Mexico sent a second team of firefighters to Canada on Wednesday to help combat the wildfires currently blazing through Canada’s forests.
The group of 100 firefighters and two technicians traveled from Guadalajara, Jalisco, via Vancouver to the Prince George area of British Columbia, a province in western Canada. They were sent in response to a request for international support from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC).
Wildfires have been blazing from as far west as British Columbia to as far east as Quebec, which has prompted calls from Canadian authorities to seek help from firefighting forces around the world. (File photo/Canadian Forces)
“On instructions from President Andrés Manual López Obrador, who recognizes the complex situation that Canada is going through in the face of forest fires in that country, and building on a solid foundation of bilateral cooperation, Mexico responded positively to a new request,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry (SRE) saidin a statement on Wednesday.
The statement stressed that the firefighters have “the experience, physical fitness and training required to stay in the field for the period that is necessary, adhering to international standards to execute the tasks of control and extinction of forest fires.”
This is the second contingent of Mexican firefighters sent to Canada this year. The first group of 200 traveled to Ontario, in eastern Canada, on June 19. They are currently deployed in the areas of Dryden and Sudbury, where they are installing water pumping systems, tracking hotspots, opening fire breaches and directly fighting the flames.
Mexico’s support for Canada is part of the Operational Plan for the Exchange of Resources for Forest Fire Management between Canadian and Mexican participants, ratified this year. It also adheres to commitments made in the Working Group on Forests of the Mexico-Canada Partnership and in the protocols for addressing the effects of climate change in the trilateral North American Leaders Summit.
The contingent of 100 firefighters and two technicians waiting in Vancouver’s International Airport for transfer to Ontario pose with a First Nations totem bearing a Mexican flag. (Conafor)
Canada lost more than 3.8 million hectares of forest to wildfires between January and June, more than 15 times the average of the last 10 years.
Meanwhile, Mexico has been gripped by successive heat waves and historically low rainfall. It has also seensporadic forest fires in areas such as Guadalajara, but nothing on the scale of the fires in Canada.
Take your Spanish to the next level by putting it to the test in these 20 different daily scenarios. (Unsplash)
Prior to my move to Mexico City, I spent a decade living in Miami, Florida, where it’s often said that 60% of residents speak only Spanish at home.
Growing up in New Jersey, my school began offering Spanish classes when I turned 12, which I immediately signed up for. I continued studying Spanish through college and spent six months living in Barcelona after graduation. I’ve worked in Cuba, Spain and other Latin American countries.
Why am I telling you this?
Because here I am, nine months into my new Mexican life, still speaking mostly English. So much of my day is in English: my writing, my phone conversations with family, my chats with friends — including the ones from Mexico!
Increase your in-person opportunities to practice Spanish by scheduling language exchanges with a friend, going on dates and visiting cafés that cater to the local crowd. (Unsplash)
A few weeks ago I got fed up. This was not the plan. I want to master this beautiful language once and for all.
And because I haven’t married the Mexican man of my dreams — yet — I decided to start incorporating Spanish into almost everything I do.
In just a few weeks, I’ve noticed a vast improvement. I’ll tell you how I did it.
First things first: you must commit — like you’d commit to anything else: getting healthy, losing weight, improving your relationship, saving a bunch of money so you can finally move to Mexico. It’s crucial, and it’s absolutely doable.
The kicker: all of the following activities must be conducted in Spanish and Spanish only. It doesn’t matter how much you actually understand. What matters is that you hear the pattern, get used to the words and start to get comfortable with the structure.
It might be hard at times, becauselearning a new language is hard.However, if you plan to spend a sizable amount of time in Mexico (and who wouldn’t?) it’s your duty to have a good grasp of the native tongue.
The fun part: I’ve compiled a list of 20 ways to enhance your Spanish speaking and comprehension, none of which involve a classroom; okay, two involve classrooms, just not in the traditional sense.
Remember: linguistic embarrassment is part of learning the language. (Archive)
1. The first language you hear and speak in the morning should be Spanish. Even if you’re talking to your cat. Or listening to Pedro Infante. Or counting while doing your morning stretches. Which brings me to number two.
2. Take fitness classes. Review body parts, command verbs and other class-related vocabulary before you go. I notice that taking classes first thing in the morning sets my brain to Spanish mode.
3. Meditate. Use an app and choose only those guided in Spanish. You’re an afternoon meditator, you say? Then…
4. Spend 10 to 30 minutes (or more!) listening to a podcast or audiobook. I like to slow mine down to a speed of .08 to give my mind a chance to grasp the words. The key here is to choose a topic that you find interesting! If you don’t care about AMLO in English, you’re not going to care about him in Spanish either. If you prefer visual entertainment…
5. Go to a Spanish-language movie. Or go to a foreign-language movie with Spanish subtitles. In the theater. With popcorn. Make it memorable.
Watching movies in Spanish, especially without the help of subtitles, is one way to improve your listening and comprehension. (Wikimedia Commons)
6. Watch Spanish language series with Spanish subtitles on your preferred streaming service. You’ll get used to the melody and probably gain some very valuable insight into the culture.
7. Sign up for local tours of your city or the surrounding towns. Excellent for reinforcing past tense and getting attuned to the fascinating history of this incredible country.
8. Take a cooking class. Find out what the menu will be, and study the names of ingredients, utensils and actions you might encounter, like stir, shake, chop, mince, etc. The culinary benefits are obvious, and deciphering Mexican menus will suddenly be that much easier.
9. Attend an author talk. If you can’t read the book first, read a summary so you have an idea of the subject matter. If you’re really ready to put yourself in the hot seat, prepare a question or two. The audience always gets the chance to pick the author’s brain.
10. Visit a museum. Get the audio set in Spanish or read only the Spanish side of the labels.
You can still find newspaper stands in most Mexican cities, making it easier to find and read a variety of national publications. (Margarito Pérez Retana/Cuartoscuro)
11. Read Mexican newspapers. You can buy one for just a few pesos or find free editions on the street. Commiting to a few articles a day is hugely helpful for vocabulary, sentence structure and conversation material for your next dinner party.
12. Choose to live in a neighborhood that isn’t full of expats. Now this is certainly easier said than done. Not everyone has the ability to up and move. If you’re stuck for the foreseeable future with English-speaking neighbors…
13. Choose to spend your time working, shopping or sipping coffee in a neighborhood that isn’t full of expats. So if you’re living in Mexico City like me, I do not want to catch you at a cafe in Condesa. And you won’t because I refuse to go.
14. Listen to music in Spanish. Read the lyrics while you listen. It’s a great way to understand verb tenses and colloquial vocabulary. If you listen to Luis Miguel or José José or Alejandro Fernández, you’ll also be gaining valuable skills in romance.
15. Change the language on your phone to Spanish. This is how I learned how to say “copy/paste” — invaluable information.
Look for a barrio that has a tortillería and other family-owned tiendas, all great places to practice your Spanish with your neighbors. (Wikimedia Commons)
16. Sign up for a language exchange. Someone out there wants to improve their English and is willing to barter and improve your Spanish. You might even make a new friend (if you want one). If you don’t want to be around people in real life…
17. Sign up for the iTalki app (or something similar). It showcases thousands of online tutors offering economical one-on-one lessons, small group classes and free conversation practice. All accessible from your phone.
18. Read children’s books. This is a surprisingly wonderful way to expand your basic vocabulary, epecially useful if you’re beginner to intermediate. Advanced speakers might find this useful as a refresher for those words we know we know but we don’t use enough to remember.
19. Go on dates. If you’re single and you’re cool with apps, choose dates who are willing to speak Spanish with you. That way, even if you don’t want to see them again, you’ll have learned something useful, like how to say “I don’t want to see you again.”
20. Keep practicing. This is the bottom line. No amount of worksheets, group classes, or one-hour-a-week private tutoring sessions are going to make you conversational if you aren’t forcing yourself to be around it as much as possible. And you’re in Mexico, so it isn’t that hard. Make a commitment to yourself and follow through, and you’ll reap the rewards.
Bethany Platanella is a travel and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. With her company, Active Escapes International, she plans and leads private and small-group active retreats. She loves Mexico’s local markets, Mexican slang, practicing yoga and fresh tortillas. Sign up for her (almost) weekly love letters or follow her Instagram account, @a.e.i.wellness.
Many Mexicans responded positively about the economy compared to last year. Sharon Hahn Darlin/Wikimedia Commons)
Consumer confidence increased to its highest level in more than 1 1/2 years in June, official data shows.
The national statistics agency INEGI reported Wednesday that the consumer confidence index (ICC) rose 0.6 points from May to 45.2.
INEGI reported Wednesday that the consumer confidence index (ICC) rose 0.6 points from May to 45.2, as the Mexican economy continues to have a strong 2023. (Shutterstock)
The month-over-month increase was the highest in five months, while the ICC reached its highest level since November 2021. The annual ICC increase was 2.6 points.
Inegi, in conjunction with the Bank of Mexico, conducted its consumer confidence national survey at 2,336 homes in cities across all 32 federal entities during the first 20 days of June.
It asked respondents about:
Their current economic situation compared to a year earlier.
Their expected economic situation over the next 12 months.
Their opinion about Mexico’s current economic situation compared to 12 months earlier.
Their opinion about Mexico’s expected economic situation over the next 12 months.
Their current capacity to purchase furniture, a television, a washing machine and other home appliances compared to their capacity 12 months earlier.
Responses to the INEGI survey were generally more optimistic than in 2022. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Their responses — derived from the options of much better, better, the same, worse and much worse with regard to the first four questions, and greater, the same or lesser with respect to the fifth — were weighted and used to formulate the ICC score.
The biggest driver of the month-over-month increase in consumer confidence was an improvement of 1.5 points in the sub-index that measures perceptions about the national economy compared to a year earlier.
Two of the other four sub-indexes also rose compared to May: that which assesses the current capacity of respondents to purchase a home appliance increased by 1 point, and that which measures respondents’ current economic situation jumped 0.5 points.
The sub-index that measures perceptions on Mexico’s expected economic situation during the next 12 months remained unchanged, while that which gauges respondents’ expected economic situation during the same period declined 0.2 points.
The peso has continued a trend of appreciation against the US dollar, reaching a new 8-year high this week. (Mario Jasso/ Cuartoscuro.com)
The only sub-index that declined is paradoxically the only one with a score above 50 — a level which indicates optimism among consumers.
The score for the home appliance sub-index — 28.4 — is well below the other four.
INEGI on Wednesday also reported private consumption data for the month of April.
The Monthly Index on Private Consumption in the Domestic Market increased 0.5% from March and 3.5% annually.
Consumption of Mexican-made goods and domestic services increased 0.3% from March, while consumption of imported products rose by a much high 2.8%. The annual increases were 2.6% and 12.4% respectively.
The bank Banco Base noted in a report that the strength of the peso – the US dollar dipped below 17 pesos on Wednesday morning – has boosted consumption of imported goods due to the greater purchasing power of the Mexican currency.
The new airline will operate from Los Cabos Airport and serve a number of major destinations across Mexico. (Señor Air)
Mexico soon will have a new regional airline.
To be based out of Los Cabos International Airport, Señor Air is aiming to offer a luxurious flying experience to major destinations across Mexico.
The airline announced its upcoming opening in a post on social media but did not provide a date when it would begin operations. (Señor Air)
“We’re introducing Señor Air, the new regional airline that offers a first-class service, with personalized attention and details that make the difference,” the company announced on Instagram.
But don’t pack your swim trunks and flippers just yet. Although Señor Air has a live website showing destinations, it’s not yet selling any tickets — although it says that’s coming soon — and it currently has a single Embraer ERJ135 aircraft with 37-passenger capacity.
But the nascent airline has ambitions of connecting Los Cabos with the cities of Guadalajara, Los Mochis, Mexico City, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta, offering economy, economy-plus and priority-class tickets, as well as pet travel carrier services, escort services for minors and transfers on ground with the transportation company Cabo Cardinal.
All of these are mentioned as impending on the company’s website.
Executives from the carrier say Señor Air will generate an economic benefit for the region as well as new direct and indirect jobs. And will also eventually connect Mexico’s northwest with the Felipe Ángeles Airport in Mexico City (AIFA).
Volaris is currently the only airline that connects AIFA with the northwest of Mexico, flying to Mexicali, Tijuana and La Paz.
The arrival of the monsoon means heavy rains - a welcome relief after the heat wave that pounded Mexico for several weeks. (Victor Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)
The North American monsoon, also known as the Mexican monsoon, has arrived.
Since late June, the northwestern states of the country have registered rains that surpass 100 millimeters, with downpours expected to continue for the rest of July and August. Unlike rains caused by hurricanes, monsoon rainfall is usually torrential and short-lived.
The monsoon season can bring short but intense showers. (Damián Sánchez/Cuartoscuro)
States like Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Durango, Nayarit, Sinaloa and Sonora are affected by the monsoon, as well as are some northern areas of the Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico’s longest mountain range, which stretches from northern Jalisco to northern Sonora.
The monsoon affects northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States each summer. Rainfall during this season represents over half of the annual precipitation for both regions, meaning that if they don’t see rain during the monsoon, they probably won’t get much of it for the rest of the year.
The word monsoon comes from the Arabic word mausim, which means season and refers to a seasonal change in the direction of warm and humid winds between the continent and its surrounding bodies of water. While humid air typically flows outward from land to the ocean, the Mexican monsoon sees winds move inland from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico to the east and the Pacific and Gulf of California to the west, converging in the northwest of Mexico.
It causes a drastic change in normal rainfall and temperature conditions in the country, mitigating drought in the northwest while fostering drought in the northeast by absorbing moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.
Some northern states, including Baja California, are expected to face the wettest weather. (Omar Martínez/Cuartoscuro)storms
This year’s monsoon rainfall comes as a relief for the region after a record-breaking heat wave that plagued most of Mexico in June, bringing temperatures as high as 45 C in some parts of the country.
For Tuesday, heavy rains with possible hail and thunderstorms is expected in some parts of Sinaloa, Durango, Chihuahua and Coahuila, while Baja California and Baja California Sur could see cloudy skies and scattered showers.
The draft proposal comes on the heels of the Mexican government imposing a temporary 50% tariff on white corn imports, an attempt to discourage Mexicans from buying GM corn. (Andrea Murcia Monsivais)
The federal government is planning to ban the use of genetically modified (GM) corn in tortillas.
The Health Ministry on Monday published a draft proposal to modify the Official Mexican Standard (NOM) that governs products made from masa, or corn dough.
The proposal is part of an overall federal government effort to stop Mexicans from eating white GM corn imports, most of which comes from the United States. (Susan Slater/Wikimedia Commons)
“The use of genetically modified corn as a raw material must be avoided in the making of the products covered by this Mexican Official Standard,” states the document, which was posted to an online platform of the National Commission for Regulatory Improvement (Conamer).
Interested parities have 30 days to comment on the proposal, after which the government could publish a modified NOM in its official gazette that bans the use of GM corn in tortillas. The modified NOM would take effect 60 days after publication.
The National Chamber of Industrialized Corn (Canami) said that the proposed measure “creates restrictions on international trade and members of the International Trade Organization must be notified.”
Canami also said that the costs of laboratory tests to determine whether corn is GM or not aren’t being considered. The chamber said that those costs could cause their members to record net losses.
Marcela Martinez Pichardo, president of Mexico’s National Chamber of Industrialized Corn, which said the proposed change creates restrictions on international trade and that the cost of testing would be a burden to its members. (Canami/Facebook)
The newspaper Reforma reported that there have also been complaints about the brevity of the 60-day period between the publication of a modified NOM and the entry into force of its provisions.
The Health Ministry’s publication of the draft proposal on the Conamer platform came just over a week after the federal government imposed a 50% tariff on white corn imports in an effort to limit human consumption of GM maize.
The tariff, which ends access to cheap white corn imports, is scheduled to remain in force until Dec. 31, 2023, after which Mexico intends to ban the importation of GM maize for human consumption. A ban on GM corn for animal feed is slated to come in at an unspecified later date, depending on supply.
The government of the United States – a large supplier of yellow corn fodder to Mexico – last month requested dispute settlement consultations with its Mexican counterpart over Mexico’s ban on GM corn imports. The government of Canada announced June 9 that it would participate as a third party in the consultations initiated by the U.S.
The peso has appreciated nearly 15% against the dollar so far this year. (Depositphotos)
The value of one US dollar dipped below 17 Mexican pesos for the first time since 2015 on Wednesday morning.
Data from the financial and media company Bloomberg showed that one greenback was buying 16.98 shortly after 7:30 a.m. Mexico City time.
That exchange rate represented the peso’s strongest position since December 2015. The peso subsequently weakened slightly and was trading at 17.00 to the dollar shortly before 9 a.m.
The Mexican peso has appreciated 14.77% against the US dollar this year, making it the world’s second best performing currency against the greenback.
High interest rates in Mexico — the central bank’s benchmark rate is currently 11.25% — is seen as one factor that has contributed to the peso’s positive performance this year. Strong incoming flows of foreign capital and remittances are among the other factors cited by analysts.
Janneth Quiroz Zamora, chief economist at the Monex financial group, wrote on Twitter that positive data on domestic consumer demand published by the national statistics agency INEGI on Wednesday morning gave the peso a boost.
French bank BNP Paribas is predicting that the USD-MXN exchange rate will be 16.70 at the end of the year, but the four largest banks in the Mexican market – BBVA, Banorte, Citibanamex and Santander – all predict that a greenback will buy more than 18 pesos at the close of 2023.
San Miguel de Allende is a perfect place to have a home with a pool. (CDR San Miguel Founding Member of Forbes Global Properties)
In San Miguel de Allende, the UNESCO World Heritage city in the heart of Mexico (voted “world’s best small city” three times by Condé Nast Traveler), the weather is pretty much perfect all year round. There’s a sense of the seasons, but the sun always shines. That means if you’re buying a home, a swimming pool is a luxury that makes complete sense.
San Miguel’s environment, the high desert sierra, is a happy climate oasis, where international travelers flock to enjoy ideal temperatures and low humidity. More people are investing in second homes, or making the switch to residency here. Whether you’re dreaming of an 18th-century hacienda style treasure or a state of the art modern eco-home, San Miguel offers outstanding real estate opportunities for all tastes.
Calle Aldama is one of the most famous and beloved streets in San Miguel. (Unsplash)
A few blocks away from the town’s central plaza, this majestic 7-bedroom 18th-century hacienda’s pool is the heart of the house, set in an open landscaped courtyard. Flanked by the exotic outdoor living room, a dining area with high beamed ceilings and one of several elegant guest rooms, the lush pool area is ideal for entertaining, and soaking up an ambiance of history, beauty and artistry.
This home is one of the finest examples of a re-imagined grand hacienda in the city, with its soaring arches, original fireplaces, chandeliers and exquisitely carved wooden doors transporting you back in time, and conjuring the soul of colonial Mexico.
The peaceful pool in Casa Palikao. (CDR San Miguel Founding Member of Forbes Global Properties)
Other stand-out features are the outdoor staircases which lead to a botanical garden on the second level, overlooking the glorious skyline, and an impressively restored second house and garden that is seamlessly joined to the original house.
This rare jewel is truly a one-off in luxury, and has been lovingly redesigned by renowned designers and architects.
Located on one of the most beautiful streets in central San Miguel, this 4-bedroom property epitomizes intimacy, charm and character. The progressively leveled terrace gardens lead down to its magical pool area, bordered by classic deep red, bamboo and ivy covered walls, featuring one of the home’s delightful array of antique stone animal statues.
Poolside at Casa Camille. (CDR San Miguel Founding Member of Forbes Global Properties)
Sink into the atmosphere of the town’s Spanish colonial history, with this home’s ancient loggia, richly detailed carved woodwork throughout the house, blue and white tiled halls and walls, and abundant greenery and trees. The eye-catching entryway gate, fashioned in extravagantly patterned metal work is another notable feature.
This light-filled, distinctively classical home embodies elegance and boasts original stone fireplaces, antique water features, and luxurious rooms, two with inner courtyards.
Stunning views from the rooftop terrace provide just one more area in a home where space is masterfully designed to flow and to foster the perfect environment for entertaining.
The two guest rooms’ French doors open onto this gorgeous pool terrace, inviting you to imagine a bright morning or golden evening dip!
Experience shades of Tuscany in this exquisite farmhouse style 4-bedroom modern home, set in a secure residential community within one of the most beautiful vineyards, just 20 minutes outside San Miguel.
The solar-heated pool is the central feature of the garden and offers panoramic views across the vineyards, cypress and olive groves, and lavender fields. Next to it is a dining area shaded by grapevines – which creates a spectacular space to hang out all day!
The solar-heated pool at Casa Merlot. (CDR San Miguel Founding Member of Forbes Global Properties)
This luxury country lifestyle offers the opportunity to bask in the beauty of nature. The home itself boasts custom-designed wood doors and library bookcases, an impressive modern marble-topped kitchen, lofty ceilings, expansive windows that flood the rooms with natural light and top-shelf amenities throughout.
You’ll be privy to special amenities, like tennis, billiards, a clubhouse, an event space, horse riding – and the reputable wines bottled on-site, at residents’ prices!
A feat of modern design by architect Paolo Arango, built using local stone, this 3-bedroom eco-friendly home is situated in the exclusive Malanquín Golf Club, on the edge of town.
You can relish the lake, valley and mountain vistas from the spectacular infinity pool in the spacious backyard, which also has two large patios, outdoor dining, a grill and fire-pit.
Modern fireplaces, custom carpentry, granite kitchen features, walk-in closets, balconies and even a bathtub, are all noteworthy features of this contemporary gem. With its impressive windows, the interior seems to blend seamlessly into the outdoors, creating an unrivaled sense of space.
The infinity pool at Casa Alba. (CDR San Miguel Founding Member of Forbes Global Properties)
Rainwater recycling, drip irrigation for the garden, solar power, LED lighting and a smart home kit makes this a home that anticipates the future and displays highly creative architectural design.
Retreat into this stunning area at the foot of the picachos mountains, to discover this modern and stylish 4-bedroom home.
Only 10 minutes from town, you’ll feel like you’re in the countryside; though on the edge of La Malcontenta neighborhood, you can be assured you’re secure.
Mountain views from the pool at Casa Vista Picachos. (CDR San Miguel Founding Member of Forbes Global Properties)
Here, the breathtaking aqua pool rises up towards the mountainous skyline, with a hot tub close by for cooler mornings and pleasant evenings. The entire outdoor area, including the seating round the grill and stone fire circle, is beautifully lit by night.
Inside, this modern beauty includes the unique features of a wide walnut staircase, mezquite doors, hand-painted tiles, upstairs terraces and a sauna.
The sense of light, space and artful modern design, like the high ceilings with contemporary beams and chandeliers, is a perfect counterpoint to the rugged, dramatic and awe-inspiring setting of the high sierra.
Post-pandemic, San Miguel de Allende is more in demand than ever before. We’re seeing an exponential increase in foreign residents and businesses, injecting this cultural hub with even more quality, variety, diversity and energy. It’s a city explosive with new creative potential, yet retaining the calm grandeur of its history and culture.
There is no doubt that if you’re looking to invest or to live here, these five truly magnificent, high-end properties, each with unique and notable pools – listed with the city’s most reputable luxury brokerage, CDR San Miguel Founding Member of Forbes Global Properties – offer that quintessential magic the city is renowned for.
A pro-migrant protester stands outside the U.S. embassy in Mexico City. The Mexican government says that Florida's SB 1718 and Kansas' HB 2350 unfairly target migrant workers. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico has expressed its opposition to recently enacted laws in the U.S. states of Florida and Kansas due to their potential impact on Mexican migrants.
In two separate statements, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) said that the federal government disapproves of the immigration law that took effect in Florida on July 1 and the human smuggling law that went into force in Kansas on the same day.
Foreign Affairs Minister Alicia Bárcena met with President López Obrador to discuss the anti-immigration measures. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
The former law makes using the Department of Homeland Security website E-Verify “mandatory for any employer with 25 or more employees, imposes enforceable penalties for those employing illegal aliens, and enhances penalties for human smuggling,” according to a statement on the website of Governor Ron DeSantis, who signed the legislation in May.
It also “prohibits local governments from issuing Identification Cards (ID) to illegal aliens, invalidates ID cards issued to illegal aliens in other states, and requires hospitals to collect and submit data on the costs of providing health care to illegal aliens,” among other measures.
The SRE said that Mexican consulates in Miami and Orlando, “on behalf of the government of Mexico, express the government’s repudiation of measures that lead to acts of discrimination and racial profiling.”
The statement said that the federal government respects the “processes and measures taken by state legislatures” in the United States but believes that the new law “will affect the human rights of thousands of Mexicans, including children, and will exacerbate hostile environments, which may lead to hate crimes and acts against the migrant community.”
Many Mexicans in Florida protested against the measures at the state capitol. (Cody Butler/Twitter)
“The measure does not reflect the migrants’ valuable contribution to the economy, society and culture of Florida and the country,” the SRE added.
The ministry also said that “criminalization is not the way to solve the issue of undocumented immigration” and asserted that the measures in the law are inspired by “xenophobic and white nationalist sentiments.”
“Policies such as these also have a strong impact on the bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States, given that they demonstrate the reluctance of some actors to find joint solutions that invite collaboration,” the SRE said.
“… On behalf of the Government of Mexico, the Foreign Ministry will use all resources at its disposal to defend the rights and dignity of the Mexicans in Florida. … With the support of civil society organizations involved in defending human rights, Mexico will identify and register potential cases of violations of the rights of Mexican nationals,” the ministry said.
Migrant workers are the backbone of various types of labor in Florida, but there are reports that many are leaving the state as a result of the new law, described as one of the strictest immigration laws in the U.S. (kzoo)
It added that consular staff will be trained in the “scope” of the law and “in publicizing messages and recommendations through the ‘Know and Exercise Your Rights’ strategy, which seeks to educate our community about their basic rights.”
Some migrant workers have decided to leave Florida due to the implementation of the new law, according to an official with the Farmworkers Association of Florida.
“We are hearing people are starting to leave,” Yvette Cruz told CBS News. She predicted that more migrants will leave due to the application of Senate Bill 1718, which has been described as one of the strictest immigration laws in the United States.
President López Obrador on Monday expressed his dislike for the new law and called on like-minded citizens to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with it at the ballot box.
Kansas governor Laura Kelly, right, vetoed her state’s immigration bill, saying legislators hadn’t thought out its consequences well enough, but her veto was overturned. (Laura Kelly/Twitter)
“Not one vote for DeSantis,” he said, acknowledging the governor’s presidential aspirations. “Not one vote for those who reject migrants. We can’t remain silent.”
In Kansas, House Bill 2350, which took effect Saturday, “creates the crimes of human smuggling and aggravated human smuggling, provides for criminal penalties, and makes these provisions supplemental to the Kansas Criminal Code.”
The SRE statement on that law expressed a sentiment similar to that conveyed in the press release on the new measures in Florida.
“The Consulate of Mexico in Kansas City, on behalf of the Government of Mexico, expresses the government’s repudiation and concern regarding initiatives such as these that can lead to racial profiling and acts of discrimination and abuses against the Hispanic, Latino and Mexican community,” it said.
Under the new Florida law, hospitals receiving Medicaid money would be required to ask every patient about their immigration status and report that data to the state. (Florida Health Justice Project)
“The safety and wellbeing of the Mexican community in Kansas is a priority that we share with the highest authorities of the state, and we welcome Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of the bill because of its potential implications,” the statement said.
Kelly’s veto of the bill was overturned by the Kansas Legislature in late April. The Democratic Party governor had said that House Bill 2350 was “the product of a rushed process” and would have “unintended consequences, from decimating our agriculture workforce to allowing the state to encroach into Kansans’ personal lives.”
“You just have to look at basic examples: If a good Samaritan gives his or her fellow Kansan a ride to work and receives gas money in exchange — or if a paramedic, while on duty, transports someone to the emergency room — they could be subject to level-five felonies,” Kelly said April 24.
“That overcriminalization is unnecessary and shows that lawmakers haven’t considered the full impact of this bill.”
The SRE again expressed its respect for “state legislative initiatives” in the U.S., “but, at the same time, the Foreign Ministry’s North America Unit will intensify its efforts to provide accurate and timely information to the Mexican community, and ensure respect for their rights and recognition of all of the contributions they make on a daily basis both in the state [of Kansas] and throughout the U.S.”
New Aeromexico nonstop flights between Mexico City and Rome have created the first direct connection between the two cities since the collapse of the Alitalia airline in 2021. (airlinesfleet.com)
An estimated 200,000 Italian tourists will arrive in the country next year thanks to the new Aeroméxico flights between Rome and Mexico City, Mexican ambassador to Italy Carlos García de Alba told reporters at a Tuesday press conference.
The Mexican airline has operated a daily flight between the two cities since June. The route was formerly operated by defunct Italian carrier Alitalia, which collapsed in 2021.
A sign of greater interest in Mexico? Italians are also drinking more tequila, with the country moving into sixth place in global consumption of the Mexican spirit. (Francisco Galarza/Unsplash)
“The new flights between Rome and Mexico City are overcrowded and are registering a higher volume of passengers than those from European capitals such as London or Paris,” García de Alba said.
He also said that 2024 will see a “strong transversal program,” involving 18 activities to commemorate the 150-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and Mexico, which began on Dec. 15, 1874.
García de Alba said that Italy is the sixth largest per capita consumer of tequila, owing to a 50% spike in consumption during 2022. The increase raised Italian imports to 2.7 million liters, surpassing Australia and Canada for the first time.
In May, Mexico’s Tourism Ministry awarded the Val’Quirico development in Tlaxcala — a tourist attraction that recreates an Italian medieval village — the newly created title of Kingdom of Mexico for promoting the Italian regions of Tuscany and Umbria, as well as Segovia in Spain.
Val’Quirico is a hybrid residential and tourist complex modeled on medieval European construction as would be found in parts of Italy. (Val’Quirico)
Luigi de Chiara, the Italian ambassador to Mexico, highlighted that Val’Quirico promotes Italian lifestyle, culture, history and tourism, as it invites visitors to visit “the original places” in Italy.
Aside from tourism and Mexican imports, the Italian government has also supported Mexican authorities in repatriating stolen artifacts. Italy will also welcome the arrival of the Mexican navy ship Cuauhtémoc in Naples on July 29.
