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Sheinbaum demands full US investigation into Mexican teen’s death in ICE custody: Friday’s mañanera recapped

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MND Staff
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President Sheinbaum at the podium of her morning press conference
A Mexican teenager's death in U.S. immigration custody, a Quintana Roo security update and Sheinbaum's meeting with the president of Germany were a few of the topics covered at Friday's presidential press conference. (Gabriel Monroy / Presidencia)
Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds
  • 📉 Quintana Roo security gains: The daily homicide rate in Quintana Roo dropped 79% in February compared to the final month of the AMLO administration, and 68% year-over-year. Security Minister García Harfuch reported more than 3,200 arrests for high-impact crimes in the state since Sheinbaum took office.
  • 🇲🇽 🇺🇸 Mexican teen dies in ICE custody: Sheinbaum called the death of 19-year-old Royer Pérez Jiménez — an Indigenous Maya man from Chiapas who died at a Florida detention center on March 16 — “very sad.” She said Mexico sent a diplomatic letter to Washington on Thursday, with a “much stronger” one to follow Friday. ICE listed the cause as presumed suicide; Mexico is demanding a full investigation.
  • 🇩🇪 Sheinbaum meets German president in Cancún: Trade, investment and scientific cooperation dominated Thursday’s meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Sheinbaum noted that nearly 2,000 German companies already operate in Mexico, and flagged the upcoming May signing of the updated EU-Mexico trade agreement. Steinmeier extended an invitation to visit Germany.

Why today’s mañanera matters

President Claudia Sheinbaum held her Friday morning press conference in Cancún, the Caribbean coast resort city in Quintana Roo that is one of Mexico’s most popular tourism destinations and a key gateway to the country.

The federal government took the opportunity to highlight that the daily homicide rate in Quintana Roo in February (0.43) was 79% lower than in September 2024 (2), the final month of the six-year term of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and 68% lower than in February 2025.

National Public Security Director Marcela Figueroa shares a graph showing a declining homicide rate while President Sheinbaum watches
National Public Security Director Marcela Figueroa highlighted the declining state homicide rate in Quintana Roo at Friday’s press conference. (Gabriel Monroy / Presidencia)

Security Minister Omar García Harfuch reported that since Sheinbaum took office in October 2024, more than 3,200 people have been arrested in Quintana Roo for allegedly committing high-impact crimes.

While the security situation in the Caribbean coast state was a significant component of the president’s mañanera, Sheinbaum also looked northeast to the state of Florida, where a young Mexican man died in ICE custody this week.

She lamented the death of the 19-year-old Indigenous Maya man, and reiterated that her government will do all it can to protect and stand up for the rights of Mexicans abroad, including those living (or who have died) in the United States as the Trump administration carries out an aggressive detainment and deportation agenda targeting undocumented immigrants.

The Friday morning press conference gave the president the opportunity to show that her government is focused not just on the well-being and security of Mexicans in Mexico’s 32 federal entities, but is also committed to supporting los paisanos (compatriots) who live beyond the country’s borders.

Sheinbaum’s remarks about her meeting on Thursday with the president of Germany added to the international focus of her final mañanera of the week.

Sheinbaum: Death of Mexican teen in ICE custody is ‘very sad’

Sheinbaum said that the death of a 19-year-old Mexican man in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is “very sad.”

She said that her government sent a “diplomatic letter” to the U.S. government about the case on Thursday and will send “a much stronger” one on Friday.

“The report is that the young man committed suicide. However, we want a thorough investigation,” Sheinbaum said.

“This can’t be happening,” she added.

In a statement dated March 18, ICE reported the death of Royer Pérez Jiménez in the Glades County Detention Center in Florida.

A satellite photo shows a detention center
An ICE statement said that Pérez died Monday at Glades County Detention Center, shown here. (Google Maps)

ICE said that Pérez — reportedly from an Indigenous community in Chiapas — was “a criminal illegal alien from Mexico who was arrested and charged with felony fraud for impersonation and resisting an officer.”

It said that he passed away in the early hours of Monday, March 16.

“At approximately 2:34 a.m., a Glades County detention officer on duty found Pérez unconscious and unresponsive. They immediately called a medical emergency in the dormitory and staff started cardiopulmonary resuscitation,” ICE said.

“Two medical personnel responded a couple of minutes later, determined Pérez to be without a pulse, and took over CPR. They requested emergency medical services. At approximately 2:42 a.m., Moore Haven Fire Rescue EMS arrived at the Glades County Detention Center and initiated life-sustaining interventions on Perez,” the agency said.

“He died of a presumed suicide; however, the official cause of his death remains under investigation.”

ICE said that Pérez was arrested in Florida in January and entered the United States on Feb. 19, 2022, but was detected by the U.S. Border Patrol and returned to Mexico on the same date. It said that Pérez “illegally reentered” the U.S. on an unknown date.

The Miami New Times reported that the 19-year-old “appears to be the youngest person to die in ICE custody since President Donald Trump took office again in January 2025, according to ICE records.”

The newspaper wrote that “on January 22, Pérez was arrested by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and charged with impersonation and resisting an officer, both misdemeanors, according to an arrest report obtained by New Times (although ICE’s statement characterized the impersonation charge as a felony).”

“Police say they tried to pull Pérez over while he was riding a scooter because he was crossing traffic lanes without using a crosswalk. But he allegedly refused to stop and gave officers multiple false names,” the New Times reported.

“According to the report, Pérez eventually told police he had ‘overstayed his visa and is currently in the United States illegally,’ and said he had no documentation to prove his name or date of birth.”

Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) published a statement on Thursday, in which it said it would “pursue all diplomatic and legal avenues” following the death of Pérez in ICE custody.

“The Mexican government reiterates that such deaths are unacceptable and again demands a prompt and thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding this death, determine accountability, and put in place effective guarantees of non-recurrence,” the ministry said.

“The Mexican Consulate General in Miami activated its consular protocol, visited the [ICE detention] facility, and will continue working to provide support and assistance to the family,” the SRE said.

“Mexico has requested the reports and documentation needed to establish the full facts of the case, and U.S. authorities have confirmed that an investigation is underway. Mexico will take the necessary diplomatic steps to urge the U.S. federal government to address the conditions that facilitate such incidents. All available legal avenues will be pursued to ensure the family receives full support,” it said.

Sheinbaum endorsed the SRE message on Friday morning, saying that her government would express its discontent with the death of a Mexican national in ICE custody through “all means.”

Trade a key focus of Sheinbaum’s meeting with German president

Sheinbaum said that Mexico’s “trade and economic relationship” with Germany was a key focus of her meeting in Cancún on Thursday with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

“You know that in May the update of the trade agreement with the European Union will be signed,” she said.

“And there is a lot of interest [in Mexico] from German companies,” Sheinbaum added.

President Sheinbaum shakes hands with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at a press conference in Cancún
President Sheinbaum shakes hands with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at a Thursday press conference in Cancún. (Gabriel Monroy/Presidencia)

“There are close to 2,000 German companies with investments in Mexico and there is a lot of interest in continuing to invest,” she said.

Sheinbaum said she also spoke to Steinmeier about “scientific and cultural cooperation,” and about “technological innovation, which is very important.”

In addition, she said that she and the German head of state discussed “the international situation” and agreed that it is “essential to seek peace in the world and make progress on cooperation for development.”

“Those were the big issues,” Sheinbaum said, adding that Steinmeier — a former vice chancellor of Germany and foreign minister — is “a man of a lot of international experience.”

“He has been part of different groups to build peace in Europe and the whole world. He has been president of Germany for practically 10 years and he invited us to go to Germany,” she said.

“We’ll wait and see if we’ll make a trip,” Sheinbaum said.

The president’s office noted in a statement that she received Steinmeier at the Maya Museum of Cancún on Thursday.

Sheinbaum was accompanied by her foreign affairs, finance, economy and energy ministers.

Steinmeier previously visited Mexico in September 2022, at which time he met with then president López Obrador.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

Mexican forces capture then quickly release the daughter of ‘El Mayo’ Zambada in Sinaloa

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MND Staff
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Mónica Zambada next to her father, Sinaloa Cartel leader El Mayo Zambada
Mónica Zambada Niebla, daughter of drug lord "El Mayo" Zambada, was detained then subsequently released Thursday in Sinaloa. (via Telemundo)

Mexican security forces killed 11 members of a notorious Sinaloa Cartel faction and briefly detained a woman during an early morning raid on Thursday. The apparent target of the operation was the daughter of drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who is currently in prison in the United States. Now, the Security Cabinet is facing questions about why Mónica Zambada Niebla —  who has been sanctioned by the U.S. government on drug-related charges — was released.

Federal forces carried out coordinated actions Thursday in rural areas surrounding Culiacán, all targeting the “Los Mayos” faction of the Sinaloa cartel. The operation resulted in the detention of Zambada Niebla in the town of El Álamo, and Omar Oswaldo Torres Cabada, alias “El Patas,” in the nearby town of Valle Escondido.

Shortly after Marines captured Zambada Niebla, a shootout occurred during which 11 members of the crime gang were slain. Torres Cabada was apprehended soon thereafter.

Within hours Zambada Niebla — who was wearing military fatigues as she was loaded onto a Navy helicopter — was released and the Security Cabinet issued a statement saying the daughter of the drug kingpin would not face charges.

“During this operation, a woman, identified as the daughter of a criminal leader, was also located. She has no connection to criminal activities nor any outstanding warrants against her, and was therefore released and handed over to her family in accordance with established protocols and in strict adherence to the law,” it said.

Media reports were quick to point out that Zambada Niebla is on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list issued by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Security officials declared that the OFAC designation — originally issued in 2007 “for providing assistance or collaborating with a drug trafficking organization” — was lifted in 2019.

They also said that the sanction was administrative (only barring her from conducting transactions in the U.S. financial system or any type of business involving U.S. companies) and does not imply any criminal charges against her, either in Mexico or the U.S.

The EFE news agency reported that the OFAC sanctions against Zambada Niebla, her mother and three sisters still appear to be in effect.

U.S. officials had yet to comment on the matter as of Friday morning.

The confusion prompted speculation that the arrest of Zambada Niebla had not been approved by the U.S. government, with El Universal columnist Alberto Capella suggesting it might have endangered a plea deal the U.S. Department of Justice is negotiating with “El Mayo.”

Capella also questioned the official narrative — that Zambada Niebla “was simply the daughter of a criminal leader with no connection to illicit activities” — calling it “weak and incomplete,” particularly since the high-profile operation directly targeted the Zambada family and its property.

Torres Cabada, who has been linked to the “Los Mayos” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, which has been engaged in a drug war with the “Los Chapitos” faction, remains in custody.

With reports from EFE, Noroeste, El Heraldo USA, Reforma and El Financiero

Puff, puff, pass? The cloudy legality of marijuana in Mexico

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MND Plus
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marijuana use in Mexico
While marijuana was decriminalized in Mexico in 2021, the legal situation around the drug remains murky. (Grav/Unsplash)

Mexico’s relationship with marijuana has been a long and complicated one. While hemp, a variety of cannabis with low psychoactive properties, has been used for textiles and rope for centuries, the psychoactive version, marijuana, has had a more turbulent journey.

Decriminalized in small quantities in 2009, the plant took a historic leap in 2021 with Supreme Court rulings decriminalizing recreational and medicinal use. However, the legal scaffolding is still under construction.

Legendary Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa smoking what appears to be marijuana. (Higher Collective/Facebook)

The Past

Marijuana in Mexico has some interesting periods of cultivation, medicinal use and even prohibition.

Introduction (16th Century)

The Spanish brought cannabis to Mexico, primarily for its industrial use as hemp for making rope and textiles.

Uses (19th Century)

After Mexico gained independence, hemp cultivation declined. By the late 19th century, recreational cannabis use, known as marihuana in Mexico, became more prevalent.

Prohibition (20th Century)

Concerns about violence and social disorder led to a ban on marijuana use in military hospitals in 1882. Fueled by negative media portrayals and international drug control trends, Mexico fully prohibited marijuana production, sale and recreational use in 1920. This ban continues today.

The present

Since the LXIV Legislature commenced its term in September 2018, 13 initiatives aiming to regulate recreational marijuana use and its derivatives have been introduced in Mexico. However, 12 of these initiatives remain among the labyrinthine committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, leaving the nation in a state of legislative limbo.

Among prominent proposals lies the initiative championed by former Morena senator Gerardo Novelo Osuna, a stalwart figure in the marijuana legalization discourse. Introduced in October 2019, Novelo Osuna’s initiative advocates for creating the General Law for the Regulation, Control and Use of Cannabis and its derivatives. This bill endeavors to reform various articles within the General Health Law, the Federal Criminal Code and the Law of the Special Tax on Production and Services.

Cannabis accessories
Marijuana paraphernalia is already sold in Mexico, but its legal status is still dubious. (Galo Cañas Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro)

At its core, Novelo Osuna’s proposal seeks to delineate the identification of cannabinoids, decriminalize possession for personal consumption (set at 28 grams, or one ounce), and establish a regulatory framework governing the cultivation, production, sale and consumption of marijuana. Moreover, it addresses taxation intricacies, with proposed modifications to the Law of Special Tax on Production and Services targeting products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) within specified thresholds.

More reform initiatives

Echoing the chorus for reform, Senator Clemente Castañeda of Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) presented an initiative in September 2018, advocating for amnesty for individuals incarcerated due to cannabis-related offenses. This proposal underscores the societal repercussions of punitive measures stemming from marijuana prohibition, signaling a call for compassion and rectification within the justice system.

Further diversifying the legislative landscape is the initiative by PAN Deputy Éctor Ramírez, currently under review in the Health Commission of San Lázaro. Ramírez’s proposal aims to regulate the utilization of non-psychoactive cannabis within cosmetic products. By delineating thresholds for psychoactive substances and facilitating the manufacture, importation, and commercialization of hemp-infused cosmetics, the bill seeks to harness the economic potential of cannabis derivatives while ensuring consumer safety.

Legislative impasse

The Supreme Court’s 2021 decision decriminalized recreational use with a caveat — permits are still required. As of 2025, COFEPRIS has established a free administrative procedure for adults (anyone over 18 years of age) to apply for personal cultivation and consumption permits. However, CBD and recreational wellness products remain medical-only in practice, and the permit status of personal cultivation for foreign residents is still a bit cloudy.

Meanwhile, the legislative impasse persists, casting a shadow over Mexico’s aspirations to align with global trends in marijuana regulation. Despite efforts to emulate the successes of Uruguay, Chile, Canada and many U.S. states in legalizing recreational marijuana, substantive debates surrounding penalties for possession and consumption linger, reflecting the delicate balance between public health concerns and individual liberties.

Also, foreigners should be cautious — while possessing small amounts may be decriminalized for residents, tourists could face stricter consequences.

Currently, marijuana is legal to possess but not to buy, as Congress continues to stall on legalization. (Shelby Ireland/Unsplash)

The future

Mexico’s marijuana decriminalization is a landmark decision, but the road to a fully functioning legal market is still complicated. The Mexican Congress must draft and pass regulations establishing a system for licensing producers, retailers and distributors. This will likely take time, with potential revisions based on experiences in other countries.

The MMGY Travel Intelligence survey — called the Cannabis Tourism: Opportunities, Issues and Strategies report — found that 29% of all active leisure travelers, and 18% of all Americans, are interested in cannabis-related activities on vacation. If the recreational market in Mexico were regulated today, it would reach an estimated value of US $278 million in 2027.

Legislation on marijuana is important because it will prevent large interests from taking advantage of the market, train small and medium-sized companies, and provide education to prevent addictions, issues on which his organization is working.

This article was first published in 2025. It has been reviewed and updated for 2026.

Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer, and cultural promoter and is Editor in Chief of Newsweek en Español magazine.

El Jalapeño: US ambassador reassures Mexico: ‘We’ve been so busy we completely forgot we were going to invade you’

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El Jalapeno
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Let's hope they don't remember later...

All stories in El Jalapeño are satire and not real news. Check out the original article here.

MEXICO CITY — U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson struck a warm and optimistic tone at the American Chamber of Commerce’s 109th Annual Assembly Wednesday, describing the bilateral relationship as “a marriage” and confirming that the United States has been far too occupied with everything else to follow through on any previously announced military adventurism.

“We don’t see the USMCA review as a risk, but as an opportunity,” Johnson told a room full of businesspeople at the Papalote Children’s Museum. “Also, and I want to be clear about this, nobody is currently planning to annex anyone. We checked this morning.”

Ambassador Johnson at Amcham assembly on March 18, 2026
Ambassador Johnson described the bilateral relationship as “a marriage.” Don’t ask how many wives the U.S. President has had. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)

Johnson went on to describe a relationship of such deep interdependence — nearly a trillion dollars in annual trade, shared borders, shared supply chains, shared fentanyl concerns — that any lingering invasion talk should be understood as the kind of thing couples say during a rough patch.

“You can love each other a lot, be partners, raise children and grow businesses even when you don’t agree on everything,” Johnson said, in what diplomatic observers noted was a somewhat unconventional framing for a formal trade address, but perhaps the most accurate one in recent memory.

When asked by a reporter whether Washington’s earlier rhetoric about cartel designations, military operations on Mexican soil, and the general suggestion that Mexico was a failed state requiring external management had simply slipped through the cracks, Johnson smiled and said that the U.S. and Mexico currently have “the most secure border in history.”

Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, reached for comment while in Washington for the first round of formal USMCA negotiations, confirmed that talks were “going well” and that no one had mentioned annexation even once, which he described as “a solid foundation.”

President Sheinbaum, for her part, confirmed she remains open to the marriage analogy, while noting that in healthy marriages, one spouse does not typically deploy special operations forces into the other’s backyard.

Johnson closed his remarks by declaring that North America, united, “could be independent.” The audience applauded. Nobody asked independent from who.

Check out our Jalapeño archive here.

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Mexico arrests alleged mastermind behind Ecuadorian presidential candidate’s assassination

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MND Staff
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Arrest photo of suspected criminal leader known as "Lobo Menor"
The arrest of "Lobo Menor" in Mexico City rid Ecuador of one of its most powerful alleged criminal gang members. (SSPC)

The alleged mastermind behind the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in Quito has been arrested in Mexico City’s affluent neighborhood of Polanco following a coordinated operation involving Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia.

The suspect, who went by the name of Juan Carlos Montero Mestre but whose real name is Ángel Esteban Aguilar Morales, aka “Lobo Menor,” had an arrest warrant for the murder of Villavicencio three years ago. He is also considered one of the leading members of the Ecuadorian gang Los Lobos.

According to Mexico’s Security Minister Omar García Harfuch, Aguilar was on Interpol’s red notice list and linked to drug trafficking, extortion and homicide.

Ecuadorian Interior Minister John Reimberg said the suspect would be held in the Encuentro Prison, a maximum security center that Ecuador President Daniel Noboa’s government designed based on the prison model of El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele.

“Hide wherever you hide, we will find you and capture you. Lobo Menor: The Encounter awaits you,” Reimberg wrote on his official X account, in a message directed to wanted criminals.

Aguilar’s capture occurred on Wednesday in the Polanco area of ​​Mexico City, following a coordinated operation by the Navy’s Special Operations Unit, the Security and Citizen Protection Minister and the National Institute of Migration.

The Mexican Security Cabinet indicated that they received a tip about Aguilar’s arrival in the country and, in collaboration with Colombia’s intelligence, tracked him down to the Polanco neighborhood. 

In a post on his official X account, Colombian President Gustavo Petro described him as “one of the world’s greatest killers,” as well as one of Ecuador’s most wanted criminals, linking him with Mexican cartels and Iván Mordisco, Colombia’s top public enemy.

Petro alleged that Aguilar was the mastermind behind the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio and that his capture “constitutes a significant blow against transnational organized crime.”

Furthermore, he reaffirmed “the effectiveness of trilateral cooperation between Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico in the fight against multi-crime networks.”

Los Lobos is an Ecuadorian criminal organization considered to be one of the largest and most violent gangs in the country. They have created alliances with other Ecuadorian groups and have forged relationships with international criminal organizations, including Mexican cartels, to move cocaine and exploit illegal gold mining.

With reports from El País, El Universal and EFE

Mexico joins global aid effort with first vessel leaving for Cuba Thursday

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MND Staff
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loading aid ship
Volunteers help load a ship bound for Cuba from the Yucatán coast, carrying aid as part of Mexico's participation in “Nuestra América: Convoy to Cuba.” (Linea Independiente/on X)

Mexican vessels participating in an international humanitarian effort to deliver food, medical supplies, and solar equipment to Cuba prepared to set off Thursday afternoon.

Four boats were scheduled to depart from Mexico starting Thursday, carrying material aid for the beleaguered island nation as part of an international solidarity initiative in response to the intensified U.S. blockade of Cuba.

The first ship was preparing to depart from the port of Progreso, Yucatán, on Thursday and three more will set sail from Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, on Friday. The plan is to arrive in Havana on March 21.

Organized by an international coalition led by Progressive International, the “Nuestra América: Convoy to Cuba” focuses on providing aid to address severe economic conditions in Cuba.

David Adler, coordinator of Progressive International, described Mexico “as the most symbolic, powerful, strong and proactive country in its solidarity with the Cuban people.”

Brazilian climate activist Thiago Ávila, helping coordinate the Mexican convoy, said the organization has been preparing about 40 people to make the trip, applying for visas and carrying out organizational work.

The “Nuestra America” movement was initially presented as a maritime flotilla before transforming into a “global convoy” coordinated by air, sea and land. The plan — announced last month by organizers and inspired by the “Sumud to Gaza” flotilla — has been described as “an act of solidarity in the face of U.S. sanctions.”

“There is no time to lose, as the Trump administration intensifies its offensive against the island and its campaign to isolate its people,” Adler said in a statement. “Together we can break the siege, save lives and defend the cause of Cuba’s self-determination.” 

The first shipment of goods from the “Nuestra América” convoy arrived in Havana on Wednesday.

Due to the U.S. blockade, Cuba has been mired in an economic crisis that was exacerbated by the sudden suspension of oil supplies from Venezuela in January after the U.S. ousted President Nicolas Maduro, a Havana ally.

After U.S. President Donald Trump threatened retaliation against any country sending oil to the Caribbean island, Mexico also halted shipments.

However, Mexico continued to send humanitarian aid to Cuba, last month shipping 1,200 metric tons of provisions.

Over the weekend, former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador urged Mexicans to make donations to a non-governmental organization in order to purchase food and other essentials for the people of Cuba.

President Claudia Sheinbaum lent immediate support to López Obrador’s request by making a personal donation and later announced Mexico’s participation in the convoy.

With reports from El Financiero, LopezDoriga.com and El País

Sheinbaum targets natural gas production as next step in energy sovereignty push

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MND Staff
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Sheinbaum and other officials
President Sheinbaum led an event celebrating the anniversary of Mexico's 1938 oil nationalization in Pueblo Viejo, the site of a historic oil refinery near Tampico on the Veracruz-Tamaulipas border. (Presidencia)

Speaking at a Pemex industrial complex on the banks of the Pánuco River in Veracruz on Wednesday, President Claudia Sheinbaum used the 88th anniversary of Mexico’s oil expropriation to set her government’s next energy goal: sharply reducing the country’s dependence on imported natural gas.

While Mexico has made significant progress reducing gasoline imports — thanks to the Olmeca refinery in Dos Bocas, the acquisition of the Deer Park refinery in Texas and the rehabilitation of six other refineries — Sheinbaum acknowledged a stubborn vulnerability remains. Mexico still imports 75% of the natural gas it consumes, a fuel that powers the country’s electricity plants and factories.

“The call to advance in energy sovereignty acquires enormous relevance every day,” she told Pemex workers at the event. “It means advancing in energy sovereignty, increasing domestic natural gas production — that is the next objective.”

Alongside natural gas, Sheinbaum said her government would continue expanding renewable energy capacity, including solar, wind and geothermal, while maintaining oil and fertilizer production.

The natural gas challenge is significant. As previously reported by Mexico News Daily, virtually all of Mexico’s gas imports arrive via pipeline from the United States, creating a dependence that some energy analysts describe as a national security risk.

Sheinbaum’s government is currently studying whether what it describes as sustainable fracking could help unlock domestic reserves, though no final decision has been made.

Opinion: Could Mexico make America great again? The energy equation

 

Sheinbaum drew a direct line between the 1938 expropriation — in which former President Lázaro Cárdenas seized the assets of 17 foreign oil companies in 1938 and founded the state oil company Pemex — and her government’s push to reduce gas imports. She presented both as responses to the same underlying challenge: ensuring that Mexico’s energy resources remain under national control rather than dependent on foreign suppliers. Pemex’s debt has fallen 13% in the past year to its lowest level in over a decade, she noted, as evidence the state oil company’s recovery is on track.

“Mexico will not be sold. Mexico will not be surrendered. Mexico will be defended,” she told the crowd.

With reports from La Jornada and El Economista

Portions of this story were drafted with assistance from Claude. The article has been revised and fact-checked by a Mexico News Daily staff editor.

USMCA trade deal negotiations formally kick off in Washington

By
MND Staff
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USMCA review
When Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard and USTR Jamieson Greer sat down with their respective teams in Washington on Wednesday, the USMCA formal review had officialy begun. (Marcelo Ebrard/on X)

The formal review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) free trade agreement that has been looming over almost all recent trade issues in the region has officially begun.

Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer sat down with their respective teams in Washington Wednesday to start in-person negotiations. 

Ebrard
Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard is leading the Mexican negotiating team during the USMCA review, and has mentioned trade asymmetries and the Trump tariffs as his top priorities. (Camila Ayala Benabib/Cuartoscuro.com)

As had been the case with recent preliminary and informal USMCA review meetings, only two of the three nations participated. Canada is expected to join the talks in May.

Ebrard posted a photo of the two teams at the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and explained that the purpose of this first meeting was to discuss the countries’ expectations for the future of the USMCA.

“We held talks with Ambassador Jamieson Greer, head of the USTR, and his team to begin discussions regarding the review of the USMCA,” he wrote. “The technical teams will be working today and tomorrow throughout the day.”

Wednesday’s meeting followed a virtual meeting on Tuesday between representatives of the Mexican Economy Ministry and the USTR to finalize the details and outline each country’s expectations for the review.

Ebrard has indicated that Mexico’s interests lie in resolving issues such as trade asymmetries and the tariffs that the Trump Administration has imposed on trading partners in the last year on products such as steel and aluminum, and on the automotive sector.

Upon arriving at Wednesday’s meeting, Ebrard told a Mexican TV network that Mexico’s vision is “to reduce our dependence on other regions, to work as a team and to see what we each want to do regarding rules of origin and how we can secure the supply chain.” 

As the Los Angeles Times noted, more than US $4 billion worth of goods cross the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico every day.

After this week’s talks, working groups will begin addressing specific aspects of the treaty’s 34 chapters.

We’re going to present a lot of data; we’re well-prepared,” said Ebrard, who has long held that Mexico’s objective is to guarantee the permanence of the USMCA, based on a strategy of “cool heads and firmness.”

The USMCA under review is the successor to the original 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement. Its future is uncertain, however, given U.S. President Donald Trump’s many lukewarm statements about it, and his demonstrated willingness to impose tariffs on his two neighbors, whom he accuses of facilitating fentanyl trafficking to the United States.

Trump has even suggested the possibility of letting the USMCA expire and seeking separate bilateral agreements with Mexico and Canada.

With reports from EFE, El País and the Los Angeles Times

Mexico’s monarch butterfly population is up more than 60% over last year, inspiring cautious hope

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MND Staff
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A monarch butterfly sits on a milkweed leaf in a fir forest
The last two seasons have seen a modest rebound of monarch butterflies in Mexico, though experts caution that the species still remains at risk of extinction. (McDonald Mirabile / WWF-US)

The monarch butterflies that winter in Mexico’s high‑elevation forests are getting a reprieve — but not yet a rescue — as Mexico, the United States and Canada step up joint efforts to keep its famed migration from collapsing.

New figures released this week by Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) show monarch colonies covered 2.93 hectares of oyamel fir forest in central Mexico this winter, up from 1.79 hectares in 2024-25 — a 64% increase.

Monarch butterflies cover the branches of a fir tree
Monarch butterfly colonies in central Mexico have grown since 2022, but still remain far from stable. (McDonald Mirabile / WWF-US)

This winter’s 2.93 hectares of trees blanketed in butterflies compares with 1.79 hectares a year earlier and just 0.9 hectares the winter before.

However, while encouraging, the gains leave the eastern monarch population still down by more than 80%–90% since the 1990s.

Several conservation groups warn the population still remains at risk of extinction, with a model from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pointing to a 56-74% possibility of extinction by 2080.

Research cited by the Center for Biological Diversity and U.S. government scientists indicates the population needs to occupy at least 6 hectares (roughly 15 acres) of winter habitat to remain above the risks of migratory collapse.

Even after this year’s bump, the monarchs who arrived five months ago (some equipped with solar-powered tracking tags) occupied less than half that amount.

Long-term trends underscore the gap. In the record 1996-97 season, monarchs in Mexico covered about 18.19 hectares, more than 44 acres. They cluster from roughly early November to March, when they depart and begin laying eggs as they move into the southern U.S.

Today’s 2.93 hectares represents a fraction of those historic numbers, even as citizen groups, schools and farmers across the U.S. and Canada seed milkweed and nectar plants along the flyway.

Monitoring data attribute this winter’s larger colonies to more eggs and larvae surviving during a less-dry U.S. spring and summer, along with fewer drought impacts along the southbound route into Mexico.

Meanwhile, in Mexico, communities have been reforesting hillsides, patrolling the reserves to reduce illegal logging and building monarch‑based ecotourism, with help from the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) and the WWF.

Mexican officials say those measures, and the weather in the United States, helped drive this year’s rebound.

A map showing monarch butterfly migration routes through North America
Monarch butterflies every year embark on a multi-generational migration spanning up to 3,000 miles from central Mexico to southern Canada. (Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation)

Also, there is new data showing some pressure easing on the wintering grounds themselves. 

A joint WWF–Mexico report found 2.55 hectares of forest degraded in the core of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve between February 2024 and February 2025, down from 3.73 hectares the previous year, with most loss driven by illegal logging and smaller amounts by fire and drought.

Other threats to monarch populations include widely used insecticides and herbicides in North America, climate change and extreme weather.

The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve — in the mountains of central Mexico in the states of Michoacán and México — included nine major butterfly colonies this winter. The five sanctuaries generally open to the public are Sierra Chincua, El Rosario, La Mesa, Piedra Herrada and El Capulín.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said this week her government is using this window of opportunity to push trilateral action.

“Yes, there are talks between Semarnat, both with Canada and the United States, and [Conanp] is also strengthening its support,” Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum said the greatest challenge now lies along the U.S. leg of the route, where monarchs need pesticide‑safe milkweed and nectar-rich habitat as they move north out of Mexico and back toward Canada.

With reports from Milenio, El Financiero, La Jornada, WWF, Panda.org and Border Report

Mexico reports nearly 190,000 citizens repatriated since Trump took office: Thursday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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President Sheinbaum at the podium of her morning press conference
A program to welcome home repatriated Mexicans, striking teachers and the King of Spain all received mentions at Thursday's presidential presser. (Juan Carlos Buenrostro/Presidencia)

Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds

  • 🍎 CNTE teachers’ strike continues: Sheinbaum said her government lacks the budget to meet the dissident teachers union’s demands, but insists dialogue remains open. She pushed back on street protests while talks are ongoing, noting the union failed to show up to a previously requested meeting with her.
  • 🏆 King Felipe VI invited to World Cup: Mexico formally extended an invitation to Spain’s monarch for the tournament opener, as diplomatic relations between the two countries continue to warm following the king’s recent remarks acknowledging abuses during the Spanish conquest.
  • ✈️ “Mexico Embraces You” nears 190,000 returnees: Interior Minister Rodríguez reported that nearly 190,000 Mexicans — mainly deportees and voluntary returnees from the U.S. — have been registered under the repatriation program since it launched on January 20, 2025, with over 154,000 arriving by land.
  • 🚗 USMCA talks update: Sheinbaum said Mexico has responded point-by-point to a U.S. list of 54 alleged non-tariff barriers, declaring the concerns largely settled. Mexico’s top priority in the ongoing talks is eliminating tariffs on the automotive, steel and aluminum sectors.

Why today’s mañanera matters

Thursday’s mañanera touched on both domestic pressure points and several delicate international issues ranging from U.S. deportations to relations with the King of Spain.

A day after members of a dissident teachers union started a 72-hour strike demanding higher wages, President Claudia Sheinbaum insisted her administration does not have the budget to address CNTE’s demands.

A CNTE teachers protest march in Mexico City
Striking teachers belonging to the CNTE union marched toward Mexico City’s Angel of Independence on Tuesday before setting up camp in the Zócalo. Their demands include wage increases and the repeal of a 2007 pension reform law. (Rogelio Morales / Cuartoscuro.com)

The thaw in Mexico’s diplomatic relations with Spain continued as Mexico formally invited King Felipe VI to this summer’s World Cup. But while relations with Spain warmed, Mexico took note of a more somber milestone regarding relations with the United States: The government’s “Mexico Embraces You” repatriation program — designed to welcome and support Mexicans deported from the U.S. — has registered nearly 190,000 returnees since early 2025.

The president also mentioned that the Economy Ministry’s priority during ongoing talks with the U.S. Trade Representative in the context of the review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement is to achieve the elimination of tariffs for the automotive, steel and aluminum industries.

Dialogue with striking teachers continues

As members of the CNTE teachers union prepared a second day of marches and blockades in the capital, Sheinbaum said her administration is willing to maintain talks with the teachers, but criticized their decision to take to the streets.

“If negotiating channels are open, why shut down the streets?” she asked, referring to ongoing talks in the states where the CNTE operates.

The president insisted that the door to dialogue remains open, saying it is the preferred way to approach conflict resolution, but questioned the CNTE’s commitment to compromise.

“The last time they asked to meet with me, they didn’t show up,” she said.

The Education Ministry and Segob have hosted talks with the CNTE, but Sheinbaum maintains that there are insufficient public funds to meet their demands for higher wages.

She recalled that a 10% salary increase was approved last year and said her government is actively looking for other ways to provide support, “because we believe in Mexico’s teachers.”

Last year, the CNTE staged 20 days of protests in Mexico City and they have threatened to take action during the World Cup if their demands are not met.

Among their top demands is the repeal of the 2007 revision of the ISSSTE Law, which governs social security and pensions for state employees. That reform transformed the solidarity-based pension scheme into one reliant on individual accounts.

Reporters raise their hands at President Sheinbaum's morning press conference
President Sheinbaum questioned the union’s decision to take to the streets, saying that negotiating channels a remain open. (Juan Carlos Buenrostro/Presidencia)

Mexico invites Spanish monarch to inaugural World Cup match

Although reluctant to characterize diplomatic relations with Spain as on the mend, Sheinbaum confirmed that King Felipe VI had been invited to the World Cup.

Sheinbaum demurred by saying that Gabriela Cuevas, Mexico’s representative to FIFA, sent invitations to all countries of the world with whom Mexico maintains diplomatic relations.

The news follows Felipe’s remarks on Monday that there were “significant abuses” during Spain’s conquest and colonization of Mexico in the 16th century.

On Tuesday, Sheinbaum said the comments might not have been everything Mexico had hoped for, but admitted that it was “undeniably a gesture of rapprochement by the king.”

Repatriation program approaches 200,000 registered arrivals

Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez reported that between Jan. 20, 2025, and March 18 of this year, the government’s “Mexico Embraces You” strategy program registered 189,830 repatriations.

Rodríguez said the Command Center, the Segob entity that records incident reports during the return process, reported “a clean record” thus far.

She said that of the nearly 190,000 arrivals, more than 154,000 Mexican citizens registered by the Command Center came home by land.

The “Mexico Embraces You” program was implemented the same day Donald Trump was sworn in as U.S. president last year. It aims to provide support and a dignified reception to Mexican nationals returning home in the face of what Trump said would be “the largest deportation operation in American history.”

An update on ongoing USMCA talks

As the mañanera came to an end, Sheinbaum said her administration had thoroughly responded to U.S. complaints about obstacles to free trade. 

The U.S. government had submitted a list of 54 measures that it categorized as “non-tariff barriers.” Among the primary U.S. concerns are limits to private foreign investment in Mexico’s energy sector — an issue directly affecting U.S. companies — the ban on planting genetically modified corn and the restrictions on open-pit mining and fracking.

Responding to a question, Sheinbaum said the vast majority have already been addressed and defended point-by-point.

“Mexico clearly presented its position within the existing legal framework,” she said, “answering each concern one-by-one. I believe the concerns have been settled.”

Sheinbaum added that Mexico’s priority is to achieve the elimination of tariffs for the automotive, steel and aluminum industries.

Mexico News Daily

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