Friday, September 12, 2025

2024 Mexican astrology and tarot for your best year yet!

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Xiomara Zetina, a holistic and energetic therapist reads your astrological sign’s tarot for 2024.

Hello, I am Xiomara Zetina, a professional therapist specializing in holistic and energetic tools born and raised in Mexico City, living in San Miguel de Allende. For over 15 years, I’ve helped people reach their goals by illuminating their unconscious. 

With the help of my tarot deck, I will be sharing the horoscopes with you monthly!

I studied psychology at the Universidad Latinoamericana in Mexico City and have been certified in energy tools like Reiki, Access Bars and Family Constellations.

Tarot is one of my favorite methods. It supports self-knowledge and helps me guide and support people through their healing process by unearthing their unconscious memories to better understand their patterns to be able to change them. 

By giving people back their internal power, they can live in harmony with themselves, their environment and their history. By letting go of the conditioning and limiting memories of pain, shock and childhood trauma, I help people work with energy for their highest benefit.

I wish you a wonderful 2024!

(Photo courtesy by Xiomara Zetina)

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

2024 is the time to look at your body and your physical needs. 

How have you been nourishing yourself? I’m not only talking about food, I’m talking about your mind, your emotions, your energy and your soul. Our body is a vehicle to achieve all that we want, so it’s time to take care of your body, your health and your habits. You have changed. You can’t continue doing what you did when you were a child or teenager as your needs have changed. What is your body asking for? It could be massage, dance, exercise or just a hug, only you know.

Whatever you can give yourself, the universe will give it back to you. Choose wisely.

Life has been asking you to keep going and move on from grief. For many years, pain and lack were your fuel, but this year be motivated by what you deserve. What kind of people do you want to share your life with? What kind of experiences do you want to experience? What kind of places do you want to be in? How do you want to feel? 

There are some rules about the universe. Do you know the rules I’m talking about? Life is just a projection of our mind, what you see on the outside comes from the inside. Do you like what you see?

More rest will increase your productivity this year. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve learned to be a hard worker. Please respect your bedtime, and create a routine to teach your brain to turn off and rest. Take care of your nervous system. 

New places, new hobbies, new music, new food, and new people are waiting for you to allow yourself to explore!

(Photo courtesy by Xiomara Zetina)

Aquarius

February 19 – March 20 

Innovation is a talent you were born with. 2024 is a year to define your own life rules. Creativity is another gift you have, so build a creative life.     

Let expectations fall, both those that others put on your shoulders and those that were self-imposed. Look for what you want for the future. 

This is a year of revelations for you. You’re going to experience so much clarity and ‘aha’ moments which will help you find solutions for the challenges that are coming. Your growth will impact everyone around you.

Time to heal your past. Leave your judgments behind and re-meet people who are still part of your present, but who you were hurt by in the past. If they are still in your present, that means there is still a lesson to be learned from them, and this lesson may be related to forgiveness.

A life cycle has expired. You have become a master in your life, and you need to practice what you’ve learned. Be humble and share to get all of the benefits from this mastery. 

Change is not an option for you this new year. 

Time has so much to teach you, and know that there’s no rush. Time is just a measure, so practice patience, especially when you are building something new. Don’t overthink the future. You can explore tools to keep yourself in the present moment, like mindfulness or breathwork to reduce anxiety levels. In Mexico, we say “No por mucho madrugar, amanece mas temprano.” It means that it doesn’t matter how early you wake up in the morning, the sunrise always has its own time. I say this because a process, a goal or a dream always has its own timing, and it’s almost always different to your timing. 

Allow yourself to be vulnerable; there’s so much power in there.

(Photo courtesy by Xiomara Zetina)

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

This is an expansive year for you. You need to know you have all the resources you need for this. Resources are not just money but also people, experiences and knowledge. You can manage them well. 

Know you are ready for this growth. Commit to yourself, and ask, “What does expansion look like for me this year?” Expanding your business, studying for a master’s degree, or something new? Perhaps it will show up as a life project, like getting married or growing a family.

Energy is another resource you can use to create the life you want, so please be aware of where you are putting your energy… is it in drama, pain, sadness and trouble… or in harmony, joy and love?

This year, you have to decide between other people’s dreams or your own. Be faithful to yourself, be real, be honest and choose yourself. This is a way to love yourself. 

In 2024, people are going to talk about you – and you will most likely be criticized – but stay true to yourself. Remember that this year you are meant to break paradigms in your family and society, and not everyone will agree with you. Especially if by doing so, you show others their limitations.

You will have a very active social life. Everyone wants you to be part of their celebrations! A sweet lesson for you to learn is when to leave the party. This applies to jobs, romantic relationships, business and friend groups. Stay away from excess and also from people who trigger you.  

Who are you at this moment of your life? 

(Photo courtesy by Xiomara Zetina)

Aries 

March 21 – April 19

Aries, this year, you have to discover new ways of being and acting, finding the balance between your desires and the common good. What would happen if you started putting your heart into everything you do? You may notice a change in attitude in those around you. 

This year represents self-mastery, which includes self-control and self-knowledge. 2024 is a year of great power for you – use it wisely. Remember that he who dominates others is strong, he who dominates himself is powerful.

This year you can materialize those plans that you had previously postponed. Alliances will also be important, allowing expansion to come into your life, and letting other people share their resources with you. May “win-win” be a part of the agreements and negotiations you make this year.

Listen well to what people can contribute to your life, dreams and projects. Take what you need, always finding a way to repay the support or participation of others.

In 2024, you must cultivate the gift of patience. We are used to doing a lot to achieve our goals, but know that many different elements are part of that plan, so let things happen with the least effort and learn to pause when necessary because the pause is part of productivity. Start seeing yourself as one with others. Building a community is part of your 2024 challenge.

Take care of your relationships (personal, professional and family) and allow those who are no longer aligned with your values ​​to leave. Do not force anything. Let those who truly contribute something good stay, and thank all the gifts and lessons they have left you.

(Photo courtesy by Xiomara Zetina)

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

2024 opens up remarkable professional growth and great possibilities for promotion, expansion or entrepreneurship. For this to happen, however, it will be important for you to be clear about your material goals and also your emotional goals. How do you want to feel? This will be how you materialize your desire for expansion and material growth. It will be a year of many opportunities, so you must weigh each option that is presented to you.

In Mexico we say, “El que mucho abarca poco aprieta.” It means that if you try to do everything at the same time, you are probably going to fail because you have to divide your energy, attention and effort into different things simultaneously. Choose the option that brings more happiness and harmony to your life.

Also, you could begin a new personal project, especially if you want to explore a new subject, hobby or sport, or learn something new to expand your consciousness and gain a new view of life.

In the middle of the year, you could feel overwhelmed because you are putting so much attention on matters of your mind. Know it’s not true if you feel trapped. You always have many options to succeed. Try to look at things from another angle and remember you have been training for 2024 to unfold in this way. You can only be trapped and stuck in past ways, old ideas, past dreams and past beliefs.

New ways and opportunities to make money will appear to you. Open yourself to receive. Abundance increases more easily when we find the balance between give and receive. 

Discipline is your best partner this year to achieve your goals and dreams. I know you love pleasure, but this year, discipline comes before pleasure. 

Be open to the changes and challenges that are coming for you to grow.

(Photo courtesy by Xiomara Zetina)

Gemini

May 21 – June 21

2024 will challenge you to learn that control doesn’t exist. Control is just an illusion, and you will also learn how to deal with uncertainty. This year you’re going to experience many shifts, and the real challenge for you is to learn how to feel comfortable in the unknown. It is easier than you think, even if your inner talk says the opposite. There are many laws in this universe for you to discover or remember. Especially the principle of rhythm: “Everything flows, out and in; everything has its tides; all things rise and fall; the pendulum swing manifests in everything; the measure of the swing to the right is the measure of the swing to the left; rhythm compensates.”

Impermanence will be your best teacher this year. From this moment you can start connecting with gratitude. Be thankful for the things you can’t yet see – this will bring you harmony and peace, and regulate your nervous system.

Keep developing your intuition, and let your spirit be your guide.

This year is open for you to double-check your values, your beliefs and your dreams. Are they still aligned with the person you are and the life you are living now? Do they belong to you? Are they truly yours? An awakening is coming for you in 2024.

Let yourself explore all the possibilities between one extreme and another. Change and speed this year are part of the new you.

After the second half of the year, people from your past may return. Remember the dreams you used to build in your mind as a child, and probably forgot as an adult. Reconnect with your inner child. How do you honor that little kid who is still alive in your heart?

Remember to see life with innocence, curiosity and joy.

(Photo courtesy by Xiomara Zetina)

Cancer 

June 22 – July 22

The old structures on which you built your life in the past are falling away and have expired. They helped you get to this present moment in your life, but they won’t get you where you want to be. Old structures need to be removed so that new ones can emerge. 

What does success mean for you? Are you still looking to be “successful” as you thought of it when you were a child? As your parents taught you? Or does success have a more current meaning to you? If you want to be successful quickly, work by yourself. If you want to go farther and hold on to that success for longer, work in a team. Success tastes better when you share it. Remember to celebrate. 

You can expect a job promotion, business growth or a wedding! Get ready for this in 2024.

Be careful with your words. Try to be assertive and clear in your communication, so others don’t need to interpret how you feel, what you want or what are you thinking. Speak up, speak clearly, but don’t speak too much. 

Be coherent between your thoughts, your words, your feelings and your actions. 

It’s good to express your feelings, but it’s better if you can also understand where your feelings are coming from.  

This is a year to be productive, work hard and find the best work methods. Remember that being productive also means focusing your attention and energy on things that need to get done, but also respecting your time for rest. Take care of yourself to prevent disease.

(Photo courtesy by Xiomara Zetina)

Leo

July 23 – August 22

You are finishing 2023 and beginning 2024 full of satisfaction. That’s why this is the best moment to practice gratitude. If you don’t feel grateful, look carefully at where you were a year ago and where you are now. Sometimes our ego doesn’t let us celebrate our real soul achievements because we are comparing ourselves to others.

Each challenging experience you overcome helps bring out your true self, and this is a really powerful process. One of the most challenging things in life is to recognize who we are and be open to sharing our true selves with the world.

It’s time to take responsibility for your success and also your failures. This is the best way to get your power back. 

Sometimes you can become obsessed with the material world, money and status; this is a year to buy a house or invest in real estate. But remember it is important to also find a way to share your blessings with your community, the collective.

You are magnetic. What have you attracted in 2023? What do you want to attract in 2024? This is a good year to do inner work, especially shadow work. 

Leo, this year is going to bring back old friends, old coworkers or maybe old loves, to heal any memories or disagreements that have bothered you for years. After this, you will be ready to connect differently with everyone around you. This is what miracle courses call “perception change.” Once you heal, you will see everyone differently. This is an opportunity to start connecting soul to soul.

After the second half of the year, you may see yourself moving physically or internally after going on a trip. When we travel we also transform ourselves.

(Photo courtesy by Xiomara Zetina)

Virgo 

August 23 – September 22

2024 is a manifestation year for you. In recent years, you have gone through a lot of challenges and complications, but that’s how you discovered your inner resources. Your strength was tested, and you have experienced darkness to bring out your light. Get ready to let your light shine bright. 

It is important to trust that you are always safe and that you are protected. This is a year to open your heart, and let down all the walls you have built to protect yourself. Don’t be afraid. No one can hurt you if you spread your love and your intentions are honest and coming from your heart. 

A new cycle is beginning. People are leaving your life and new people are coming in. Take a moment to stop and realize how much you’ve been changing to create new routines and new habits, try new hairstyles, new colors and new places. Keep stepping out of your comfort zone.

The wheel of fortune is part of this reading, which means that though there is no such thing as certainty, trust that all the things happening are happening for your highest well-being. Destiny is knocking on your door. Life will be full of surprises to learn from.

If you find extra money to invest, please carefully research where you are investing; what’s behind the scenes, the company, the people, the energy. Put your money in places where it can have the highest value. I’m not talking only about financial performance. Put your money in places where you feel joy, healthy pleasure, satisfaction and expansion.  

Last but not least, 2024 is a good year to heal your masculine energy, especially the bond with your father. If you want to break old patterns, see your father as a human being and try to learn more about his life story. To get the best from him.  

(Photo courtesy by Xiomara Zetina)

Libra 

September 23 – October 22

This 2024 is a refreshing new year. May you feel younger and full of energy, with so many new ideas, dreams and goals in your head. You are looking to discover new lands, new places and new groups of people. You have so much curiosity inside – let that curiosity guide you and let joy be part of your routine.

You have been in a transformational process for the last seven or eight years, and that process took so much energy from you. Healing requires an expense of energy, but all that energy is coming back to you in 2024. 

This is a good year for you to launch a new project, brand or business. People want you to be part of their team, too. This is a year to work on your community. Two, three or more heads think better than one. Ask for help if you need it. 

Don’t forget to celebrate the small achievements even if your mind is telling you that they are not a big deal. Don’t believe that talk! Celebration is a reward. Remember that sometimes passion and enthusiasm are not enough and you need to find discipline, too. 

You are going to inspire people around you. People want to be as free as they think you are. Just be sure that your feelings of freedom are real. Don’t get trapped in your mind: on your fears, on your past or your old wounds. 

New projects are showing up. Choose the ones that make you feel excited, that challenge your creativity and that offer you a space where you can practice all your skills and gifts that have nothing to do with your profession or current job. Getting paid is important, but it’s important to choose projects that are aligned with your values and feed your soul, not only your bank account. 

In 2024, say goodbye to being a people pleaser. Your needs, dreams and desires will come first. When you choose yourself, you are loving yourself. When you set healthy boundaries, you are practicing self-love. If you want to receive love, share love and love yourself first.

(Photo courtesy by Xiomara Zetina)

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

In 2024, you finally break away from toxic relationships, toxic partnerships, attachments, toxic patterns, unhealthy habits and old ideas about who you are and who you should be. Many people are leaving your life who were important to you in the past, but at this point of your evolution process, you may notice that you have started to feel like strangers. That’s fine, because newness needs space to arrive.  

You are freeing yourself from your mind and thoughts, and you have learned to deal with your emotions better. All this work will bring you a reward. If you keep going with your healing process in 2024, even your physical body could be transformed. When we heal our minds, our cells heal too.   

Be open to receiving all the love that gravitates towards you; open your arms to hug; open your heart to love. You have changed, Scorpio.  

You could feel déjà vu in 2024. (Déjà vu” is a term derived from the French word for “already seen.” It occurs when someone perceives that they have already experienced a situation before, and their body experiences familiarity and confusion.) Recognize this feeling as an opportunity to make different choices. Don’t let your past ruin your present. 

2024 is a harvest year for you. Receive from all your sowing, karma and dharma, and don’t be rude to yourself. If you need it, spend some time on your own. Don’t be afraid to listen to your soul instead of your mind. 

Your soul has messages for you that deserve to be heard. 

You need to pause to keep going strong and in harmony with yourself, your family and your community. 

Your light illuminates those around you. 

(Photo courtesy by Xiomara Zetina)

Sagittarius 

November 22 – December 21

Can’t see a clear path for 2024? One of your lessons this year is to build trust. It’s very possible some of your plans will change or they won’t turn out as you expected, but it will be part of a bigger plan you can’t see right now.

Be open to learning and teaching from the heart, not the ego.

There are childhood goals and dreams you feel you need to achieve. Remember that all the resources you need are inside of you, you just need to trust you have them and turn them on. 

Don’t overreact when things work out differently – or respond from fear, anger or your old wounds. Always choose to respond with love.

Slow down. There’s no need to rush if you know where you want your path to lead. And if you don’t know, take plenty of time to choose the path that feels most right for you.

You have a divine connection, you are gifted, and those gifts are there to be shared with the world. If you can be open, this year you will discover more gifts in yourself. Don’t feel afraid to ask for help, and do some research to grow those gifts. Again, you need to develop your ability to trust. I’m sorry to put so much emphasis on trust, but this is the information I received from this reading.   

I know you have a beautiful heart, but this year you will learn that you can’t trust everyone. Don’t put yourself, your finances, your career, your material goods or your investments at risk while you are learning.

Setting boundaries is important for you in 2024.

Xiomara Zetina is a Mexican professional therapist specializing in holistic and energetic tools based in San Miguel de Allende. She studied psychology at the Universidad Latinoamericana in Mexico City and is certified in many energy tools including Reiki, Access Bars, and Family Constellations. You can work with her in person at Florsser in San Miguel de Allende and connect with her on Instagram @xiomarazetina.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice.

Over 100,000 migrants entered Mexico since November

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A group of migrants near the Río Bravo
Mexico has said it will not cooperate with any efforts by Texas state authorities to deport migrants. (Cuartoscuro)

More than 100,000 migrants have entered Mexico between the beginning of November and early December, according to figures given this week by the head of the country’s National Migration Institute (INM).

Many of the migrants are from Africa, INM Commissioner Francisco Garduño said, part of the escalating flow of foreigners seeking to reach the United States.

Mexico's INM director Francisco Garduño
National Migration Institute director Francisco Garduño has promised vehicles and aircraft will patrol border areas to attempt to reduce the number of migrant crossings into Texas. (Gob MX)

“We are facing a global phenomenon of an anthropological and morphological nature,” Garduño said at a Wednesday night meeting in Coahuila.

The northern state shares approximately 560 kilometers (348 miles) of border with Texas, including the heavily trafficked international crossings between Piedras Negras, Coahuila, and Eagle Pass, Texas.

Earlier this week, a railroad bridge between the two locations was shut down by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), who are redeploying personnel to assist in the detention of migrants.

In September, CBP halted crossings at one of the area’s vehicle bridges for the same reason.

Such closures, combined with other factors, such as the INM suspending deportations of undocumented migrants due to a lack of resources, mean more migrants are now staying longer on Mexican soil — an  issue addressed at the meeting that included Garduño, Coahuila Governor Manolo Jiménez Salinas and officials from the National Defense Ministry (Sedena).

Currently, there are more than 121,000 migrants gathered in Piedras Negras waiting to cross into the United States, said Oscar Pimentel González, interior minister for Coahuila. He said migrants have  come to prefer Piedras Negras over other places for crossing into the U.S.

Garduño stated that there has been  a considerable increase in the number of migrants coming into Mexico in recent months. In September, 96,542 new migrants were counted (more than double the 43,329 reported for September 2022) and October’s total was 92,908 (compared to 52,218 in October 2022).

The 100,000 number cited for November-December of this year includes only the first few days of December, he added.

Concentrations of migrants in cities such as Piedras Negras are also being preyed upon by criminal organizations. (Cuartoscuro)

For the period of January through October, the Ministry of the Interior noted the number of migrants in the country increased 71% over the same period in 2022, and statistics registered since then will push it even higher.

Garduño promised increased surveillance and a greater allocation of personnel, vehicles and aircraft to assist in transferring migrants out of Coahuila or returning them to their home countries, as needed.

He also said the INM has begun working with train operator Ferromex to reinforce operations aimed at preventing migrants from traveling on freight trains, especially in southern and central Mexico.

General Eufemio Alberto Ibarra Flores, commander of Mexico’s 11th military zone, headquartered in Torreón, Coahuila, emphasized the need to halt criminal activities associated with the exploitation of migrants in border-crossing towns such as Piedras Negras.

“We are committed to doing what is necessary and more,” Flores asserted.

The meeting in Coahuila occurred the day before a telephone call between President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and President Joe Biden in which they agreed to “additional enforcement actions” at the U.S.-Mexico border to slow attempted migrant crossings into the United States.

With reports from Milenio and Excelsior

Peso strengthens to best rate against the US dollar since August

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The peso is back below 17 against the US dollar for the first time since Aug. 30. (Isabel Mateos/Cuartoscuro)

The Mexican peso appreciated to below 17 to the US dollar for the first time since August on Friday morning.

Bloomberg data showed that the USD:MXN exchange rate was 16.93 at 9:20 a.m. Mexico City time. By 10:30 a.m., the peso had weakened slightly to trade at 16.96 to the dollar.

Banco Mifel branch with foreign currency exchange rates posted in the window.
The peso has appreciated significantly against the US dollar this year, in a phenomenon dubbed by commentators as the “superpeso”. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

The last time the peso was stronger than 16.93 was Aug. 30, when it reached 16.74 to the greenback.

The currency has appreciated on four of five trading days this week after closing at 17.20 to the dollar last Friday.

According to the Monex financial group, the peso benefited on Friday morning from data that showed that inflation in the United States was lower than expected in November.

The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the preferred inflation gauge of the United States Federal Reserve, showed that annual headline inflation in the U.S. declined to 2.6% in November from 2.9% in October, while core inflation fell to 3.2% from 3.4%.

US Federal Reserve building
The U.S. Federal Reserve has kept relatively low rates of inflation – which may be cut even further – but has seen the peso strengthen after beginning the year around at a rate of around 19.5 to the dollar. (Shutterstock)

Reuters reported that the data boosted “financial market expectations of an interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve next March.”

The wide difference between the Bank of Mexico’s benchmark interest of 11.25% and the Fed’s 5.25%-5.5% range is one factor that has helped the peso strengthen this year after it started 2023 at around 19.5 to the dollar.

At its final monetary policy meeting of 2023, the Bank of Mexico board last week voted to keep the key rate at the record high 11.25% level, and the bank said in a statement that the board believes the reference rate “must be maintained at its current level for some time.”

Data published on Thursday showed that Mexico’s annual headline inflation rate was 4.46% in the first half of December, up from 4.32% in November, while the core rate was 5.19%, down from 5.3% in November. The central bank targets 3% inflation.

Another factor that contributed to the appreciation of the peso on Friday, according to Monex, was data that showed that the Mexican economy grew 4.2% in real terms in October compared to the same month of 2022, and 3.5% annually between January and October.

The peso also benefited from a global weakening of the dollar, the El Economista newspaper reported. The DXY index, which measures the value of the dollar against a basket of foreign currencies, was down slightly shortly after 10 a.m.

James Salazar, deputy director of economic analysis at CIBanco, told El Financiero that favorable inflation data out of the U.S. could help keep the peso below 17 to the dollar for the remainder of the year.

However, Monex’s director of analysis Janneth Quiroz told El Financiero that she expects a USD:MXN exchange rate of 17.35 at the end of 2023.

With reports from El Economista and El Financiero

Got 1 min? Santa swaps his sleigh for the Mexico City metro

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Santa took a ride along Mexico City's Metro Line 2, spreading holiday cheer and collecting letters.(Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

Christmas is still a few days away, but Santa Claus has already arrived in Mexico.

And on Wednesday, he eschewed his sleigh and took a ride on the Mexico City metro, stopping off along the way at the Chabacano, Pino Suárez and Hidalgo stations.

At each station, the metro said in a statement, “Father Christmas, as this magical character is also known, remained motionless in the form of a statue, and when passengers approached he asked them what their wish was this Christmas.”

“At that moment, Santa’s suit lit up as he raised his hand to the area of his heart, which upon being touched also glowed to show he would keep [the passengers] there for ever,” the statement continued.

“… Young and old, alone, in a couple or in groups, the metro passengers agreed that [seeing] Santa Iluminado [Illuminated Santa] was a pleasant surprise,” the metro said, adding that “Santa also received letters from those who decided to personally deliver them, hoping that once in his sleigh, the white-bearded man will give them a gift this Dec. 25.”

Apparently assuming that young children wouldn’t read the entire statement, the metro revealed in the third last paragraph that Santa was in fact José Miguel Moctezuma González, an “urban artist” who has performed as a “living statue” for the past 12 years.

He has previously appeared in the metro as “Don Ferro Ferrocarrilero,” an impersonation of an old-school railroad worker.

On Wednesday, a long beard, white gloves and spectacles – rather than a railroad lantern and a kerchief – were among the accessories Moctezuma used to depict his character of choice beneath the bustling streets of Mexico City.

Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas! Just a few more sleeps and you might catch a glimpse of Santa yourself!

Mexico News Daily 

López Obrador and Biden discuss border ‘enforcement actions’

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President Joe Biden and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador
The two leaders held a phone call on Thursday to discuss the border crossings on the U.S. side, which is causing significant disruption to trade on both sides of the border. (Cuartoscuro)

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and United States President Joe Biden agreed on Thursday that “additional enforcement actions” to stem the flow of migrants are needed before currently closed border crossings can reopen, according to White House spokesman John Kirby.

The two presidents spoke by telephone three days after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) closed international railway crossing bridges in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, “in order to redirect personnel to assist the U.S. Border Patrol with taking migrants into custody.”

Migrants ride a freight train through the desert
Migrants ride above a freight train near the El Paso/Ciudad Juárez border crossing. Entry to the U.S. via railroad has become a concern for politicians in neighbouring Texas. (Pedro Anza/Cuartoscuro.com)

Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, told reporters that the “two leaders agreed that additional enforcement actions are urgently needed so that key ports of entry can be reopened across our shared border.”

He also said that a delegation of U.S. officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Homeland Security adviser Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall would travel to Mexico in the coming days to discuss the migration issue with López Obrador.

“Their visit will really be about getting at the migratory flows and talking to President López Obrador and his team about what more we can do together,” Kirby said. “There’s probably more we can be doing.”

CBP has recently closed other border crossings including the Lukeville Port of Entry in Arizona, which remains out of action.

Organizations including top Mexican farm lobby CNA and the Mexican Employers Federation have expressed their dissatisfaction with the rail bridge closures, pointing out that they will cause significant economic losses.

Rail freight operator Union Pacific cited a figure of US $200 million per day, and asserted that “during this massive [migration] surge only 5 people have attempted to come into the U.S. on Union Pacific trains in the last 5 weeks.”

For its part, the CBP said it had observed “a recent resurgence of smuggling organizations moving migrants through Mexico via freight trains” and announced it was “taking additional actions to surge personnel and address this concerning development, including in partnership with Mexican authorities.”

The Associated Press reported that “migrants often ride freight trains through Mexico, hopping off just before entering the U.S.”

AMLO has been an outspoken critic of what he calls an “inhumane” Texas law criminalizing illegal migration. (lopezobrador.org.mx)

The CBP’s decision to suspend operations at the two rail bridges came after a period during which large numbers of migrants had crossed into Texas, where Governor Greg Abbott signed into law on Monday what his government called “a transformative package of border security legislation.”

One law set to take effect in March “creates a criminal offense for illegal entry into this state from a foreign nation,” according to a Texas government statement.

López Obrador called the law “inhumane” and said Mexico would challenge it.

He also spoke to Biden about migration during a meeting in San Francisco last month.

At the time, López Obrador said that further progress needs to be made on the migration issue, but noted that the two countries were working together on the issue.

He also thanked Biden for the legal migration pathways his administration has opened up for citizens of certain Western Hemisphere countries and acknowledged that his administration hadn’t built any additional wall on the Mexico-U.S border – at least not yet.

Biden thanked López Obrador for his “cooperation” and “leadership” on the migration “challenge,” telling his counterpart that he knew such work was not easy.

“We’re taking a balanced approach that lies at the heart of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. … It includes enforcing our borders … and opening a historic number of legal pathways for migrants,” he said.

Migration is a key focus of the bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States, and the amount of attention the issue gets is only going to increase as both nations head into an election year, and large numbers of people continue to seek a better life in the U.S.

CBP encountered a record high of almost 2.5 million migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year 2023, which ended in September, while “December 2023 has so far seen some of the heaviest arrivals ever of migrants, mostly asylum seekers, at the … border,” according to the Washington Office on Latin America.

With reports from Reuters, USA Today and AP

Arsenal of explosives and weapons seized in Jalisco

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Members of the Defence Ministry and Attorney General's Office conducted the raid on the illicit stash, which was spotted when a lookout fled the scene. (FGR/X)

Members of the Mexican Army and Attorney General’s Office (FGR) have seized an arsenal of weapons and explosives in Jalisco in one of the largest arms seizures in recent months.

The seizure was made on Dec. 18 at a property in the Cuitzeo neighborhood of Poncitlán, on the shores of Lake Chapala. The military was first alerted to the property after seeing an individual near the building fleeing at the sight of soldiers conducting a surveillance mission. Various weapons were visible on the floor inside.

The hefty weapons haul included 53,852 rounds of ammunition. (FGR/X)

After obtaining a warrant, authorities raided the building and found 34 firearms, 417 magazines for different weapons, 53,852 ammunition cartridges, 40 grenades and 45 improvised explosive devices, according to a statement by the Defense Ministry (Sedena).

A statement by the FGR counts only 30 improvised explosive devices, but adds that two grenade launchers, 28 helmets and 10 bullet-proof vests were also found. The weapons were handed over to the federal prosecutor’s office to continue the investigation. 

It is not clear whether anyone was arrested in connection with the seizure.

Authorities have not indicated  which criminal group the arsenal belonged to, although the area is known to be controlled by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

The ongoing drug war in Mexico has spurred a huge illegal arms build-up in the region, which has also been revealed in previous seizures. In October, FGR agents seized 104 firearms on two farms in Zapopan and San Pedro Tlaquepaque, and more than 100 explosive devices were seized in Mazamitla in March.

With reports from La Opinión and Latinus

Contemporary and counterculture art scene in Oaxaca’s galleries

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Graffiti in Oaxaca
Graffiti that says “Gringo Go Home” on the streets of Oaxaca. (Courtesy of Laurel Tuohy)

Oaxaca is considered the cultural heart of Mexico, acting as a muse for creatives and drawing artists from across the country and world, who adopt the colonial city as their home.

Some are attracted by the graphic art traditions of printmaker Francisco Toledo and painter Rufino Tamayo, but the city is also a hotbed of startling street art. Ethereal murals share wall space with mock advertisements offering great apartments to foreigners – back in their own countries – while crude graffiti advises gringos to shut up, go home or worse. Much of the city’s ever-evolving street art also references Oaxaca’s history of cultural rebellions, state violence, corrupt leadership and battles for Indigenous autonomy.

Harnessing all of this energy are collectives, galleries and artists curating spaces across the city to share diverse points of view in settings that range from gentrified to gritty.

Natalia Siu Munro is an indigo, or añil, textile artist with Nicaraguan-Chinese heritage from the UK who has lived in Oaxaca for four years. 

“I was seeking a place where art lived and breathed, and Oaxaca was it. [Art] is ingrained in the culture and you can find it everywhere. For me, the scene accepts all and has no prejudices. It’s constantly shifting. There’s a new exhibition every other week – sometimes three openings on the same night. Generations of artists work and collaborate to evolve [Oaxaca] into a safe creative space for all,” she said.

Farid Cruz Vasquez, director of Cocijo Gallery, has noticed that the artistic culture of the city is always growing in sphere and influence. “So many cultures in one place, with different visions of life. Now all the world is coming to work and enjoy,” he said. 

“Madre e hija”. Paint by Ricardo León. Galería Cocijo, Oaxaca (@galeriacocijo/Instagram)

But it’s the abundant street art – from dreamscape-y murals to quickly-laid, expletive-laden stencils – that provides the city with an artistic vibrance that envelops you immediately – even if you never step inside a gallery. 

Renowned painter Guillermo Olguín believes the city’s best art showcases are its avenues, lanes and alleys. “The art on the streets is sophisticated, well executed and not only political. There is poetry in it, there is very fine talent and the continuation and revival of the classic Mexican graphic school technique,” he said.

Within the city limits lies one of the country’s most admired graphics institutes, and continues to give birth to artists and galleries that take the tradition to the people. The Instituto de Artes Gráficas de Oaxaca (IAGO) was founded by Toledo, the celebrated creator of iconic Mexican intaglio prints lovingly called ‘el maestro’ and hero of many local tales.

Red Dot Art Gallery – Director Teresa Diaz sees Oaxaca as a place “recognized as a fountain of artists of all different techniques. Influences from abroad make it an inspirational destination and have diverted the long-holding trance of Mexican Magical Realism that once permeated the city’s art.” 

Red Dot Art Gallery (Courtesy of Teresa Diaz)

She noted artists like Demian Flores, Mauricio Cervantes and Emilia Sandoval, who are creating micro and macro works that go beyond the personal to broach a global significance, while Zapotec printmaker Gabriela Morac and painter Alberto Mendiola use their mediums to ironically meld pre-Columbian imagery with ideas of branding, marketing and merchandising.

Though art can be enjoyed throughout the city – on its streets, in a number of museums and through a variety of groundbreaking collectives – these are the art galleries in Oaxaca that have stolen our hearts. 

Espacio Zapata – A space as revolutionary as its namesake Emiliano Zapata, the gallery, tied to the Assembly of Revolutionary Artists of Oaxaca (ASARO), furthers Mexican graphic and political heritage alongside lithographs, woodblock prints and more. You’ll spot this place from the top of the street with its high-energy facade featuring ever-changing, eye-catching murals – currently it’s painted with dozens of Mexican art motifs in shades of gold and black. Inside, discover friendly and passionate artists showcasing work that extends from frames to walls – and from the art world into the community. 

Calle Porfirio Díaz 509, Oaxaca 

An iconic wall in downtown Oaxaca City is the one belonging to Espacio Zapata. (@espaciozapata/Instagram)

Red Dot Art Gallery – Focused on experimental and avant-garde visual arts, this large space favors unconventional points of view and always leaves visitors with new ideas to ponder. Exhibitions investigate issues of culture, gender, humanities and politics while a regular roster of public talks, music and events offer even more reasons to return to the bright and airy space.

Stellah Gallery – This small, intimate gallery holds a gorgeously curated selection of textiles, furnishings and paintings alongside Australian owner and curator Stellah De Ville’s own tactile ceramic vessels and sculptures. With a preference towards organic shapes, colors and materials, guests feel an immediate sense of calm wonder upon entering. 

Av. José María Morelos 301, Oaxaca 

Stellah in her gallery. (Courtesy of Stellah de Ville)

La Santísima Gallery – Fans of dark, minimalist print work with a bent towards the macabre will gravitate to this grungy, authentic and frenetic space where the city’s creatives gather to drink canned beer on opening nights and view works by up-and-coming painters, textile makers and artists like graffiti muralist Dreka Ventura. Pick up unique gift items made by gallery artists in the adjoining shop. 

Miguel Hidalgo 1019, Oaxaca 

Siqueiros Gallery – A must-stop spot for fans of political street art, this multi-room gallery offers a large range of graffiti, paintings and prints alongside merch like tote bags, stickers and pins. Most pieces have a unique story related to some aspect of Oaxaca’s history. The multilingual staff are eager to share these tales and you may find yourself in deep contemplation and long conversations here.

C. Porfirio Díaz 510, Ruta Independencia, Oaxaca

Cocijo Gallery – Focused on weirdly wonderful paintings and woodcuts, including many that reflect on the region’s rich past and incorporate a full circle of influences. Discover works by emerging Mexican artists such as Indigenous lithograph artist Gilberto Delgado, J-Paw and Tupac Emiliano as well as occasional demonstrations and classes.

C. de Mariano Abasolo 107, Ruta Independencia, Oaxaca

Laurel is a nomadic lifestyle journalist whose favorite stories focus on weird and wonderful travel and culture. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Vice, BBC Travel, Travel + Leisure, South China Morning Post, The Culture Trip and more. 

@laureltuohy, www.laureltuohy.com

Best weekend getaways from Mexico City by bus: Part 1

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A list of 10 destinations that can be reached by bus in 5 hours or less from CDMX, and the most comfortable bus lines to take you there. (Canva)

One of the things I love most about living in Mexico City is its connectivity by bus. In five hours or less, it’s possible to access a vastly different landscape, culture, cuisine, and temperature – all you need to do is look at the bus schedule.

That sounds pretty easy, right? It’s not. 

Because there isn’t a central internet hub that aggregates the bus schedule in its entirety, it’s often more effective to look directly at the site of the bus line you plan to take. 

But, what if you don’t know which bus line to take?

Not to fret, because I’ve done my utmost to compile a list of 10 destinations that can be reached by bus in 5 hours or less from CDMX, and the most comfortable bus lines to take you there. 

The bus lines

There are dozens of bus lines that depart from any of Mexico City’s four main terminals. The most luxe of them, ranked as such due to seating arrangements, access to onboard entertainment, and amenities like air conditioning, bathrooms, and snacks, are the following:

  • ADO, the largest of Mexico’s bus lines, offers five classes of service, including OCC which is included on this list. The ADO hub is at the TAPO terminal, though you can take it from Norte and Sur as well. More on that to come.
  • ETN is considered quite luxurious, and many riders have compared it to first-class flying. Unless you’re referring to first class on Spirit Airlines this might be a bit of a stretch, but the reclined seats and personal movie screens make it worth the higher price per ticket. Turistar is also part of ETN, which offers the same level of service but different destinations.
  • Estrella Blanca owns both Futura and Chihuahuenses. While not quite as fancy as ETN, both have comfortable buses with reclining seats, air conditioning, and onboard bathrooms. 
  • CostaLine is comparable to Estrella Blanca with the same amenities.
  • Primera Plus, while claiming to be the “gold standard” of Mexican bus travel, locks in at a solid bronze. Expect the basic amenities like reclining seats, bathrooms and arrival at your intended destination.
  • E-Bus is the anomaly of this list as it only runs between CDMX and Paseo Destino, Puebla’s fancy bus terminal that serves as an alternative to CAPU. The line is a step below ETN and departs from the following locations in Mexico City: 
    • El Ángel;
    • Miyana-Polanco; 
    • Santa Fe; 
    • World Trade Center.

The terminals

The four main terminals in CDMX are oriented to the cardinal points:

  • TAPO (Oriente), the eastern bus station, located near Mexico City International Airport
  • Central del Norte, which boasts its own metro station, Autobuses del Norte on the yellow line 5.
  • Terminal Poniente (Observatorio), in the west
  • Central de Autobuses del Sur (Tasqueña), in Coyoacán

Tickets can be bought online or directly at kiosks in the bus terminal. Wifi is offered onboard, though in my extensive riding experience, that has never been the case (I keep trying). Don’t rely on it. 

The destinations

Now, let’s move on to where to go! Here is a list of the first 4 of 10 destinations that can be reached within 5 hours of CDMX.

Puebla 

Best for: Foodies

Santuario de la Virgen de los Remedios, San Pedro Cholula, Puebla. (Unsplash)

The highlights: Puebla Cathedral, Parisian, Calle de los Sapos, Biblioteca Palafoxiana, Museo Amparo, Cholula

What to eat: mole poblano, cemitas, sopas

Why you should go: Even though Puebla is the fifth largest city in Mexico, it doesn’t feel that way when you’re coming from CDMX. Its historic downtown is colorful and walkable, peppered with cocktail bars, museums, sophisticated restaurants, and lots of ornate churches. It’s a great place to spend a weekend.

How to get to Puebla from Mexico City:

From TAPO: The ADO line runs up to 20 departures per day. The journey lasts 2 – 2.5 hours. The cost per ticket starts at 188 pesos.

From NORTE: The ADO line runs up to 18 departures per day. The journey lasts 2 – 2.5 hours. The cost per ticket starts at 268 pesos.

From SUR: The ADO line runs up to 9 departures per day. The journey lasts 2 – 2.5 hours. The cost per ticket starts at 218 pesos.

From El Angel; Miyana-Polanco; Santa Fe; World Trade Center: The E-bus line runs up to 21 departures per day. The journey lasts 2.5 – 3 hours. The cost per ticket starts at 210 pesos.

Cuernavaca 

Best for: Weather

Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mor., México. (Unsplash)

The highlights: Palacio de Cortés, Jardín Borda, Museo Robert Brady, Cathedral of Cuernavaca, La Casona Spencer

What to eat: Chiles rellenos de flor de calabaza, tacos de cecina

Why you should go: Cuernavaca has a pretty and compact city center with cafes, churches, and lovely gardens. It’s surrounded by lush countryside where you can find sprawling villas with pools for lounging. The city of “eternal spring” is a great escape from the chilly winter temperatures of Mexico City.

How to get to Cuernavaca from Mexico City:

From NORTE: The ETN and TuriStar lines run up to 7 departures per day. The journey lasts 2 hours. The cost per ticket starts at 150 pesos.

From SUR: The Futura line runs up to 21 departures per day. The journey lasts 1.5 hours. The cost per ticket starts at 95 pesos.

The ETN, TuriStar, and CostaLine lines run up to 30 departures per day. The journey lasts 1.5 hours. The cost per ticket starts at 190 pesos.

From PONIENTE: The ETN line runs up to 5 departures per day. The journey lasts 2 hours. The cost per ticket starts at 189 pesos.

Querétaro 

Best for: Wine 

Querétaro, México. (Unsplash)

The highlights: Querétaro Cathedral, Cerro de las Campanas, Museo Fundación Santiago Carbonell, Casa de la Marquesa, El Cerrito archaeological zone

What to eat: mole Queretano, enchiladas Queretanas, vegan tacos

Why you should go: Because the city is dripping with flowers. History buffs will appreciate both the museums and the colonial architecture. It’s also conveniently situated adjacent to a wide array of wineries, Freixenet being the most popular. 

How to get to Querétaro from Mexico City:

From NORTE: The Chihuahuenses Select line runs up to 15 departures per day. The journey lasts 3 hours. The cost per ticket starts at 380 pesos.

The Elite Select line runs up to 8 departures per day. The journey lasts 3 hours. The cost per ticket starts at

The ETN and TuriStar lines run up to 18 departures per day. The journey lasts 3 hours. The cost per ticket starts at 477 pesos.

From SUR: The Futura line runs up to 23 departures per day. The journey lasts 3 hours. The cost per ticket starts at 359 pesos.

The ETN line runs up to 5 departures per day. The journey lasts 3.5 hours. The cost per ticket starts at 440 pesos.

Taxco 

Best for: Jewelry (notably silver)

The highlights: Church of Santa Prisca, Museo Casa de las Lagrimas, pre-Columbian mines at Posada de la Misión, a ride in a punch-buggy taxi, the Taxco tianguis

Taxco, Mexico. (Unsplash)

What to eat: pozole, mole rosa, iguana meat

Why you should go: Taxco looks like Italy but feels like Mexico. It’s a wildly beautiful town of white-washed buildings with red roofs perched on undulating hills. Its central market is so sprawling you could easily spend a full afternoon without seeing it all. The museums are fun and quirky and so, it seems to me, are the people.

How to get to Taxco from Mexico City:

From SUR

The Estrella de Oro line runs up to 2 departures per day. The journey lasts 3 hours. The cost per ticket starts at 318 pesos. 

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we will cover the remaining 6 destinations!

Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.

Suspect arrested in multiple homicide case in Celaya

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Five of the victims were medical students at the Universidad Latina de México. (Xovenes Xingones/X)

Authorities in Guanajuato have arrested a man in connection with a mass murder in Celaya earlier this month.

The Guanajuato Attorney General’s Office (FGE) said in a statement on Thursday that it had located and detained the “alleged perpetrator” of the murders of six young men on Dec. 3.

Five of the young men studied at Celaya’s Universidad Latina de México. (Diego Sinhue Rodríguez/X)

The FGE identified him as Francisco Omar “N,” alias “Verdus.”

It was initially reported that five men, all medical students, had been found in a car in the neighborhood of Crespo on Dec. 3, but authorities subsequently said there was a sixth victim – an 18-year-old man who, unlike the others, was not a student.

The victims reportedly had gunshot wounds to their heads and other signs of violence on their bodies.

The FGE said it has evidence that proves the suspect’s “participation in several criminal acts,” including the recent murders. The Attorney General’s Office posted a video to the X social media platform showing police taking the alleged murderer into custody.

The FGE said that a “special cell” of its homicide unit began an investigation into the murders the same day that they occurred, and gathered information that allowed it to identify the alleged perpetrator of “this terrible multiple homicide.”

It said that police followed followed Francisco Omar’s movements prior to making the arrest. The accused will face an initial court hearing “in the coming hours,” the FGE said.

President López Obrador said earlier this month that there was a hypothesis that the young men who were murdered were buying drugs in Celaya when they were attacked.

“It had to do with the use of drugs. These young men … went to make a purchase from someone who was selling drugs in an area that belonged to another [criminal] group,” he said Dec. 6.

“… This is still hypothetical, but they supposedly went to a place to buy drugs and they were murdered there,” López Obrador said.

However, as The New York Times reported on Wednesday, “local officials later said the investigation showed the crime had nothing to do with a drug sale, and Fabiola Mateos Chavolla, the mother of two of the victims, lashed out at the president for his ‘cruel and irresponsible comments’ about her sons, saying Mr. López Obrador had ‘blamed them for their death.'”

State Attorney General Carlos Zamarripa said that the young men were abducted from a water park in Celaya and taken to the location where they were later found dead.

“The young men were in a recreation area and of course there was no reason to take their lives,” he said. “The five students were good people and were having fun at a water park.”

With reports from El Financiero, El País and El Universal

Steel producer ArcelorMittal renews CFE contract worth US $2.7B

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The steel maker has secured its natural gas supply in a deal worth US $2.7 billion. (ArcelorMittal)

ArcelorMittal, the world’s second largest steel producer, has renewed a contract with the state-owned Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to be supplied with natural gas for 10 years.

The Mexican division of the Luxembourg-based corporation announced the US $2.7 billion deal on Wednesday.

The firm operates in several Mexican states, including Michoacán, Guanajuato and Sonora.(ArcelorMittal)

“This agreement consolidates a fundamental alliance for the operational continuity and competitiveness of ArcelorMittal México, the largest consumer of natural gas in the country,” the company said in a statement.

The steelmaker has plants in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán; Celaya, Guanajuato; and Ciudad Obregón, Sonora.

Under the contract renewed on Wednesday, the CFE will supply the Lázaro Cárdenas plant with natural gas from Waha, Texas, ArcelorMittal said.

The company makes steel rods, slabs, bar stock and wire in the Michoacán port city, and has a port concession there to import and export goods.

The Lazaro Cárdenas plant is an important import and export hub for the company. (ArcelorMittal)

The steelmaker “shipped 2.5 million metric tons of steel out of its North America segment in the third quarter,” Reuters reported.

ArcelorMittal México CEO Victor M. Cairo said that the renewal of the natural gas contract “represents a significant milestone in our relationship with CFEnergía,” a subsidiary of the Federal Electricity Commission.

Miguel Santiago Reyes, general director of CFEnergía, said that the “strategic alliance” with ArcelorMittal “strengthens our commitment with the sustainable growth of Mexican industry.”

“The supply of natural gas is a fundamental pillar of competitiveness and economic development, and we’re proud of collaborating with ArcelorMittal México,” he said.

The CFE signed contracts with several U.S. suppliers of natural gas during the 2012-18 government led by former president Enrique Peña Nieto due to a fall in the production of that fuel by Pemex, the state oil company.

President López Obrador has described the quantities of natural gas the CFE committed to buy from the U.S. as “excessive” and some of its contracts are the subject of arbitration proceedings as the state-owned energy company refused to pay higher prices during the 2021 Texas power crisis.

With reports from ExpansiónMilenio, Reuters and El País