Tucson Samaritans: The volunteer group helping vulnerable migrants at the US-Mexico border

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January 28, 2025

Tuscon Samaritans — The Arizona volunteers have stood firm on providing migrant aid amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States. (@tucsonsams/Instagram)

A diverse group of volunteers in Arizona is looking out for migrants arriving at the United States-Mexico border despite an increase in anti-immigration rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Tucson Samaritans, founded in 2002, is a grassroots, volunteer-run, humanitarian aid organization that provides water, food, first aid and other essential items to migrants who cross into Arizona from Mexico. They take up to 14 trips into the Sonoran Desert each week.

The volunteer group Tuscon Samaritans provides water, food, first aid and other essential items to migrants who cross into Arizona from Mexico. (@tucsonsams/Instagram)

According to their website, the volunteers “range in age from college students to people in their 80s. Some of us are multilingual; some speak only English. Some are recent immigrants while others trace their heritage for many generations in the Sonoran Desert.” Their stated mission is to save lives and relieve the suffering of migrants in Southern Arizona.

“What you don’t want to do is see people suffer,” Tucson Samaritan Gail Kocourek told KOLD-TV News in a recent interview. “One of my favorite pastors said, ‘[Migrants] are people too, and it’s not our place to judge, our job is to help people.’”

The Samaritans describe their work as a “civil initiative” in support of U.S. laws that they believe the government is not following and in opposition to laws that the group believes are causing suffering and death.

Acknowledging that the U.S. immigration system is broken, the Samaritans have lobbied U.S. lawmakers to take action. “We need more asylum judges to process cases faster. People are waiting three and four years [for their cases to be heard],” Nicholas Matthews, a Tucson Samaritan, told the Los Angeles Times in October.

“A nosotros lo único que nos importa es ayudar”, dicen los Tucson Samaritans, un grupo de voluntarios de adultos mayores que proporcionan agua, alimentos, ropa y primeros auxilios a los migrantes que cruzan la frontera por el sur de Arizona https://t.co/bpOIjcw5Ab pic.twitter.com/bIug0dAkwH

— El Universal (@El_Universal_Mx) January 24, 2025

The Samaritans are not alone. Tucson boasts a network of churches and nonprofits that provide temporary shelter and supplies for migrants seeking a better life in the United States.

Organizations such as Salvavisión, No Más Muertes and Fronteras Compasivas make weekly trips to southern Arizona to leave water jugs in the desert for migrants making the 70-mile trek across the arid terrain stretching between the Mexico border and Tucson.

Among other items, the volunteers leave cereal bars, soup packets and cookies, as well as clothing such as shoes, socks and caps.

The Salvavisión volunteers do their best to humanize the trip for the migrants, writing messages of support such as “God be with you” on the water jugs.

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, the daughter of immigrant farmworkers from Mexico, is a vocal critic of Republicans who have turned immigration into a “wedge issue” while “spewing lies” about migrants with “cruel and dehumanizing” language.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tucson Samaritans (@tucsonsams)

While giving humanitarian aid to anyone is legal, members of the Tucson Samaritans frequently receive threats and get stalked by people who don’t agree with their work, according to KOLD-TV news.

The Samaritans have been harassed by anti-immigration vigilantes carrying cameras and rifles. The vigilantes have been known to shoot holes in the water jugs left by volunteers for the migrants.

With reports from El Universal, the Los Angeles Times and KOLD-TV

Google Maps to change Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America, but only in US

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MND Staff

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January 28, 2025

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A screenshot of a map of Mexico and the southern U.S., showing from California to Georgia. — Google said the new name will be visible once the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is updated. (Screen capture/Google)

Google has said it will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” in Google Maps following President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico in the U.S.

The announcement came Monday on X, when Google wrote that the new name will be visible to users in the United States once the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is updated.

Gulf of Mexico seascape sunset with bridge in Venice, Florida — This part of the Gulf of Mexico, located in Venice, Florida, will soon be referred to as the Gulf of America by Google Maps. (Jim Schwabel/Shutterstock)

“When that happens, we will update Google Maps in the U.S. quickly to show Mount McKinley and Gulf of America,” Google said.

Mount McKinley, located in Denali National Park in Alaska, was changed from Mount McKinley to Denali in 2015 during the administration of former U.S. president Barack Obama. Denali is a local Athabascan name for the mountain.

Google explained that when official names differ between countries, Maps users see the official local name — meaning that the change will be visible in the U.S. but not in Mexico, where the name will remain “Gulf of Mexico.”

Following what the tech company called “a longstanding practice,” Google said that users located outside of the two countries will see both names on Google Maps.

Google’s announcement on X followed queries by users.

“We’ve received a few questions about naming within Google Maps,” the company wrote on X. These questions follow Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as part of his pledge to honor “America’s greatness.”

The Gulf of Mexico was first shown as the official name on maps used by 16th-century Spanish explorers, prior to the founding of the United States.

On Friday, the Secretary of the Interior announced that efforts are underway to remove all mentions of the Gulf of Mexico in the GNIS, “effective immediately for federal use.” In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis already began using the name Gulf of America after putting it in a weather forecast saying that an “area of low pressure was moving across the Gulf of America.”

A recent example of conflict over geographic nomenclature elsewhere involves Iran and Arabic nations, regarding the Gulf that both regions share. Historically known as the Persian Gulf, in recent years, Arab countries have pushed to change the name to the “Arabian Gulf.”

While Google Maps displays the official local name, the Gulf is primarily shown as the Persian Gulf in other countries.

Mexico News Daily

Warehouse occupancy in Mexico’s central Bajío region up 51%

By

MND Staff

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January 28, 2025

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Warehouse space in the Bajío region — The automotive and light manufacturing industries represent more than half of the demand for warehouse space in the Bajío region. (Shutterstock)

The industrial warehouse market in Mexico’s Bajío region — comprising the states of Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Jalisco, Zacatecas, Michoacán and San Luis Potosí — saw strong growth in 2024 despite geopolitical tensions threatening nearshoring investments in Mexico.

According to a report by real estate consulting firm CBRE, industrial warehouse occupancy in the region increased by 51% compared to 2023. CBRE’s data shows that the region registered 722,000 square meters of net absorption, primarily driven by land sales transactions and the expansion of companies already established in the Bajío area.

The Argentina-based Amazon competitor Mercado Libre emerged as the largest warehouse tenant in 2024, accounting for 11% of total rented square meters in Mexico. (Mercado Libre)

According to data collected by the Mexican real estate data tech agency Datoz, net absorption of warehouse space in el Bajío represented 28.28% of the national total, outpacing other industrial hubs like Mexico’s central, northeast and northwest regions.

“The demand for industrial space by tenants in the automotive and light manufacturing industries continues,” CBRE said. “These sectors represent more than half of the demand [in the Bajío region], and this trend is expected to continue during the first half of 2025.”

Rodrigo Folgueras, the regional vice president of CBRE Mexico, explained that the vacancy rate for industrial warehouses in El Bajío has remained relatively stable, closing at 3.6% at the end of Q4 — slightly lower than the 3.9% vacancy rate recorded at the end of the same period in 2023.

Folgueras estimated that the light manufacturing and automotive industries would continue to demand more industrial space in the region, primarily focusing on Build-to-Suit (BTS) projects. He also noted an upward trend in the asking prices for warehouses, similar to what is occurring in other markets.

Nationwide, the Argentina-based Amazon competitor Mercado Libre emerged as the largest warehouse tenant in 2024, accounting for 11% of total rented square meters in Mexico.

According to Silvia Gómez, an industrial market consultant at Datoz, this positive trend in the industrial real estate market will help mitigate the potential impacts of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs on Mexico’s main industrial sectors.

With reports from El Economista, Inmobiliare and Obras Expansión

Moody’s: US tariffs on Mexico would disrupt US $740B in bilateral trade flows

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MND Staff

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January 28, 2025

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Two shipping containers, one with a U.S. flag and one with a Mexican flag, suspended next to each other in the air by thick cables. They are crashing into each other in mid air. — Key industries whose operations and sourcing are spread over both the U.S. and Mexico will be hit the hardest, the financial services agency predicted. (Shutterstock)

President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Mexico would disrupt trade flows by US $740 billion, financial services company Moody’s Ratings warned on Monday. They are likely to hit key strategic industries worst, including the automotive, technology and manufacturing sectors.

“The effect of tariffs and retaliation [from Mexico] would spill over into direct trade figures between the United States and Mexico, due to intermediate inputs for assembly and processing, which are transferred back and forth within the manufacturing, automotive and technology industries of both countries,” stated Moody’s.

People shopping at a Mexican supermarket — The disruption to free trade between the U.S and Mexico — especially if Mexico retaliates with its own tariffs — could have far-reaching effects in Mexico, including severe peso depreciation and inflation. (Elizabeth Ruíz/Cuartoscuro)

Trump first proposed tariffs of 25% on Mexican and Canadian imports after winning the presidential election in November. He said the tariffs would remain in place “until such time as Drugs, in particular, Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”

He has not yet rolled out the tariffs, but he has laid the groundwork for their implementation, possibly as soon as Saturday.

Moody’s figure of US $740 billion takes into account tariff implementation and potential similar retaliatory measures applied by Mexico.

Mexican exports to the United States contribute approximately 30% of the country’s GDP, and around 80% of Mexico’s exports are destined for the U.S. Therefore, tariffs would have a negative macroeconomic effect, as well as hinder several sectors.

New tariffs could also lead to the peso’s depreciation and drive up inflation. On Jan 20, Moody’s warned that proposed tariffs on Mexico could limit economic growth to 0.6% in 2025.

The ratings agency suggested that if Mexico were to respond with its own tariffs it “would complicate Mexico’s efforts to reduce the fiscal deficit and increase pressure on the sovereign credit profile.”

It remains uncertain whether Trump will impose the tariffs he pledged on both Mexico and Canada.

“Despite the president’s initial intentions to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico as early as 1 February, recent statements indicate the U.S. government will review the measures’ economic effects, delaying a decision on tariffs to 1 April at the earliest,” wrote European affairs analyst Yannis Koutsomitis wrote on on X on Monday. “The delay would allow time for negotiation between country officials.”

With reports from Expansión

Fact check: Does Mexico’s president really plan to deport US citizens?

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MND Staff

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January 28, 2025

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A post claiming that President Sheinbaum would go "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" and would consider deporting U.S. citizens from Mexico. (Facebook)

President Claudia Sheinbaum said in November that if United States President Donald Trump were to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican exports, her government would put a retaliatory tariff on U.S. exports to Mexico.

The president, however, HAS NOT said that her government is planning to respond to deportations of Mexicans from the United States by deporting U.S. citizens from Mexico.

Claudia Sheinbaum talking to reporters about Donald Trump wanting to speed up USMCA reveiw. She's holding two fingers up as she rests her right arm on the presidential podium in the National Palace — Did Mexico’s president really say, “Get out, Gringos?” A flurry of fake news suggests President Sheinbaum wants to deport Americans living in Mexico, which is the furthest thing from the truth. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Despite that, various posts circulating on social media sites such as Facebook claim that Sheinbaum has indicated that her government will consider deporting U.S. citizens in retaliation for the deportation of Mexicans from the United States, where Trump has said he intends to carry out “the largest deportation operation in American history.”

Let’s take a look at the claims, and the facts.

CLAIMS:

One Facebook post claimed that Sheinbaum “warned that her government could take drastic measures against U.S. immigrants residing in the country irregularly.”

The post quoted Sheinbaum as saying: “If Donald Trump continues to implement racist and anti-immigrant policies against Mexicans in the United States, we can also act. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.”

The post said that “the president indicated that her government is evaluating a plan to deport U.S. citizens living in Mexico without paying taxes or without complying with local immigration laws.”

It also said that “currently, more than one million Americans reside in Mexico, many of them retirees living in communities such as San Miguel de Allende, Chapala and the Riviera Maya.”

“According to Sheinbaum,” the post added, “many of these residents do not contribute tax to the country and abuse the privileges Mexico offers them, such as a lower cost of living and flexible access to health care services.”

An example of a Spanish-language video promoting the fake statements by Sheinbaum.

A Spanish-language video posing as a news report also claimed that Sheinbaum has outlined a plan to deport U.S. citizens from Mexico.

It quoted Sheinbaum as saying: “If the president of the United States deports all the illegal immigrants to our country, we’ll receive them with open arms. But in response we will arrest all United States citizens in our territory and we will deport them in the same way you are doing.”

Misinformation about Americans at risk of being deported from Mexico: A perspective from our CEO

FACTS:

President Sheinbaum HAS NOT outlined any plan to deport U.S. citizens living in Mexico. She HAS NOT said that her government is considering the possibility of deporting any U.S. citizens who live in Mexico.
The Sheinbaum administration has developed a plan to support Mexicans deported from the United States during the second Trump administration.
Sheinbaum and other federal officials have expressed opposition to Trump’s plan to deport large numbers of immigrants from the United States. They have highlighted that Mexicans make a significant contribution to the United States economy and that the deportation of large numbers of them would thus have an adverse impact on the U.S.
The exact number of U.S. citizens who live in Mexico on a full and part-time basis is unclear. However, a United States Department of State “bilateral relations fact sheet” that was updated this month says that “an estimated 1.6 million U.S. citizens live in Mexico.” The census carried out in Mexico in 2020 found that 797,266 people born in the United States were living in Mexico.
Counting the number of U.S. citizens living in Mexico has become even more difficult in recent years due to an influx of remote workers (digital nomads) who typically enter the country as tourists. Many live and work in one place for a period of months or longer, with a significant number basing themselves in Mexico City neighborhoods such as Roma and Condesa.
The number of U.S. citizens who live in Mexico “illegally” is also unclear. There are certainly a significant number of U.S. citizens who live here for extended periods without applying for or obtaining residency, but their presence in the country would not typically be unlawful unless they have overstayed their visitor permits. U.S. citizens can remain in Mexico for up to 180 days on a visitor permit known as an FMM.

U.S. citizens living in Mexico on expired visitor permits (like in the above image) or working here without permission could be susceptible to deportation, but not U.S. citizens with valid residency permits.

Could Mexico deport a large number of US citizens?

In theory, yes.

Mexico, as a sovereign country, has the right to decide who can enter, and who can live within its borders.

Thus, U.S. citizens living in Mexico on expired visitor permits, or working here without permission, among others, could be susceptible to deportation.

The newspaper Excélsior reported in September that it is estimated that around 1 million U.S. citizens live in Mexico “irregularly,” i.e. without obtaining residency.

However, the federal government HAS NOT indicated any intention to actively look for such people and deport them.

The influx of U.S. citizens to parts of Mexico in recent years has led to an increase in anti-American sentiment (“gringo go home” graffiti and anti-gentrification protests, for example), but Mexican authorities have largely continued to welcome foreigners who want to live here or stay for extended periods.

In 2022, when Sheinbaum was mayor of Mexico City, the Mexico City government entered into a partnership with the accommodation booking platform Airbnb and UNESCO to promote the capital to digital nomads. For decades, many retirees from the United States (and other countries) have lived in Mexico for part of the year without obtaining residency, and without confronting any major problems.

Citing official Mexican data, Fox 5 reported in early 2024 that 261 Americans (i.e. U.S. citizens) were deported from Baja California in 2023.

However, deportations of U.S. citizens appear to be rare. Americans living here “irregularly” or “illegally” are more likely to face fines than deportation. Those fines could be levied when U.S. citizens seek to leave Mexico.

U.S. citizens (and other foreigners) who have not kept their residency status up to date could also face fines.

“If you need to enter a ‘Regularization’ procedure (for example, if your residency card has expired) then you will need to pay a ‘Regularization’ fee of $1,780 Mexican pesos in addition to any other [applicable] fees/fines,” the website Mexperience said in an article headlined “Legal Residency in Mexico: Residency-Related Fees for 2025.”

Mexico News Daily

What’s on in Mexico City in February?

By

Bethany Platanella

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January 28, 2025

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690412_Boda Torre Latino_impreso — Weird weddings and high art are just two amazing things you can do this month in Mexico City. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)

Buckle up, culture vultures! If January was your Netflix-and-chill month, February is here to get you back out on the Mexico City social scene. The capital’s event calendar is overflowing with gatherings that are sure to light you up, spark your inner Brontë or pivot your career into a money-making tech machine. Leave the yoga pants at home, rummage for your fanciest threads and hit the illuminated streets beckoning you to come alive in the month of love and art.

LAMPS

To warm up for this year’s Art Week, ceramicist Jessica Thornhill is hosting an evening to showcase her brand new collection of ceramic lamps, alongside some of her most popular pieces from last year. London born, now based in Mexico City, her designs reflect her rich, mixed heritage, drawing on influences from India, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom.

For one intimate evening only, attendees can expect a live DJ, drinks and a lot of lamps. Follow the artist on Instagram and send a message with the word LAMPS for event entry.

Dates: Feb. 1
Location: Dolores 54, Historic Center
Cost: Free to enter, must be on guest list

Zona Maco 2025

Latin America’s most important contemporary art fair is back in Mexico City for its 21st year. Admire a diverse range of contemporary and modern art, design, photography and antiques in its 200 galleries hailing from 29 countries. The fair is divided into sections including Zona Maco Arte Contemporáneo, Diseño, Salón del Anticuario and Foto. Zona Maco also offers a program of activities for collectors and art professionals, so if you’re looking for networking events or curator-led guided tours, you’ll find a range of ways to enhance your creative experience here.

Dates: Feb. 5 to 9
Location: Centro Citibanamex, Ave. Del Conscripto 311, Lomas de Sotelo, Miguel Hidalgo
Cost: Tickets start at 450 pesos

BADA 2025

In its fifth edition, BADA will showcase 300 emerging and established artists across various disciplines and techniques, from painting to photography. The event offers an exclusive opportunity to discover and purchase the art you like, directly from the artist. BADA aims to make art more accessible and more personal, with prices starting from 2,500 pesos. This year’s gathering will take place in the spacious garden at Restaurant Campo Marte.

Dates: Feb. 6 to 9
Location: Restaurante Campo Marte, Campo Marte, Bosque de Chapultepec
Cost: Tickets start at 300 pesos

SACBE

For a Tuluminati-esque celebration that blends art, music and community, don your favorite suede hat and white linen button down for a night of conscious socializing at SACBE. Get down with live performances on two stages, including acoustic sets and DJ performances from artists like Chambord, Heimlich Knüller, and Sinca. Fill up on bites from artisanal food vendors while moving with purpose at this unique experience that combines creativity, culture, and connection in a secret urban oasis, carrying the essence of their jungle roots into the heart of Mexico City.

Date: Feb. 6
Location: Undisclosed, San Angel
Cost: Tickets start at US $88

Material Art Fair

Known for its vibrant atmosphere and focus on emerging talent, Material Art Fair’s 11th edition is set to wow with an impressive showcase of exceptional artists from Mexico and around the world. In addition to two floors of open galleries, the fair will also feature an exciting program of talks, screenings, performances and more.

Dates: Feb. 6 to 9
Location: Expo Reforma, Calle Morelos 67, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc
Cost: 250 pesos per person

Salón ACME

ZonaMaco’s rebellious little sister is where emerging artists rub elbows with those long established in the industry. With sections like “Open Call” and “Bodega,” Salón ACME is a vibrant, unpretentious platform for beginners to find their place in the creative world. Not quite sure what abstract expressionism actually means but still like looking at art? Salon Acme is the place for you. The fair attracts art enthusiasts, collectors and industry professionals, fostering connections within the art community.

Dates: Feb. 6 to 9
Location: Jardín Prim, Calle Gral. Prim 30, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc
Cost: Tickets start at 300 pesos per person

Get sorta-married at Torre Latino

For a Vegas-style wedding that doesn’t actually count (at least not according to the Civil Court), head to the Mirador at Torre Latino. Every year, on Feb. 13 and 14, the Torre Latino offers themed weddings on its observation deck. For 300 pesos per couple, you can participate in a symbolic ceremony that includes a photo souvenir, rings and a non-official marriage certificate. The experience takes place at 182 meters high, so you can celebrate your unshakable love with panoramic views of Mexico City.

Dates: Feb. 13 to 14
Location: Mirador at Torre Latino
Cost: 300 pesos per couple

Feria Internacional del Libro del Palacio de Minería

Bookworms, this one’s for you! One of Mexico’s largest literary events takes place beneath the dramatic archways inside the Palacio de Minería. More than a chance to add to your ever-growing pile of paperbacks, the fair showcases 700 book presentations, 100 talks and 71 workshops, as well as activities for the little ones. The FIL Minería’s 46th edition aims to promote reading and cultural exchange, offering visitors a diverse program of literary and cultural activities.

Dates: Feb. 21 to March 2
Location: Palacio de Minería, Calle Tacuba 5, Historic Center
Cost: Tickets start at 20 pesos per person

FinTech México Festival 2025

February’s one-day FinTech festival Mexico is set to be the largest event of its kind in Latin America, bringing together over 2,000 experts from the financial and technological sectors. The event features four main stages: Main Stage for keynote speeches, Battle Arena for creative competitions, Shark’s Den for startup pitches and Serenity Dome for discussions on financial well-being. The festival aims to foster innovation, learning and collaboration in the fintech ecosystem

Dates: Feb. 27
Location: Papalote Museo del Niño
Cost: Entry TBD

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.

In case you missed it: Authorities find stolen vehicle exhibited in Mexico City museum

By

MND Staff

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January 28, 2025

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73492 (1) — A (possibly stolen) Jaguar valued at nearly 2 million pesos was seized from a Coyoacán museum earlier this month. (SSC CDMX)

Where would you look for a stolen vehicle? Probably not in an exhibition! In a surreal episode of Mexico City life, authorities found a stolen car displayed as part of the Automobile Museum in Coyoacán.

In a video shared by local authorities, various police officers and members of the Ministry of Citizen Security (SSC) are seen arriving at the museum on Jan. 20 and taking pictures of the car, a black Jaguar. Later, a tow truck is seen taking the black vehicle, valued at nearly 2 million pesos, away from the scene.

#BoletínSSC | #CATEO | Policías de la #SSC, en coordinación con personal de @FiscaliaCDMX y #OCRA, cumplimentaron una orden de cateo en un museo y aseguraron un vehículo de alta gama con reporte de #Robo activo, en la colonia San Pablo Tepetlapa, de @Alcaldia_Coy.

En la… pic.twitter.com/VBslkVbIGy

— SSC CDMX (@SSC_CDMX) January 21, 2025

Reportedly, SSC officials arrived at the museum, located in the Plaza Punta Museo shopping mall in San Pablo Tepetlapa, following a report for the concealment of stolen goods.

The vehicle, which was found on the second floor of the building, has been handed over to a local prosecutor’s office to continue with the investigation.

But according to the legal representative of the Automobile Museum, Jorge Contreras, the museum was not involved in this bizarre incident. Contreras told news outlet Imagen Noticias that the part of the building where the car was found is space that belongs not to the museum but to its neighbor, a car dealership called Futurautos.

“There’s a lease contract between the Promotora Mobiliaria S.A. de C.V. (Futurautos), in which the museum leases Futurautos a perfectly demarcated area in the building,” Contreras said. “The Automobile Museum has no commercial ties with Futurautos,” he stressed.

To complicate matters more, news outlet Infobae Mexico found a potential contradiction in the SSC’s claims.

According to Infobae, when it sought additional details regarding the vehicle’s license plate number, official records showed that the vehicle had no reports of being stolen, which would apparently contradict the claims made by the SSC. Infobae tried to obtain more details about the vehicle from sources close to the capital’s prosecutor’s office, but there was no immediate response.

Unfortunately, this story leaves behind more questions than answers. How did the stolen car get to a Mexico City museum? Who submitted the complaint to the SSC letting them know of the car? What if there are more stolen vehicles there?

It may be a long time before we get answers to these questions — if we ever do.

With reports from Imagen Noticias, Excélsior and Infobae

Misinformation about Americans at risk of being deported from Mexico: A perspective from our CEO

By

Travis Bembenek

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January 28, 2025

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Over the past two weeks, there has been an increasing number of Facebook posts from people in expat groups across the country asking if U.S. residents living in Mexico could be at risk of being deported. (Facebook)

It started about a week ago with a single Facebook post suggesting that United States residents living in Mexico could be at risk of deportation in retaliation for what the Trump administration has pledged to do to Mexicans living illegally in the U.S.

It then turned into an increasing number of Facebook posts from people writing in expat groups asking if they thought U.S. residents living in Mexico could be at risk of being deported. Being social media, most comments made in response to the questions served only to further confuse and scare people. Facts were not shared, but rather opinions, rumors, and mostly hateful comments.

An example of an alarmist statement posted in a Facebook group for expats in Mexico. (Facebook)

Over this past weekend, the steady flow of Facebook posts and comments turned into a flood, with both Mexican and expat friends beginning to ask me if I had seen the rumors, if I thought any of it was true and if I was concerned that I could be deported from Mexico.

The rumors and comments were then further enflamed by a variety of posts sharing supposed quotes of President Sheinbaum saying things like “an eye for an eye…we will deport an American for every Mexican deported” or a fake headline of “Sheinbaum announces plan to begin deporting American immigrants back to the U.S.” that went viral. Today I also saw an AI-generated picture of Sheinbaum wearing a red baseball cap that reads “Make America Mexicana Again.”

To give you two more recent examples, one friend sent me a message suggesting he is concerned that violence could break out against expats by Mexicans angry over the U.S. deportations. Another friend suggested to me that the Mexican cartels might retaliate against expats for any actions taken by the US government. These opinions, when shared out of context or on social media, can easily be misinterpreted, take on a life of their own and result in a lot of misplaced fear and anxiety.

Oftentimes, opinions shared on social media end up being interpreted as facts. That is in part what is causing so many people to have stress and anxiety and so many others to completely tune out any news. It is a time for each of us to be calm, increase our fact checks and be cognizant of the potential impact of misinformation.

Fact check: Does Mexico’s president really plan to deport US citizens?

Social media is great for many things, but I personally believe that it can be extremely confusing/disturbing/unhelpful when it comes to trying to make sense of the news. Voices from respected media outlets can get drowned out by people simply trying to stir the pot and make a name for themselves by creating chaos and confusion with their opinions. Social media might feel like the best place to get the latest breaking news headlines, but it is also a source of what is likely a significant amount of opinions and incorrect or misleading information.

Even respected media outlets are increasingly publishing sensationalist and very misleading headlines. I saw examples over the weekend of “ICE agents raiding a school in Chicago” (turned out to be not true) and “Mexico refuses to accept a U.S. deportation flight” (the article went on to say it was “temporary” and that Mexico in fact “accepted a record 4 deportation flights in one day”). Both news outlets should be ashamed for deliberately publishing clickbait-type articles.

The fake news is already lying about our successful partnership with Mexico helping to make our region safe again. The truth is, four ICE flights arrived in Mexico yesterday. Two military flights were sent to Guatemala because they were filled with Guatemalans. 2000 aliens were… pic.twitter.com/xpOdCd6TMD

— Tammy Bruce (@StateDeptSpox47) January 25, 2025

Tammy Bruce is the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State led by Secretary Marco Rubio.

The news business is not an easy one, and especially these days given the torrent at which news is coming at us. The team at Mexico News Daily is totally committed to getting every story right, each and every day.

We will not publish stories for which we do not yet have the facts, and we will not mislead you with our headlines. We will not get it perfect every time, but it’s important that you know our values.

It’s equally important to remember to keep calm, fact-check, cross-check and not fall into the fear-mongering trap. Artificial intelligence will likely make this even more important going forward as confusing and misleading news and information will only become more prevalent.

Thank you for reading MND and for putting your trust in our team.

Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for nearly 30 years.

How to whistle like a true Mexican: learning the intricate art form from scratch

By

Sarah DeVries

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January 28, 2025

7

A man whistling — Learning how to whistle in Mexico takes time and patience, like any other artform. (Canva)

I have known no jealously like the jealousy I feel when I hear Mexicans’ elaborate category of effortless whistles.

Okay fine, they’re not effortless. They just sound that way, because they learned how to do it when they were kids. You know, like speaking Spanish.

A child whistling — People in Mexico learn how to whistle from an early age. (Canva)

Indeed, whistling is part of the language in some meaningful ways. There are specific whistles used for getting people’s attention. There are whistles for saying “Hey buddy, what’s up?” from across the street. There are whistles for saying, “But of course, my horse” — okay, maybe not exactly that, but a kind of “You know it!” with that adorable tone. There are whistles to say, “Wowza, nice butt, strange woman I don’t know!” There are whistles that say, “Okay, back up your car now, a little more, a little more, a little more, stop!” There are even whistles to tell people where they can stuff it. Careful with those.

And I am going to learn them all.

Well, I’m going to try. It’s my New Year’s resolution! Forget turning my health or finances around; it’s too big a task. I need something I actually stand a chance at being able to bite off. Even though the prospect of practicing them takes me back to the deep humiliation I felt trying to string a four-word sentence together in Spanish while the three-year-old next to me rattled off deep complex sentence after deep complete sentence, I’m committed. I did it once, and I can do it again!

I won’t necessarily use them all, or use them frequently. In fact, I’m fairly certain that men whistle much more than women around here, anyway. Like cursing, it falls into a decidedly “male” category of behavior, and is seen as somewhat crass and unladylike.

Indigenous Whistle Language In Mexico

Watch this video on YouTube

I’ve also noticed that whistling is more prevalent among lower socio-economic classes than among the more well-to-do. Part of this is simply cultural habit, growing out of the need to communicate at great distances. It’s more pleasant sounding, and clearer, than shouting. If you’re willing to do some digging, there are actually some fascinating examples of whistles-as-language. Here’s a cool short video about it!

But I don’t need to be communicating over great distances in the Oaxaca countryside. I just want to have some fun.

And I don’t want to go too fast, but I’m also an eager learner. This video is pretty cute, by the way, as an introduction to the meanings of different whistles.

Here are the specific ones that I want to learn:

Learning how to whistle in Mexico (in different styles, for different purposes)

The whistle to get someone’s attention

A woman whistling — Learning how to whistle in Mexico works wonders if you want to call for someone’s attention. (Canva)

Say you’re walking along a busy street and you need to get someone’s attention. Maybe it’s a vendor, or maybe a taxi that didn’t notice you! This whistle is perfect for it. It’s also important for me personally, because my voice does not carry at all. My loudest is not very loud, and the strain on my voice physically hurts! This can either be a quick low-high sound, or the more universally recognized high-low-slightly higher.

The “you can count on me, buddy” whistle

I mostly want to learn this one because I think it’s both hilarious and adorable. My partner does this one sometimes, and even though it’s kind of a joke, I am 100% charmed.

“Hey, friend on the other side of the street!”

Finally, I’ve just got to learn this whistle. It’s short and sweet, and I don’t care that I’ve hardly ever heard it from a woman’s lips.

So those are the three goals. Three distinct whistles — I can kind of do a “pucker” whistle now, but not very well — should be manageable in a year, right?

In the meantime, I’m dying to know: can you whistle? Can you do any specifically Mexican whistles? I especially want to know how many women out there can — please let me know in the comments!

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

‘We’re working every day to build peace in Sinaloa’: Monday’s mañanera recapped

By

MND Staff

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January 27, 2025

6

President Claudia Sheinbaum leaves the stage after her Monday morning press conference — President Sheinbaum gave her usual daily press conference from the National Palace on Monday. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

At her Monday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum noted that just over 4,000 immigrants have been deported to Mexico from the United States since U.S. President Donald Trump took office a week ago. (Read MND’s report here.)

She also spoke about ongoing violence in Sinaloa, her administration’s desire to reach an agreement with the United States to avert Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on Mexican exports and secondary laws that will support the energy reform approved by federal Congress last year.

‘We’re working in Sinaloa’ to combat violence, Sheinbaum says

A reporter noted that citizens protested in Culiacán, Sinaloa, again on Sunday to demand peace in the northern state and the resignation of Governor Rubén Rocha, who has faced criticism for his government’s response to the rampant violence.

“We’re working in Sinaloa,” Sheinbaum responded when asked to give her opinion on the situation in the violence-plagued state.

“We have to say and remember the reasons why the terrible wave of violence in Sinaloa erupted,” she said.

Fighting between the “Los Mayos” and “Los Chapitos” factions of the Sinaloa Cartel intensified after alleged cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada was arrested in the United States last July. Zambada accused Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and one of the leaders of the “Los Chapitos” faction — or former leaders given that he too is in U.S. custody — of kidnapping him and forcing him onto a U.S.-bound private plane prior to his arrest.

El Mayo Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López — Sinaloa Cartel kingpin “El Mayo” Zambada (left) alleged that Los Chapitos leader Joaquín Guzmán López (right) kidnapped him and delivered him to U.S. authorities. (Archive)

Sheinbaum, like her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has suggested that the United States government conducted a negotiation with Guzmán López that resulted in the delivery of Zambada to U.S. law enforcement authorities at a New Mexico airport near El Paso, Texas.

The president said Monday that once the new U.S. government is settled in and “we have a more fluid relationship” with it, “we’re going to continue insisting on an explanation as to how this … [alleged abduction] occurred in our country.”

“That is the origin of this wave of violence,” she said.

“I say to the people of Sinaloa that we’re working every day, that we’re aware of and regret the situation they’re going through,” Sheinbaum added.

Sinaloa state police officer in black militarized uniform guarding a crime scene on a street in Culiacan, Sinaloa, that is cordoned off with yellow caution tape. In the background is a forensic van with and yellow evidence marker cones on the street. — The origin of Sinaloa’s current wave of violence was the alleged kidnapping of Zambada, Sheinbaum said. (Cuartoscuro)

“… More reinforcement has arrived in Sinaloa and we’re working every day to build peace in Sinaloa,” she said.

“… Our job as the federal government is to help protect the families of Sinaloa,” Sheinbaum said before rejecting calls published in “some” newspaper columns for her to dismiss Rocha as governor.

“That is not the job of the federal government,” she said. “The job of the federal government is to support families across the entire country by building peace.”

President says there will be dialogue with US over Trump’s proposed tariffs

A journalist noted that The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump, according to a senior U.S. government official, “views tariffs as an ‘effective negotiating tool’ and ‘effective punishment’ for nations that don’t hew to his agenda.”

The Journal also reported that “momentum is growing among President Trump’s advisers to place 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada as soon as Saturday,” as the U.S. president said last week his administration could do.

“We’re going to have conversations [with the U.S. government] on all issues,” Sheinbaum said Monday.

Donald Trump onstage at one of his rallies, looking on with a closemouthed smile as a male guest in a suit speaks in a microphone nearby. — Sheinbaum promised conversations “on all issues” with the Trump administration, as Mexico faces tariff threats. (Donald Trump/Truth Social)

“… Obviously on the trade issue we have an agreement,” she said, referring to the USMCA free trade pact.

“… What are we looking for? To reach agreement on all issues within the framework of our sovereignty, respect and respect for our compatriots,” Sheinbaum said.

The president has expressed confidence that her government will reach an agreement to ward off the proposed 25% tariff, but time to reach a deal — if such a duty were to be imposed this Saturday — is running out.

Secondary energy laws coming soon

Sheinbaum said that the federal government will present secondary laws on Wednesday to support the energy reform approved by Congress in October.

The reform and the secondary laws are “very transcendent for the strengthening of Pemex and the CFE,” she said, referring to Mexico’s state-owned oil and electricity companies.

The secondary laws, Sheinbaum added, will “establish very clearly where there can be private participation” in the energy sector and “how” private sector investment can occur.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])