.

Similar to Uxmal, Kabah also had a lengthy occupation beginning from around 400 B.C., although the site’s peak was A.D. 750–900, according to INAH. The magnificent Codz Pop building, decorated initially with over a few hundred God-Chaac masks and some impressive statues, is a must-see. Remember to make your way to its eastern side to see the statues. We also enjoyed visiting the site’s North Plaza, which has some beautiful buildings, including The Palace.

Sayil

Nine kilometers from Kabah is Sayil, considered an important Puuc city, and INAH says around 17,000 people lived in Sayil and its connected areas. While it has fewer structures than sites like Uxmal, the Grand Palace, with beautiful features such as short columns and masks, will help you imagine its once prosperous past. That’s not all. The site’s stelae and El Mirador, with a beautiful roof comb that may have been a temple, are also worth seeing. We particularly enjoyed wandering through the site’s lush green surroundings.

Xlapak

Located six kilometers from Sayil, Xlapak is a small site that does not have massive buildings. However, stopping at smaller sites gives visitors a sense of how the ancient Mayas were spread across various-sized settlements, similar to modern societies. That said, The Palace at Xlapak, also with masks of God Chaac, is interesting, and the site’s paths allow for a refreshing walk while visiting other structures (be prepared for mosquitoes!).

Labná

With beautiful open spaces, Labná is only a few kilometers away from Xlapak. Its key highlights include The Palace, which has features such as anthropomorphic characters, and the Arch structure with rich designs and excellent photographic opportunities. This arch was on the one gold peso banknote issued in 1916 by the then Yucatán government. El Mirador, whose upper structure is considered a temple, is also impressive.

Loltún caves (Grottoes Loltún)

The caves, dating to around 9000 B.C., are considered the place of the earliest human habitation in the Yucatán peninsula and were used for various purposes over the millennia, including as residences, according to INAH. They are home to ancient murals and carvings. Unfortunately, the site remains closed at the time of writing.

If you prefer to continue your journey, here are a few more interesting places to visit.

The town of Tekax

About 25 kilometers from the Loltún caves is Tekax, a Pueblo Mágico (magical town) ideal for a break. While Tekax is perhaps less vibrant compared to towns like Izamal, it is home to colorful murals and the famous church of Saint John the Baptist. The town is not (yet) touristy and, therefore, offers a more authentic experience of regional Yucatán. For those after some adventure, there is plenty to do around Tekax, including visiting caves such as Chocmantes, zip lining, and rappelling.

Another interesting attraction around Tekax and a bonus for fans of archaeology and history is the:

Chacmultún ruins

Located around 12 kilometers from Tekax, this site has several structures built on elevated bases and a ball court, worth visiting. The vegetation in the area is clear evidence of the region’s fertile land.

The town of Maní

Maní is truly a magical Pueblo Mágico that is even worth a day trip. We loved walking around the town’s main square and the markets with various items for sale, including locally made traditional clothes and honey, and the inviting cafes and restaurants. The town has a beautiful old convent called the Convent of San Miguel Arcángel and many meliponarios, dedicated to Melipona beekeeping.

Plan your journey along the Ruta Puuc

Starting from Mérida, you can make a day trip through Uxmal, Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak, and Labná or take the opposite route and see the smaller sites before ending your day at Uxmal, where you might spend most of the time. The main sites can easily take up a day, so try to make an early start and arrive at the first site as it opens. That way, you might have time for one or a few more stops. Visitors with more than a day to explore the Puuc region can easily find accommodation options around the Ruta Puuc.

To learn more about the region’s history and ancient Maya life, visit a few other archaeological sites in Yucatán and the Maya World Museum. You can also watch the Maya ball game played in Mérida on Saturdays.

Thilini Wijesinhe, a financial professional turned writer and entrepreneur, moved to Mexico in 2019 from Australia. She writes from Mérida, Yucatán. Her website can be found at https://thilini.me/

Top 5 melipona honey skincare and beauty products

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Mark Viales

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December 7, 2023

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bee-naturalles-IRM9qgZdlW0-unsplash (1) — Melipona not only hydrates and moisturizes but also imparts softness, facilitates repair and promotes regeneration. (Unsplash)

Mexico’s stingless melipona bees are amongst of the smallest bee species in the world, yet they create a rare and precious honey that modern science has only recently taken seriously as a natural skincare product.

Native to the Americas and domesticated over 3,000 years ago by the Ancient Maya, melipona bees produce honey rich in antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and medicinal properties. More recently, scientific research into anti-aging ingredients within melipona honey has attracted the attention of international cosmetic brands that promote natural and eco-friendly body care treatments.

Melipona honey remains one of the best-kept secrets in beauty care that has yet to hit its true potential. (Unsplash)

Alix Toribo, Director of Innovation and Production of Natural Substances at Chanel, described melipona honey as an “innovative ingredient of the future”. The world-renowned French cosmetic company has already integrated honey into a number of skincare products.

Toribo describes melipona honey as “ingrained in age-old tradition and has been used for generations,” he said on the Chanel website. “It is rare and unusual to find such an effective ingredient in nature. The honey can activate more than 70 individual biological mechanisms linked to visible signs of skin aging.”

Mexico is the eighth largest global exporter of honey, with 63,362 tons produced in 2021, which makes it one of the top sources of raw ingredients used for medicinal products. With an increasing number of effective melipona skincare products filling the shelves at high-end cosmetic shops, here are five of the most popular uses:

Facial Soap

Combining melipona honey with other ingredients, such as calendula and vegetable oil, can create a deeply cleansing soap formula that provides all-around care for your skin. These natural soaps address multiple skin concerns due to the honey’s natural, antioxidant-rich ingredients that contribute to cleansing, soothing, and protecting the skin, ultimately promoting a healthier and more radiant complexion.

Melipona is known for its antimicrobial properties, helping prevent bacterial growth around the face, which can be particularly beneficial for those with acne-prone or sensitive skin. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory, soothing the areas suffering from irritation or inflammation.

Shampoo

Melipona is a natural humectant, a quality that proves invaluable in shampoos. Its ability to attract and retain moisture ensures that your hair and scalp stay hydrated, preventing the dreaded dryness that can lead to frizz and breakage. Packed with antioxidants, the honey provides a shield against free radicals, which can damage your hair. Incorporating it into shampoo can cleanse and protect your hair from environmental wear and tear, contributing to its long-term health and vitality.

The anti-inflammatory properties of melipona make it a soothing agent for the scalp and can help alleviate discomfort, while antimicrobial properties add a protective layer to your scalp. This helps fend off unwanted bacteria and fungi, promoting a clean and healthy scalp that is the foundation for strong and beautiful hair.

Lip Balm

The use of honey as a natural humectant also helps when creating lip balm because it acts as a hydrating shield against dry and chapped lips. Melipona is also a natural healing agent that can help repair damaged lips, offering relief to people dealing with regular discomfort because of dryness or irritation.

Lip balm enriched with this honey defends against environmental stressors, including UV rays and pollution, preserving the youthful appearance of the lips. Its texture lends itself to gentle exfoliation, which enhances lip balm functionality by removing dead skin cells, creating smoother and healthier lips.

Body Oil

A mix of concentrated melipona honey can treat many different skin conditions. Its gentle applications make it particularly effective for issues like eczema, acne, cuts, grazes, athlete’s foot, ringworm, psoriasis, ulcers, insect bites, burns and boils. Additionally, it proves beneficial in treating conditions such as abscesses, cracked nipples, pressure sores, non-healing diabetic ulcers, and surgical wounds.

The healing properties of this remedy go beyond surface-level benefits, actively promoting the regeneration of muscles and skin in wound recovery. Its antibacterial attributes eliminate fungi and protozoa, showcasing its prowess in combating microbial threats.

Hand and Body Creams

The therapeutic properties held by melipona honey are perfect for rejuvenating the skin and addressing wrinkles. Creams or lotions are suitable for use on the face and neck. It is especially effective around the delicate eye area. Additionally, it can be applied on the hands to combat signs of aging and on various body areas to expedite the healing process of wounds or burns.

Melipona not only hydrates and moisturizes but also imparts softness, facilitates repair, promotes regeneration, maintains balance, nourishes, and comprehensively cares for your skin.

Melipona honey remains one of the best-kept secrets in beauty care that has yet to hit its true potential. However, big businesses are wasting no time following this new trend that is predicted to revolutionize traditional skincare treatment with a sweet twist. We recommend those searching for organic bespoke beauty products watch out for new products containing this magical ingredient.

Mark Viales writes for Mexico News Daily

Earthquake alarms sound in Mexico City after Puebla quake

By

MND Staff

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December 7, 2023

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GAxZXFaWoAA2FF_ — The earthquake triggered warning alarms in the capital. (Laura Martínez/X)

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in Puebla set off the earthquake alarm in Mexico City shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday.

The National Seismological Service (SSN) said on X that the quake struck at 2:03 p.m. and had its epicenter 16 kilometers west of Chiautla de Tapia, a town in the southwest of Puebla.

CDMX quake — Workers in Mexico City evacuated their buildings as earthquake alarms sounded. (Rosa Icela Rodríguez/X)

The SSN initially reported a slightly stronger 5.8 magnitude quake. No damage was immediately reported.

The earthquake alarm in Mexico City went off just a few seconds before the temblor, the El Financiero newspaper reported. Photos showed workers and other residents gathered on the streets of the capital.

Puebla Governor Sergio Salomón Cespedes said on X that authorities in close to 20 municipalities in Puebla reported feeling the quake.

“Until now, there is no report of damage,” he added.

▶️ Tronó la tierra: así se oyó en Morelos el estruendo por el #Temblor con epicentro en #Puebla #AlertaSismica pic.twitter.com/a6w7DV1WYe

— Milenio (@Milenio) December 7, 2023

A video taken in Morelos shows the Thursday afternoon quake.

President López Obrador published a video to social media in which he is speaking to national Civil Protection chief Laura Velázquez. She also said that no damage had been reported.

López Obrador also spoke with Cespedes, who reiterated that no damage or loss of human life had been reported in Puebla.

Earthquakes in Mexico more commonly have their epicenters near the Pacific coast.

However, the epicenter of the devastating Sept. 19, 2017 temblor was also in Puebla. That earthquake, which claimed close to 400 lives, had a magnitude of 7.1.

Mexico News Daily

Got 1 min? Guanajuato International Airport sees record-breaking traffic

By

MND Staff

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December 7, 2023

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The 3 millionth passenger arrives at the Guanajuato International Airport — Government and Guanajuato International Airport officials greet the airport's three millionth visitor of 2023. (Guanajuato Tourism Ministry)

On Wednesday, Guanajuato International Airport, also known as Bajío International Airport (BJX), set a record of 3 million passengers this year, securing its spot in Mexico’s top ten most-used airports.

This figure surpasses the last record of 2.7 million passengers in 2019. In 2020, the airport, located near the city of León, registered 1.3 million passengers, increasing to 2.1 million in 2021 and 2.6 million in 2022.

Tourism Minister Álvarez Brunel (right) with AIG director Jessica Paola Olivo Moreno and AFAC Commander Martín Navarro Niño. (Guanajuato Tourism Ministry)

“Our partnership with the airport, airlines and the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) is a testament to Guanajuato’s commitment to tourism,” the Guanajuato Tourism Minister Juan José Álvarez Brunel said in a statement, adding that the milestone confirms that Guanajuato “has been recovering significantly in tourism because the state is an attractive destination.”

The airport is managed by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, the same group that manages the international airports of Guadalajara and Los Cabos.

In terms of passengers, AIG occupied the No. 6 position of the 14 airports managed by the firm, with Guadalajara International Airport coming in as No. 1 with 14.7 million passengers, followed by Tijuana with 11 million and Los Cabos with 6.3 million. In terms of percentage of growth, however, Guanajuato comes in first place among GAP airports.

At a national level, AIG came in as the airport with the ninth-highest amount of passenger traffic. The top ten includes the Mexico City International Airport (AICM), followed by Cancún, Guadalajara, Tijuana, Monterrey, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Mérida. Culiacán International Airport takes the No. 10 spot.

AIG offers 19 domestic and 10 international routes, including its latest addition to San Antonio, Texas. The airlines that operate in the airport are Volaris, Viva Aerobús, Aeroméxico, American Airlines and United Airlines.

In celebration of the new record, Álvarez Brunel went to the airport to welcome Karina Domínguez Sánchez, the 3 millionth passenger. Domínguez, who is from León, traveled with Volaris from Puerto Vallarta to Guanajuato.

With reports from AM

Headline inflation increased in November, after 9 months of decline

By

MND Staff

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December 7, 2023

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sebastian-martinez-dominguez-c6ojinjZtPQ-unsplash_850 — The cost of fruits and vegetables showed a 5.59% annual increase in November. (Sebastian Martinez Dominguez/Unsplash)

After declining every month between February and October, Mexico’s headline inflation rate increased in November, official data showed.

However, the closely-watched core inflation rate, which excludes some volatile food and energy prices, continued to fall to reach its lowest level since October 2021.

Pemex gas station — Energy prices were slightly higher in November compared to the same month last year. (VICTORIA VALTIERRA/CUARTOSCURO.COM)

The national statistics agency INEGI reported Thursday that annual headline inflation was 4.32% in November, up slightly from 4.26% in October. The rate was 7.8% in November 2022.

Annual core inflation was 5.3% last month, down from 5.5% in October. That rate has now declined for 10 consecutive months.

Despite rising slightly, the headline rate was below the 4.4% consensus forecast of analysts surveyed by Citibanamex.

Month-over-month inflation was 0.64%, the highest level since January.

Bank of Mexico Governor Victoria Rodriguez Ceja — Victoria Rodríguez Ceja, head of the Bank of Mexico, which meets next week for the last monetary policy meeting of the year. (Presidencia)

The publication of the November inflation data comes a week before the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) holds its final monetary policy meeting of 2023.

The central bank’s board has maintained Banxico’s key interest rate at a record high of 11.25% since increasing it to that level in March. Its members are expected to once again vote in favor of the status quo next Thursday.

Inflation has now been above the bank’s 3% target for 33 months, but an initial cut to the record high interest rate is considered likely in early 2024.

Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Mexican bank Banco Base, said on the X social media platform on Thursday that an annual headline rate of between 4.5% and 4.6% is expected at the end of the year.

“With this [forecast], it is expected that the Bank of Mexico will begin with interest rate cuts in the first quarter of 2024” and reduce its key rate by a total of 100 basis points during the course of next year, she wrote.

Annual inflation data in detail

INEGI data showed that goods in general were 5.33% more expensive in November than in the same month of 2022. Within that category, annual inflation was 6.78% for processed food, beverages and tobacco and 3.62% for non-food goods.

Inflation was 6.6% for school fees, 5.59% for fruit and vegetables, 5.28% for services, 3.74% for housing and 0.62% for meat.

Energy prices, including those for gasoline and electricity, were 0.24% higher than in November 2022.

What got more or less expensive in November?

Person buying eggs — Eggs went up 9.65% in price month-over-month. (GALO CAÑAS/CUARTOSCURO.COM)

INEGI also reported month-over-month increases and decreases for a range of individual products and services.

Price increases

Prices for green tomatoes rose 24.91% compared to October.
Electricity +22.26% (mainly due to the conclusion of discounted summer rates in various cities including Mexicali, Ciudad Juárez, Culiacán, Chihuahua and Hermosillo.)
Professional services +10.08%
Eggs +9.65%
Air travel +8.11%
Sugar +4.38%
Beans +3.52%

Price decreases

Prices for limes decreased 26.95% compared to October.
Avocados -6.36%
Onions -5.4%
Oranges -3.46%
Televisions -3.3%
Computers -3.23%
Tomatoes -2.09%

Which states had the highest and lowest inflation in November?

The common denominator of the states with the highest month-over-month inflation in November was that they were affected by the conclusion of discounted summer electricity rates.

Sonora had the highest rate at 4.25%, followed by Sinaloa (3.35%), Baja California Sur (2.88%), Baja California (2.73%) and Chihuahua (1.6%).

The states with the lowest month-over month inflation rates in November were:

Guerrero -0.81% (Parts of the southern state including Acapulco are still recovering from Hurricane Otis)
Coahuila -0.07%
Chiapas 0.16%
Campeche 0.16%
Morelos 0.19%

With reports from El Financiero and El Economista

Asylum applications in Mexico hit historic numbers this year

By

MND Staff

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December 6, 2023

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Migrantes Caravana Huixtla-5 — 2023 has proved a record year for asylum requests in Mexico, as migrants fleeing instability in other parts of the continent converge on the country. (Damián Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)

Mexico has received a record number of refugee applications this year, registering 136,934 requests for asylum from January through November.

The first 11 months of 2023 have already broken the one-year record of asylum applications received in Mexico, set in 2021 with 129,658 applications, the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) reported Tuesday. Last year’s total was 119,300.

More than 136,000 applications have been made to Mexican authorities so far this year. (Damián Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)

Andrés Ramírez Silva, the general coordinator of COMAR, highlighted the new milestone, noting a 5.6% increase over 2021’s record number. The number of requests for asylum has been growing steadily since 2017, when total requests were only 14,619. The next year it jumped to 29,471, then soared to 70,300 in 2019.

The surge is marked by caravans – largely composed of Central Americans – aiming to reach the United States. These migrants are generally fleeing violence in their nations, or economic, social and political crises. Despite pandemic challenges and regional restrictions, migration into Mexico has persisted.

Silva noted that the latest surge primarily involves applicants from Haiti, Honduras and Cuba. Together, migrants from those countries have accounted for 101,287 applications this year, nearly 74% of the total. Approximately 54% of the applications submitted this year have been received by COMAR in the Chiapas city of Tapachula, which lies on the border with Guatemala. The Mexico City office reports having received 22% of applications, with 6% going to the COMAR office in Palenque, Chiapas.

During a short spell six months ago, Mexico City was processing more applications than Tapachula, and in news articles at that time, Ramírez couldn’t help but observe the swelling number of applications overall.

A significant number of migrants – primarily those from crime-stricken Haiti – set up makeshift camps in Mexico City. (Daniel Augosto/Cuartoscuro)

“At the rate we’re going, we will easily reach 140,000 asylum seekers [this year] in COMAR,” Ramírez told the newspaper Milenio in May. “It would be a historic record.”

Mexico’s upswing in refugee applications coincides with record migration into the United States. For fiscal year 2023, which ended on Sept. 30, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported a record 2.48 million enforcement actions along the Southwest Land Border, breaking the record of 2.38 million set in FY 2022.

Mexico remains the main transit route for Central American migrants heading to the United States, which has led to increased vigilance and control on the U.S. southern border, including the installation of barricades by the Texas government, later deemed illegal by a federal judge.

Amidst what CBP has deemed “the largest displacement of individuals globally since World War II,” COMAR continues to grapple with managing the influx of applicants. According to its data, more than 550,000 refugee applications have been submitted in Mexico since 2013.

Silva noted that an overwhelming number of 2023 asylum applicants have been from Haiti (43,459), Honduras (40,142) and Cuba (17,686). He also shared data on applicants from other countries: 5,900 Salvadorans have applied for asylum, as have 5,896 Guatemalans, 5,388 Venezuelans, 3,675 Brazilians, 3,476 Chileans, 2,468 Colombians, 1,723 Afghans and 7,121 nationals of other countries.

With reports from El Economista and Forbes México

Got 1 min? New ‘home office law’ takes effect in Mexico

By

MND Staff

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December 6, 2023

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ian-harber-cu7KouQ5FJE-unsplash — Mexican employment law now requires businesses to pay work costs for employees who are remote for more than 40% of the working week. (Ian Harber/Unsplash)

Mexican employers now have to cover work-related costs incurred by their employees who spend more than 40% of their workweek working from home or another remote location.

They are also required to comply with a range of other work-from-home regulations, which were issued by the Labor Ministry in June and took effect on Tuesday.

Those working from home must also be allowed time to support young children. (Omar Lopez/Unsplash)

To avoid falling foul of the so-called “home office law,” employers are required to:

Pay a portion of their employees’ internet and electricity costs.
Provide or pay for things that their workers need to work effectively at home, such as ergonomic chairs, desks and printers.
Verify that the places their employees are working from are safe and adequately lit and ventilated.
Respect the rights of people who work from home to join a union, participate in collective bargaining and have contact with colleagues based at the primary workplace.
Establish adequate means of communication with employees.
Respect standard work hours in compliance with employees’ “right to disconnect.”
Establish special protections for employees who may be at risk of becoming victims of domestic violence.
Respect nursing mothers’ right to take a break to feed their children or express milk.

Employers who fail to comply with the regulations face fines ranging from 25,935 pesos (US $1,500) to 518,700 pesos (US $30,000).

The new rules were developed last year by a team of government and business experts and members of labor unions before being sent to the government for evaluation and approval.

Employees will also be protected from having to work outside of contracted hours, with a “right to disconnect” at the end of the day. (Major Tom Agency/Unsplash)

The Labor Ministry estimates that remote positions could save companies more than 86,000 pesos (almost US $5,000) per employee per year while also increasing quality of life for those working from home.

As occurred in much of the world, working from home in Mexico became more common during the coronavirus pandemic, and many companies continued to allow the practice for at least part of the workweek even after COVID-restrictions were eased.

With reports from El Universal

Got 1 min? Elon Musk says ‘next-gen’ Tesla vehicles to be made in Mexico

By

MND Staff

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December 6, 2023

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Tesla vehicles on a trailer — Musk said in the interview that the low-cost EV will be manufactured first at the Austin, Texas plant and later in the Nuevo León gigafactory. (Tesla/X)

Tesla will make a new “low-cost” electric vehicle (EV) at its as yet unbuilt plant in Nuevo León, the company’s CEO Elon Musk said in an interview.

Musk, who announced in March that Tesla would build a “gigafactory” near Monterrey, spoke about the planned US $25,000 “next-gen” model in an interview with automotive engineer Sandy Munro that was posted to YouTube on Tuesday.

Elon Musk in an interview — Elon Musk says that Tesla plans to manufacture its lower cost EV model at the gigafactory in Mexico, which is supposed to break ground in 2024. (Screen capture)

“The first production will be here in the gigafactory in [Austin], Texas,” said the 52-year-old magnate, adding that the plant in Nuevo León will be “the second place” to manufacture the new EV.

“It would take too long to complete the factory in Mexico,” Musk added, apparently explaining why the planned Santa Catarina plant won’t be the first facility to make the vehicle.

The Tesla CEO said earlier in the interview that the low-cost electric vehicle – often referred to generically as the “Model 2” – “will be made at very high volume.”

“We’re quite far advanced. … I review the production line plans for that every week,” Musk said.

“The revolution in manufacturing that will be represented by that car will blow people’s minds. It’s not like any car production line that anyone’s ever seen. … It’s a level of production technology that is far in advance of any automotive plant on earth. It’s going to be cool,” he said.

Musk said in October that Tesla is “laying the groundwork” in Mexico to begin construction on its new gigafactory, adding that the initial phase of the plant will begin in early 2024.

Tesla hasn’t revealed how much it intends to invest in the plant, but estimates are in the US $5-10 billion range.

Nuevo León Governor Samuel García said in September that Tesla and its suppliers will invest US $15 billion in the northern state.

Mexico News Daily

Austrian firm to invest over US $100M in expanding Guanajuato plant

By

MND Staff

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December 6, 2023

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FXgr-mOXEAA7Wu- — ZKW manufactures lighting systems for a variety of luxury car brands. (Gerardo Trujillo/X)

Austrian lighting systems specialist ZKW Group announced the expansion of its plant in Guanajuato by a further 100 million euros, or US $107.6 million.

The move comes as part of the group’s strategic orientation towards the United States vehicle market. In a press release, ZKW announced the opening of the third phase of expanding its Mexican plant in Silao, near Guanajuato city. The expansion will cover an additional 15,700 square meters and was inaugurated with a ceremonial opening on Nov. 29.

The Austrian manufacturer is hoping to expand operations in North America, and will nearshore in Mexico as a result. (ZKW)

In the same statement, the group announced that groundbreaking had already taken place on its next expansion phase: an additional 7,000 square meters of production space intended to generate 1,100 new jobs by 2025. ZKW’s current and upcoming plant expansions through 2025 represent an investment of over 100 million euros.

“With the expansion, we are increasing production capacities and creating around 2,000 new jobs to manufacture innovative lighting systems for customers in the strategically important NAFTA economic region,” said Dr. Wilhelm Steger, CEO of ZKW Group.

ZKW currently employs 1,658 people in Mexico. Since 2016, its Silao plant has produced lighting systems for automakers such as BMW, General Motors, Mercedes Benz and Volvo. Starting in 2025, it will produce headlights and center lamps for Volkswagen and General Motors in Silao.

The group considers North America to be a strategically important market which has the potential to become the second-largest market for the company by 2028, accounting for around 30 percent of its sales.

According to Dominique Boulegue, General Plant Manager for ZKW México, the company’s long-term goal is to strengthen its growth strategy in the North American market and employ up to 4,000 people by 2026.

Mexico News Daily