The U.S. was once again a major focus at Friday's presidential press conference, as Sheinbaum discussed deportations, tariffs and the prospective designation of cartels as terrorist groups.(Presidencia)
Almost four weeks after United States President Donald Trump took office, actions and potential actions of the second Trump administration continue to be a major talking point in Mexico.
At her Friday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to questions about the Trump administration’s likely designation of Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and its planned imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum made in Mexico.
She also gave an update on the number of immigrants that have been deported to Mexico from the United States since Trump was sworn in on Jan. 20.
US gunmakers and gun distributors could be accomplices to cartel ‘terrorists,’ Sheinbaum says
If the United States designates Mexican organized crime groups as foreign terrorist organizations — as appears likely to happen soon — “we would have to broaden the lawsuit in the United States because, as the United States Justice Department already acknowledged, 74% of the criminal groups’ weapons come from the United States,” she said.
If Mexican cartels are designated as terrorist organizations, Sheinbaum asked, where does that leave gun manufacturers and gun distributors?
Mexico has long pressed for U.S. gunmakers and sellers to do more to prevent their products from ending up in the hands of cartels. (Guardia Nacional)
“Maybe, I don’t know, the lawyers are looking at it, but they could be accomplices,” she said.
“[That] is one of the issues we’re reviewing,” Sheinbaum said.
More than 13,000 deportees have arrived in Mexico since Trump took office
Sheinbaum said that 13,455 people have been deported to Mexico since Trump took office on Jan. 20.
Of that number, 10,485 are Mexican and 2,970 are foreigners, she said.
With regard to non-Mexican deportees, Sheinbaum said that “we receive them and they voluntarily have to decide whether they stay in Mexico and under what conditions, or whether [they want to be] repatriated to their countries.”
She noted that Mexico is receiving non-Mexican deportees at its northern border for “humanitarian reasons.”
The U.S. has deported over 13,000 people to Mexico since Trump took office, Sheinbaum said. (Luis Bautista/Cuartoscuro)
Sheinbaum writes to Trump in attempt to ward off steel tariffs
Sheinbaum told reporters that she sent a letter to Trump on Thursday that included a graph showing the surplus the United States has with Mexico with regard to the trade of steel and aluminum.
Sheinbaum said she was now waiting for a response from Trump, but also noted that Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard will “soon” meet with prospective U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to discuss the proposed tariffs.
She said that a bilateral security meeting will also take place, but didn’t mention a specific date.
“So we’re making progress with important issues,” Sheinbaum said.
“And our position will always be the same — collaboration and coordination, without subordination. Sovereignty is not negotiable,” she said.
The 470-room hotel is located on Playa Mujeres, a 20-minute drive north of Cancún. (Excellence Coral Playa Mujeres/Facebook)
A large resort from hotelier Excellence Collection Group has opened in Playa Mujeres, Quintana Roo, where it is expected to create 3,000 jobs.
“Today is the time to humanize tourism, to recognize that its true strength lies in its people,” Governor of Quintana Roo Mara Lezama Espinosa said at the inauguration of the adults-only hotel Excellence Coral Playa Mujeres.
Attendees at the ceremony included Quintana Roo tourism officials, as well as Excellence Collection Group CEO Antonio Montaner and investors Bernat Pascal, Pedro Montaner and Martín Santandreu, among others.
With an investment of US $220 million, the all-inclusive resort features 470 rooms, seven pools and a spa. Located on Playa Mujeres north of Cancún, it is Excellence Collection’s sixth property in the Mexican Caribbean.
The group also operates five-star hotels in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica under three brands that encompass the concept of all-inclusive luxury: Excellence Resorts are adults-only hotels located in Cancún, Riviera Maya, Punta Cana and Montego Bay; the Beloved Hotels brand which offers adults-only resorts in Cancún; and Finest Resorts, which cater to guests of all ages in Cancún and Punta Cana.
“We couldn’t be more excited to expand our adults-only all-inclusive offering with the proud debut of Excellence Coral Playa Mujeres in February,” Deputy CEO Domingo Aznar said in a statement.
🏨 Inauguramos el Hotel Excellence Coral Playa Mujeres, una obra que fortalece nuestra oferta turística con 470 habitaciones, una inversión de 220 millones de dólares y la generación de 3 mil nuevos empleos, prosperidad compartida y más bienestar para las y los trabajadores que… pic.twitter.com/Q0B7RiERub
“Our team strives to create unforgettable, elevated experiences, and this new property will provide the highest level of service and sophistication to travelers seeking romance and relaxation,” he added.
Lezama said the hotel group plans further investments in Quintana Roo, including a new development in Puerto Morelos, between Cancún and Playa del Carmen in the Riviera Maya, amounting to US $200 million.
According to Marissa Setién, head of the Costa Mujeres Hotel Association, the municipality of Isla Mujeres (which encompasses the island Isla Mujeres and part of the coastal area north of Cancún) will have 11,000 hotel rooms in the next two years and 25,000 rooms by 2030. There are currently 9,000 hotel rooms in the municipality.
Nissan currently operates two factories in Aguascalientes and one in Morelos. (Nissan de México)
Could U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs push Nissan out of Mexico? That’s the lingering question after a series of conflicting statements this week from the company’s global and national leadership.
Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida said on Thursday that the Japanese automaker could relocate from Mexico if the 25% tariffs proposed by Trump were to take effect.
Shortly thereafter, officials at Nissan México told reporters there are no plans to put an end to local production operations, declaring that the company is committed to Mexico.
“We have no information with regard to moving our manufacturing operations to another country,” Nissan México told the newspaper El Financiero when questioned about Uchida’s statement.
“Globally, Nissan is taking steps to guarantee that our production aligns with and satisfies the needs of markets and clients while also strengthening the value of our portfolio,” it added.
Nissan is Mexico’s top-selling car brand, while also producing hundreds of thousands of vehicles in Mexico every year. (Nissan Mexicana)
The Japanese car company sold 255,116 vehicles in Mexico last year, a 5.8% increase over 2023. This represented a 17% share of the Mexican market and made Nissan the top-selling car manufacturer in Mexico for the second year running.
Nissan sold a total of 241,056 light vehicles in Mexico in 2023, achieving 17.7% market share. This figure represented a 42.7% growth compared to 2022.
“[Automakers] are selling 1.5 million vehicles in an environment where inflation is at 4.5% and interest rates have risen to 10.5%. This highlights the industry’s resilience,” Rodrigo Centeno, CEO of Nissan México, told reporters in January.
According to the online publication Latin Times, Nissan is “studying” the possibility of leaving Mexico if Trump goes through with his threats of imposing a 25% tariff on Mexican goods as the tax would pose a significant challenge to Nissan’s profitability.
The auto company has three plants in Mexico — two in the state of Aguascalientes and one in the state of Morelos — from which it exports about 320,000 vehicles to the U.S. each year.
If tariffs are implemented, it could dramatically impact Nissan’s profitability, Uchida said in reference to Trump’s threats of implementing new tariffs on Mexico’s steel and aluminum exports.
“If high tariffs are imposed, we must be prepared to adapt, and moving production elsewhere might become a necessary step,” he said.
Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida said the company could relocate depending on U.S. tariffs. (World Economic Forum/Flickr)
If Nissan decides to leave Mexico, it will have to identify alternative production sites that can accommodate its manufacturing needs while maintaining cost efficiency.
According to the magazine Merca2.0, potential destinations could include the United States, where the company already operates manufacturing facilities in Smyrna, Tennessee, and Canton, Mississippi. Other possibilities include expanding operations in Asia or investing in European plants to offset potential losses from the U.S. market.
Uchida made these comments while presenting the company’s latest financial results. He also provided an update on Nissan’s restructuring plan.
The CEO said the company will reduce global production by 20% — primarily in China where the domestic competition has gained ground — and eliminate 2,500 jobs this year. The layoffs follow the dismissal of 9,000 employees at the end of last year.
Nissan México acknowledged the volatility of the situation, saying they will have to be ready for any eventuality.
“A whole new scenario is unfolding and we have to be flexible in our response,” Nissan México told El Financiero.
Nissan sold 20,279 vehicles in Mexico in January, a 1.5% increase over January 2024.
This Valentine's Day, the Nuevo Laredo Zoo is offering the public "the perfect way to find closure." (Erik Karits/Unsplash)
Valentine’s Day can be a tough time for someone recently jilted or whose relationship is going through a rough patch.
If you are one whose heart is wounded, it might be the perfect time to visit the Nuevo Laredo Zoo and Aquarium.
This week, the Nuevo Laredo City Hall and zoo invite the public to “baptize” a cockroach with the name of an ex, after which the insect will be used to feed the animals at the zoo. Zoo visitors can personally feed their cockroach ex to zoo animals, or register online to receive a video of the cockroach’s demise.
With the stated object of helping those in pain on Valentine’s Day, the zoo posted the following invitation on its website and Facebook page:
“This Feb. 14, give your day a unique touch. Take part in an amusing activity whereby you can name a cockroach after your ex and see it become food for the animals at our zoo. It’s the perfect way to find closure!”
The post was uploaded last week and generated more than 100 comments and hundreds of Facebook likes by Friday.
Some participants even admitted that they were naming cockroaches after family and friends just for fun, according to Milenio newspaper.
Others were less sanguine. One participant gleefully wrote “Your time has come!” Another simply “I have a name in mind.”
Despite the many who voiced support for the light-hearted gambit, quite a few respondents expressed disapproval, categorizing it as insensitive and inappropriate.
One user labeled it a stupid idea, according to the newspaper Reforma, saying Valentine’s Day should not be wasted by thinking about an ex.
Another comment suggested the city and its institutions be more civic-minded: “Why don’t you repair the potholes in the street?” it said.
Finally, one participant objected to the fact that innocent insects were being scapegoated. “What fault is it of the cockroaches?”
This is the second consecutive year that Nuevo Laredo has sponsored a “Finding closure through cockroaches” offer.
Mexico has yet to resolve its dispute with Google over the name of the Gulf of Mexico. (Cuartoscuro/Google Maps)
President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that her government could file a civil lawsuit against Google over the tech company’s decision to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” for United States users of its maps website and app.
“Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior shall … take all appropriate actions to rename as the ‘Gulf of America’ the U.S. Continental Shelf area bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba in the area formerly named as the Gulf of Mexico,” the Jan. 20 executive order said.
At her Thursday morning press conference, Sheinbaum highlighted that Trump’s executive order specifically refers to renaming the U.S. continental shelf area of the Gulf of Mexico, not the entire body of water.
Citing information from the Ministry of the Navy, she said that the U.S. continental shelf extends 22 nautical miles off the U.S. coast and therefore Trump “may have the power” to call “that little bit” of the body of water the Gulf of America because “it corresponds to the sovereignty of the United States.”
“We have sovereignty over our continental platform and Cuba has sovereignty over its part. And there is another part of international waters,” Sheinbaum said.
For users outside the United States and Mexico, both names appear in Google Maps. (Google Maps)
“Who we have a dispute with at the moment is Google,” she said, noting that the company responded to a letter sent by the government, but did not resolve its complaint over the name change on Google Maps.
“If it is necessary, we’ll file a civil lawsuit,” Sheinbaum said without specifying where.
“… Not even President Trump is suggesting that the entire Gulf of Mexico be called the Gulf of America, but rather just their continental shelf. So Google is wrong,” she said.
If Google “keeps on insisting” on displaying the name Gulf of America for Google maps users in the United States (and Gulf of Mexico and Gulf of America for users outside the U.S. and Mexico), the Mexican government could resort to filing a civil suit, Sheinbaum reiterated.
“We’re going to wait,” she said, adding that the legal department of her office is looking into the possible filing of a civil suit against Google.
“We hope they review this. … Google Maps doesn’t set an international standard [on place names], it’s a private company … but even though it’s a private company it has become an international reference,” Sheinbaum said.
“… What we’re saying to Google is ‘review the decree the White House issued and which President Trump signed.’ You will see in the decree that the entire Gulf is not referred to, but rather the continental shelf,” she said.
Encyclopædia Britannica will continue to use ‘Gulf of Mexico’ for a few reasons:
-We serve an international audience, a majority of which is outside the U.S.
-The Gulf of Mexico is an international body of water, and the U.S.’s authority to rename it is ambiguous.
On Thursday, she thanked Encyclopedia Britannica for its declaration on social media that it will continue to use the Gulf of Mexico “for a few reasons,” including that “the U.S.’s authority to rename it is ambiguous” and “it has been called the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ for more than 425 years.”
The country is your oyster with the opening of the new bus station in Colonia Cuauhtémoc. Where will you go? (Hobi Industri/Unsplash)
The lively neighborhood of Cuauhtémoc, as predicted, is exploding in the best way possible. Wine bars, bakeries, coffee shops and art galleries are popping out of the woodwork like bubbles in a just-poured glass of champagne. However nothing sparked my fancy quite like the addition of the shiny, brand new Cuauhtémoc bus station that services CostaLine, ETN, Viva and Autovías.
The bus system in and around Mexico City is extensive. You can go almost anywhere from any of the four central terminals: TAPO, or Oriente, in Venustiano Carranza; Central del Norte in Gustavo A. Madero; Terminal Poniente, better known as Observatorio, in Álvaro Obregón; and the Central de Autobuses del Sur, also called Terminal Tasqueña, in Coyoacán.
The new station’s location on Calle Río Tiber is steps from the Angel of Independence. (Shutterstock)
And by anywhere, I mean if you wanted to take the bus to Cancun, you could! Though I don’t recommend it. In 2023, Mexico News Daily published a two-part series on places you can go by bus in CDMX that is still very relevant today.
Still, we’re talking about one of the most sprawling, congested metropolises in the world. Which leads us to the unfortunate problem with these four terminals: if you live in the city’s central zone, like I do, it’s not always a cakewalk to arrive at the station. TAPO, for example, can easily add an extra hour or more to my journey, regardless of if I choose to take the Metro or an Uber.
Which is why the new station is so exciting. Cuauhtémoc is hyper-central and situated just a stone’s throw from the Angel of Independence. This delightful enclave is one of the most geographically-convenient zones in the city. Now that there are more transportation options departing two blocks from the Angel of Independence on Río Tiber, those of us residing nearby have more incentive to hit the pavement and explore somewhere new.
So, the next time you have a few days free to frolic, here are some destinations you can reach via the new bus station at Calle Río Tiber 74. None of these routes are direct, with the exception of the one that runs to AIFA. On the bright side, leaving from here relieves you of:
The inevitable stress of missing your bus because of traffic or a broken-down Metro;
The time it takes to actually arrive to any of the aforementioned stations; and
The time spent waiting around for your bus to depart at TAPO, Norte, Poniente or Sur.
Now that the benefits are clear, here’s where you can go.
Morelia
(Unsplash)
I didn’t know about the new station yet, and my stomach flipped a thousand times when I saw the blinking letters M-O-R-E-L-I-A above the front window of a bus bumbling down Río Tiber. This was, in fact, my motivation for entering the station in the first place. Could it be true? Did I now have around-the-corner access to one of my favorite Mexican cities of all time? It turns out I did! Morelia’s city center is a Unesco World Heritage site known for its spectacular colonial architecture, made almost entirely of pink cantera stone. There are over 200 historic buildings, including the city’s magnificent cathedral, which may be the most beautiful in Mexico. Be sure to try the sopa tarasca and sweet tamales.
Frequency: Daily Bus line: Autovías Departure time: 4:10 p.m. Cost: One-way tickets start at 621 pesos.
Querétaro
(Jorgeagp)
A lovely little city, Queretaro’s well-preserved historic center is a Unesco World Heritage site. Hugged by quaint streets, colorful facades and flower-filled balconies, it’s known for great museums, mole verde and an emblematic aqueduct built more than three centuries ago. If rural life is what you’re after, spend an afternoon in the Archeological Zone of El Cerrito or head to wine country, where you can tour vineyards like Freixenet and Viñedos Azteca. For more ideas, check out Mexico News Daily’s guide to a weekend away in Querétaro.
Frequency: Daily Bus line:ETN Turistar Departure times: 1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 5:45 p.m. Cost: One-way tickets start at 522 pesos.
San Miguel de Allende
(Valeemb22/CC BY-SA 4.0)
You may already have guessed it: San Miguel de Allende’s historic center is nothing less than a Unesco World Heritage site. A charming colonial gem nestled in the central highlands of Mexico, this picturesque town is known for the neo-Gothic Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, a vibrant art scene and uber-trendy bars and restaurants. Between rooftop cocktails and gallery hopping, take a quick ride 14 km outside San Miguel to the Sanctuary of Atotonilco, often called the Sistine Chapel of Mexico.
Frequency: Daily Bus line: ETN Turistar Departure times: 1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m. Cost: One-way tickets start at 778 pesos.
Felipe Ángeles International Airport
(AIFA)
There are daily bus routes connecting Cuauhtémoc to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA). There are anywhere from seven to eight departures that start at either 4:00 a.m. or 5:30 p.m., depending on the airport’s flight schedule.
Frequency: Daily Bus line: CostaLine Cost: One-way tickets start at 130 pesos.
Additionally, there are daily departures to Celaya, Guanajuato, and Uruapan, Michoacán. Due to security reasons, these cities have not been included.
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.
Mexican design is sert for a big 2025. We asked Maye Ruiz what we should be expecting and how to stay ahead of the fashion. (Maye Ruiz/Instagram)
As we step into 2025 with new projects and full of energy, we asked Mexican top interior designer Maye Ruiz her design trend predictions for the year. Known for her boldness and audacity she talks about evolving color palettes to nostalgic aesthetics, her insights shape a year of creativity in interior design.
Pantone’s Color of the Year, Mocca Mousse, has set the tone. “Grays are bowing out, and browns are taking center stage,” says Ruiz. While some critics on social media deem it “boring,” Ruiz sees it differently: “It’s the new great neutral, warm and inviting, perfectly in sync with current aesthetics.” This change is echoed in the earthy tones embraced by celebrities like the Kardashians and by leading furniture brands.
For those seeking boldness, Ruiz predicts a rise in “artificial” hues. Leading the pack is neon-like yellow (Bambú by Comex), along with striking blues like Klein blue and soft pastel variations. “These colors bring an electrifying energy to spaces, appealing to a daring audience,” she explains.
Red had a huge moment last year and as it fades into the background, vibrant oranges take the spotlight. Burgundy, a staple from fall-winter 2024, remains a favorite for accents. “This evolution adds depth and richness to designs,” notes Ruiz.
Greens make an echoing comeback, with mint and bottle green leading the way. “Green continues to be a grounding color, connecting us to nature while remaining versatile in modern interiors,” says Ruiz.
Latino influence remains a powerful force in 2025. Ruiz highlights an eclectic mix of traditional craftsmanship, advanced technology, and global trends. “This fusion, often seen in artists like Rosalía, extends to interiors, where we’ll see more Latin designers blending cultural heritage with international avant-garde ideas,” she predicts and adds that this trend is not only seen in interior design, but also in clothing and jewelry.
Baroque influences —like bows and lace— continue to enchant designers everywhere. Ruiz points to Laila Gohar’s Gohar World as a shining example of this trend.
“The sun as an archetype is here to stay,” she states. This radiant symbol shines in jewelry and decor, reflecting a collective desire to embrace warmth and optimism.
Rustic styles are reimagined with playful kitsch. “Think knotty woods, countryside textiles, and cozy ‘grandma chic’ vibes. It’s a nostalgic yet fresh take that resonates with our longing for comfort,” Ruiz observes.
Spirals and swirl motifs are a defining feature of 2025. From wrought-iron designs to sculptural furniture, Ruiz predicts this dynamic shape will “add movement and intrigue to spaces.”
With her finger on the pulse of global and cultural shifts, Maye Ruiz’s predictions offer a roadmap for creating inspiring spaces that blend heritage, innovation, and personality. Whether through the warmth of brown hues, the daring allure of neon, or the enduring charm of baroque details, 2025 is set to be a year of bold and meaningful design.
Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer and cultural promoter and is Editor in Chief of Newsweek en Español magazine.
The funds gathered from the new fee are destined for street repairs, rehabilitating public spaces and other infrastructure projects. (Aliux Saavedra Cantellano/Unsplash)
Foreign visitors traveling to the popular beach destination of Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s Pacific Coast will soon be required to pay a tourist fee under a controversial new law recently approved by Jalisco’s Congress.
Deputy Gabriela Cárdenas from the Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) party and president of the Finance Committee said that the collected funds will be allocated to a trust fund for infrastructure projects to “dignify the port of Puerto Vallarta.” These projects will include improvements to streets, public spaces, plazas and the tourist strip.
The new tax exempts foreigners residing in Puerto Vallarta, foreign tourists under 14, people with disabilities, tourist guides, tour operators, airline and cruise ship crew, and workers in the tourism industry.
Estimates suggest that Puerto Vallarta will collect between 300 and 500 million pesos (US $14 to $24 million) of funds from the new tax.
Deputy Yussara Canales of the Green Party (PVEM), who represents Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco’s Congress, questioned the proposal. She argued that no state has the faculty to impose taxes on transit through the territory and even deemed it “unconstitutional.”
“[This is] a tax on the transit of people, disguised as a fee for the use of services, welfare and municipal public spaces,” she said.
Yussara Canales, who represents Puerto Vallarta in the Jalisco state legislature, spoke out against the law, calling it unconstitutional. (Yussara Canales/Instagram)
Currently, each foreign tourist entering Mexico pays a fee of 717 pesos (US $35) to transit or remain in the country for up to 180 days, without permission to engage in paid activities. This fee, dubbed “Non-Resident Tax,” (DNR) can only be collected by the federal government.
Until 2023, the Federal Tax Law (LFD) allowed 20% of the amount collected by DNR to be allocated to the National Migration Institute to provide migration services. The remaining 80% was allocated to the country’s planning, studies, infrastructure and tourism projects.
Since 2024, the funds collected from the DNR have been allocated to infrastructure works by the army, such as the Maya Train.
The new LFD also requires every cruise ship passenger docking at Mexico’s ports to pay US $42 passenger fee starting July 1. The DNR didn’t previously apply to cruise ship passengers stopping in Mexican ports, as they would, on average, stay in the country for less than eight hours.
Editor’s note: After publication, the mayor of Puerto Vallarta said this new state fee will be voluntary. The state of Jalisco’s announcement, however made no mention of the payment being voluntary. Instead, it said: “With the goal of improving infrastructure and maintaining the quality of public services, the creation of a new tax on lodging for foreigners has been approved for the municipality of Puerto Vallarta.”
President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was well aware of the number of United States citizens arrested in Mexico and implied that many of them were related to drugs and arms trafficking for cartels. (Presidencia)
United States citizens arrested in Mexico, Mexicans deported from the U.S. and U.S. spy planes were all discussed at President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Thursday morning press conference.
The federal government’s passenger train projects were also on the agenda, including one planned railroad that will run all the way to the Mexico-United States border (see MND’s story here).
Jesús Antonio Esteva Medina, director of Mexico’s Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation Ministry, tells reporters about Mexico’s plans for building rail lines throughout the country. (Presidencia)
2,600 US citizens have been arrested in Mexico in the last 6 years
A reporter from the Animal Político news outlet noted that Animal Político published an investigation this week that found that more than 2,600 United States citizens have been arrested in Mexico for offenses related to organized crime — including the smuggling of drugs and firearms — since former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office in December 2018.
Animal Político, which reviewed official data, reported that the number of U.S. citizens arrested in Mexico during López Obrador’s six-year term in office (2,500) is 457% higher than the number of Americans detained during the government of former president Enrique Peña Nieto (2012–2018). The figure is 1,195% higher than the number of U.S. citizens detained during the government of ex-president Felipe Calderón (2006-2012).
Sheinbaum told reporters she was aware of the data on arrests of United States citizens in Mexico, and said that the U.S. government is as well because it has asked for “many” of them to be extradited to face charges in the U.S.
“In the United States, there is also organized crime, and there are U.S. citizens who come to Mexico … [to carry out] these illicit activities,” she said.
“Why do we say [there is organized crime in the U.S.]? Because if there wasn’t, who would distribute fentanyl in United States cities?” Sheinbaum said.
President Sheinbaum’s discussion about arrests of U.S. citizens in Mexico started after a reporter’s question at the Thursday press conference. (Presidencia)
“… The issue isn’t just that drugs go from Mexico to the United States,” she added.
Sheinbaum reiterated that Mexico is willing to collaborate with the U.S. government on security issues in Mexico. However, she stressed that the United States government also has to “do its work” to “avoid the trafficking of drugs in their country.”
“… In the United States, they also have to act,” she said.
Just over 2,000 deportees have stayed at reception centers in border cities
Sheinbaum said that 2,016 people deported to Mexico from the United States have stayed at the 10 reception centers that the Mexican government recently set up in northern border cities, including Tijuana, Mexicali, Ciudad Juárez, Matamoros and Reynosa.
“Those who stay there stay for very little time,” she said. “They prefer to go to their places of origin.”
Sheinbaum said that 158 people slept in one of the 10 centers on Wednesday night.
Although demand for the temporary accommodation has not yet been very high, the centers will remain open, she said.
“I’ve made that decision, … to wait [to see what happens] in the coming months, no? And always provide support to our brothers and sisters,” Sheinbaum said.
The federal government developed a plan called “México te abraza” (Mexico embraces you) to support Mexican immigrants deported from the U.S. by the Trump administration.
A man deported from the United States arrives at the El Chaparral border checkpoint in Tijuana. (Omar Martínez/Cuartoscuro)
Sheinbaum said last Friday that Mexico had received just under 11,000 deportees from the United States since Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20.
US spy plane flights ‘don’t alarm us,’ says Sheinbaum
Sheinbaum said that the spy plane missions reportedly carried out by the United States military near and south of the U.S.-Mexico border to surveil Mexican cartels “don’t alarm us.”
“… It’s not the first time that there is a flight of this kind,” she said, referring to one flight that passed near Cabo San Lucas on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula last week.
“It’s important that that is known,” Sheinbaum said, also highlighting that the flight didn’t enter Mexican airspace.
Her government will ask its U.S. counterpart about the flight, but not in a “special letter,” she said.
Rather, Sheinbaum elaborated, it will seek information as part of the “coordination work” Mexico and the United States carry out on security issues.
“It’s not the first time that a flight of this kind occurs,” she reiterated.
“The thing is that now there is more sensitiveness about [security] issues,” Sheinbaum said.
Soldiers guard a burned-out vehicle, part of a "narco blockade" in rural Sinaloa. Cartels in Mexico often create blockades with burning vehicles in order to disrupt the rule of law and demonstrate their power. (Omar Martínez Noyola/Cuartoscuro)
The Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel are among six Mexican organized crime groups set to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the United States government, according to U.S. officials who spoke with The New York Times.
The Times reported on Wednesday that it had spoken to five U.S. officials with knowledge of the Trump administration’s “imminent” plans to designate a number of criminal groups with roots in Latin America as terrorist organizations.
Sinaloa Cartel co-founders — from left to right, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada — are both in U.S. custody, but their criminal organization continues to be a major source of drugs trafficked into the United States.
The officials said that the Mexican groups set to be designated are:
The Sinaloa Cartel
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG
The Northeast Cartel
The Gulf Cartel
The Michoacán Family (La Familia Michoacana or La Nueva Familia Michoacana)
The United Cartels (Cárteles Unidos)
Two of the unnamed U.S. officials told the Times that a total of eight criminal groups are expected to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
The other two are Tren de Aragua, an organization that originated in Venezuela, and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a gang founded by Salvadoran immigrants in the United States.
The Times reported that the U.S. State Department “has informed several congressional committees of the upcoming designations, which could be announced by the White House as early as this week.”
In 2021, Jalisco New Generation Cartel members made headlines in Mexico when their uncovered faces in Aguililla, Michoacán, made plain their sense of impunity. (File photo)
United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to make recommendations on which criminal organizations should be designated as foreign terrorist organizations or specially designated global terrorists.
“People have wanted to do this for years,” Trump said at the time.
“… Mexico probably doesn’t want that, but we have to do it. … They’re killing our people. They’re killing 250,000 to 300,000 American people a year, not 100 [thousand] like has been reported,” he said referring to drug overdose deaths.
The executive order referred to Mexican cartels broadly but specifically named Tren de Aragua and Mara Salvatrucha.
It said that “it is the policy of the United States to ensure the total elimination of these organizations’ presence in the United States and their ability to threaten the territory, safety and security of the United States through their extraterritorial command-and-control structures.”
Asked whether he would consider “ordering U.S. special forces into Mexico” to “take out” cartels, Trump said it “could happen.”
What will the terrorist designations allow the US government to do?
The New York Times reported that “the designations mean the U.S. government can impose broad economic sanctions on the groups and on people or entities linked to them.”
Mexican authorities confiscate a cartel drug lab in Tijuana. (Cuartoscuro)
Who are the 6 Mexican criminal groups that could soon be classified as terrorists?
The Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG are considered Mexico’s two most powerful criminal organizations. They and other Mexican criminal organizations are involved in a range of illicit activities including drug trafficking, people smuggling and extortion.
According to one of the officials who spoke to The New York Times, the net profits from the international operations of Mexico’s cartels could reach up to US $20 billion per year.
The cartels produce the synthetic opioid in Mexico with precursor chemicals illegally imported into the country, mainly from China.
The Sinaloa Cartel was founded by imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada — who was arrested in the United States last July — and others. The “Los Chapitos” and “Los Mayos” factions of the cartel are involved in a bloody dispute that has claimed hundreds of lives in recent months.
Former DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. (DEA/Facebook)
The Northeast Cartel is a splinter group of Los Zetas, which originated as the enforcement arm of the Gulf Cartel in the late 1990s. It is based in the northeastern border state of Tamaulipas.
Carlos Alberto Monsiváis “Bola” Treviño, reported by some news outlets as the No. 1 man in the powerful Northeast Cartel, was detained in Tamaulipas last September.
According to Insight Crime, factions of the Gulf Cartel “control significant areas of the US-Mexico border near the Gulf of Mexico.”
According to the officials who spoke to The New York Times, la Familia Michoacana and Cárteles Unidos are more akin to organized criminal organizations than cartels.
“Those groups tend to act as on-the-ground muscle for Mexico’s cartels to help them spread their territorial control,” the Times said.
“An organized crime group is considered a cartel only if it controls enough of the drug trade to allow it to determine the price of any given narcotic in places like New York or London,” the newspaper said.
Alleged Northeast Cartel leader Carlos Alberto Monsiváis “Bola” Treviño, after his arrest in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas in September. (Mexican government)
In 2022, OFAC designated the Familia Michoacana, which operates in Guerrero, Michoacán and other states, and two of its leaders in accordance with a 2021 executive order — “Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade.”
“La Nueva Familia Michoacana smuggles illicit drugs into and throughout the United States,” the Department of Treasury said at the time.
The Mexican government’s view on designating cartels as terrorist groups
“We will collaborate with and coordinate with the United States, but we will never subordinate ourselves,” she said.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has said that designating cartels as terrorists is a unilateral move that “isn’t helpful” in combatting the United States’ fentanyl crisis. (Presidencia)
Speaking about the United States’ potential designation of Mexican cartels last month, Sheinbaum declared that “unilateral decisions don’t help — what helps is collaboration.”
After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced earlier this month that Canada would designate Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations, Sheinbaum said:
“We don’t believe that the terrorist designation is helpful. There are other forms of cooperation and coordination with respect to our sovereignty that would better assist in combating the fentanyl crisis in the United States.”
According to the New York Times, “Mexican officials have been in drawn-out negotiations with the Trump administration to stave off the terror designation for the cartels and organized crime groups that operate in their country.”
