A freight train derailed on the Interoceanic Railroad in Asunción Ixtaltepec, Oaxaca, on Tuesday night. (Social media)
A freight train accident occurred on the Interoceanic Railroad in southern Mexico on Tuesday night less than seven months after a passenger train derailment on the same line in which 14 people were killed.
No one was injured in the latest accident, according to the Ministry of the Navy (Semar) and the government agency directly responsible for the railroad that connects Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, on Mexico’s Pacific coast to Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, on the Gulf coast.
The accident — widely reported as a derailment — occurred on Line Z, as the railroad is called, in the municipality of Asunción Ixtaltepec, Oaxaca. The El Universal newspaper published photos showing one section of the train lying on its side next to the railroad.
Semar and the Isthmus of Tehuantepc Interoceanic Corridor (CIIT), a decentralized public agency under the jurisdiction of the Navy Ministry, said in a statement that an accident involving “two articulated units” of a freight train occurred on Tuesday night. Each articulated unit was made up of two train cars, they said.
Semar and CIIT said that no one was injured in the incident and there was no impact on the local population.
“Safety protocols were immediately activated and specialized personnel began maneuvers to remove the units and clear the tracks,” the government departments said, adding that the CIIT is carrying out the “corresponding technical inspection to determine the causes” of the accident.
The Interoceanic Railroad crosses the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, connecting the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. (Ferrocarril del Istmo de Tehuantepec)
However, passenger trains are not currently running between Salina Cruz and Coatzcoalcos as services were canceled after the derailment on Dec. 28, 2025. President Claudia Sheinbaum said last month that passenger service would not resume until early 2027.
At her morning press conference on Thursday, Sheinbaum downplayed the seriousness of the accident.
“Rather than a derailment, [the train] moved,” she said.
“The train cars didn’t completely fall, but it was an incident,” Sheinbaum said. “It was reported yesterday by the Navy and inspections are being carried out.”
Asked whether the accident would have an impact on the “reactivation” of the Interoceanic Railroad passenger train, the president said the government would report on that at a later date.
The modernized railroad between Salina Cruz and Coatzacoalcos has been touted as a rival to the Panama Canal given that it can be used to move freight between the Pacific coast and the Gulf coast, or vice versa. For example, freight from Asia can be unloaded from a ship in Salina Cruz and travel across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec by rail before being reloaded onto a ship in Coatzacoalcos to continue its journey to the Gulf or Atlantic coast of the United States.
Former Navy Minister José Rafael Ojeda Durán asserted in 2023 that Mexico would become a “world shipping power” thanks to the construction of a trade corridor between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
United Airlines has reduced its occupancy capacity to Mexican beaches for the summer by nearly 17%, which along with American Airlines' 15% reduction has contributed to a loss of 989,000 seats on Mexican beach-bound flights.
(David Syphers / Unsplash)
Mexico’s main beach destinations will face a challenging summer season as airline occupancy from the United States is reduced by nearly 1 million seats, according to an analysis by the Center for Advanced Research in Sustainable Tourism (STARC).
The report estimates that airlines from the U.S., the most important international market for Mexican tourism, will offer 989,000 fewer seats to Mexican beach destinations in July and August — down 21.5% compared to last year, with Cancún, Cozumel and Tulum alone losing 561,000 seats and nearly 3,000 flights.
Mexico’s Caribbean coast is being especially hard hit by the reduction in airline capacity from the United States, as it comes in addition to the departure of the beach-serving Spirit Airlines from the market and another bad year for sargassum on many area beaches. (Elizabeth Ruiz / Cuartoscuro.com)
Airlines that have reduced their schedules include American Airlines, which cut seats to Mexican beach destinations by almost 15%, and United Airlines, which reduced its seat capacity by nearly 17%.
Meanwhile, Spirit Airlines’ exit from the market left an additional gap of approximately 165,000 seats to the Mexican Caribbean.
Rising jet fuel prices linked to the U.S./Israel-Iran war may also be weighing on airlines.The Associated Press reported that American Airlines cited soaring jet fuel prices as a key reason behind its capacity reductions.
“We have a market that is suffering,” Francisco Madrid, head of STARC at Anáhuac University Cancún, said.
The World Cup also affected seat offerings to Mexican beach destinations.
The newspaperEl Financiero reported that airlines increased their capacity to the three World Cup venues during June and July at the expense of beach destinations, which suffereda 3.6% reduction as a result.
A challenging summer for the Mexican Caribbean
Beyond the reduction in seat capacity and Spirit Airlines’ exit, the Mexican Caribbean is bracing for a significant decline in international tourism this summer due to heavy sargassum on its beaches, safety concerns, rising ticket prices and the effects of U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration policy.
The STARC report also points to changing travel trends. While U.S. travelers continue to go abroad, an increasing number are choosing Europe and Asia over Mexico.
Industry experts explained that all these factors combined have caused Mexico to lose approximately 60,000 international travelers per month.
Meanwhile, tourism revenue has been tempered as visitors are spending less due to the strong peso. “Having more tourists who spend less is not ideal,” Cosío noted.
Mexico’s Security Cabinet has rejected DEA Administrator Terry Cole’s assertion that there is a “deadly connection” between the Mexican government and drug cartels, saying there is no basis for his claim.
Cole, head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration since July 2025, made the assertion on Tuesday at the DEA Fentanyl Free America Summit in Orlando, Florida. The claim is reminiscent of the White House’s assertion in early 2025 that “Mexican drug trafficking organizations have an intolerable alliance with the government of Mexico.”
According to Reuters, Cole also said that the Mexican government and cartel networks are “one … [and] the same.”
The DEA chief said last month that combating Mexican cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was “priority number one of the DEA.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, the federal Security Cabinet — whose members include Mexico’s defense, Navy and security ministers as well as the head of the National Guard — noted that Cole had asserted that there is a “connection” between cartels and the Mexican government.
“The assertions made are unfounded and don’t correspond to the results in the fight against criminal organizations that the Mexican government has presented in a public and verifiable way,” the Security Cabinet said.
Arrested 59,582 people for allegedly committing high-impact crimes such as murder, kidnapping and extortion.
Confiscated 31,366 firearms.
Seized 498 tonnes of drugs, including 2.36 tonnes of fentanyl.
Dismantled 2,627 clandestine drug labs.
“Among the people detained are leaders, operators and generators of violence belonging to all criminal organizations and structures, without any distinction, demonstrating that the actions of the Mexican state are based on investigations and in accordance with the law,” the Security Cabinet said.
“Furthermore, investigations have reached public servants linked to criminal activities. As a result of Operación Enjambre [Operation Swarm] and other actions, more than 80 current and former public servants, including seven sitting mayors, have been arrested, confirming that in the government of Mexico there is no protection for anybody who engages in unlawful conduct,” it said.
“From September 2024 to June 2026, the daily average of homicides declined 48%,” the cabinet said, referring to the murder rate last month compared to that in the final month of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s presidency.
“… Bilateral cooperation mechanisms have yielded results in the fight against organized crime. As evidence of this, generators of violence have been detained including priority targets wanted by U.S. authorities,” the Security Cabinet said.
“The government of Mexico maintains its willingness to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the United States under the principles of respect for sovereignty, mutual trust, shared responsibility and coordination, with the common objective of combating transnational criminal organizations and protecting the security of both nations.”
Cole’s assertion and the Security Cabinet’s response come at a time when the Mexico-U.S. security relationship is strained due to a range of reasons. These include the CIA’s alleged participation in a drug lab raid in Chihuahua in April without the knowledge or authorization of the Mexican government, and U.S. prosecutors’ request for the arrest of Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, an ally of Sheinbaum, and various other current and former officials accused of drug trafficking in league with the Sinaloa Cartel.
In a speech at a May 31 rally in Mexico City, Sheinbaum railed against U.S. interference in Mexican affairs, declaring that Mexico is “a free, independent and sovereign country” and “not anyone’s piñata.”
Sheinbaum — who sees unauthorized U.S. operations and actions in Mexico as a violation of Mexican sovereignty — has suggested the U.S. government made a pact with “members of organized crime” to carry out the capture of Zambada, who was flown to the United States on a light aircraft alongside Joaquín Guzmán López, who in a court appearance in Chicago last December admitted to orchestrating the kidnapping of “El Mayo.”
By being designated as terrorist organizations, Los Viagras and the Juárez Cartel are subject to having the U.S. Treasury freeze their accounts and financial assets, with U.S. persons prohibited from dealing with them.
(Juan José Estrada Serafín / Cuartoscuro.com)
The U.S. Treasury on Wednesday formally designated two Mexican crime groups as “foreign and global terrorist organizations,” joining six other Mexican cartels that the U.S. has labeled as terrorists.
Officially, the Treasury changed the designation of the two groups — the Juárez Cartel and the Los Viagras cartel — by adding them to the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s list of “Specially Designated Nationals” (“SDNs”).
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, whose Treasury Department formalized the new terrorist designations, justified the action by saying that they “highlight the diverse and insidious ways in which cartels engage in violent activities and exploit legitimate commerce.” (U.S. Treasury)
“The sanctions announced … highlight the diverse and insidious ways in which cartels engage in violent activities and exploit legitimate commerce,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday.
On the practical level, once an organization is designated as an SDN, the Treasury is authorized to freeze all its accounts and financial assets and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.
SDNs are can be individuals, groups or entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers, that are targeted for enforcement action.
The two organizations had previously been denominated as “foreign persons involved in the global illicit drug trade.”
Explaining that he had seen a “sufficient factual basis” with regard to the actions of the Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras, Rubio said both had either “committed terrorist acts or pose a serious risk of committing acts that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States.”
The Juárez Cartel is one of the oldest drug trafficking organizations in Mexico, having been founded in the 1970s. It primarily operates along the border with Texas by exercising control of the Ciudad Juárez-El Paso corridor, a critical crossing point.
Los Viagras mostly work in the western state of Michoacán, where, according to Bessent, “criminal extortion is particularly prevalent in the lucrative agricultural sector and economy of Michoacán.” In addition to extortion, Los Viagras also produce synthetic drugs.
A cargo ship docks at the port of Manzanillo, Mexico's busiest Pacific port and a key gateway for the country's exports to the United States. (Shutterstock)
Since then, Mexico has remained the top exporter to the U.S., occupying the No. 1 position in 2024, 2025 and the first five months of 2026.
Before Mexico ascended to the enviable position of No. 1 foreign supplier to the U.S., China held the top spot for over a decade. China first became the leading exporter to the U.S. in 2007. Canada snatched back the top spot in 2008 before ceding the position to the East Asian country once again in 2009.
For 14 consecutive years between 2009 and 2022, China was the top exporter to the United States. China was able to get to that position thanks to its vast, low-cost, export-oriented manufacturing sector, the establishment of permanent normal trade relations with the U.S. in 2000 and its membership in the World Trade Organization from 2001 onwards.
Mexico, among other countries, benefited from the U.S.-China trade war, as the United States “decoupled” from a country it had grown to rely on heavily for all manner of products.
Mexico — which has emerged as a major nearshoring destination in recent years — increased exports to its northern neighbor to the point where, as mentioned above, it became the top exporter to the United States in 2023.
Meanwhile, the shares of the U.S. market for imports held by Canada and China — each of which was once the largest exporter to the United States — declined as the U.S. spent more on goods made in lower-cost economies, such as Mexico and China.
In this “Mexico in Numbers” article, we look at how Mexico, Canada, Japan and China’s shares of the U.S. market for imports have changed over the past 30 years or so.
We begin in 1993 — the year before the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) took effect — then examine the data for 1995 before continuing in five‑year steps right up to 2025.
*All the data in this article comes from the United States Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Canada was the top exporter to the United States that year, shipping goods worth $111.21 billion to its southern neighbor. Thus, Canada had a 19.1% share of the United States total market for imports.
In 1993, neither Mexico nor China was the second-largest exporter to the United States. That distinction went to Japan, which exported goods worth $107.25 billion to the U.S. in 1993, giving the Asian nation an 18.5% share of the U.S. market for imports.
Mexico exported goods worth $39.92 billion to the United States in 1993, giving it a 6.9% share of the U.S. market for imports.
China’s exports to the United States were worth $31.54 billion, giving it a 5.4% share of the U.S. market for imports — just one-quarter of the percentage it would achieve around two decades later.
NAFTA opened the door to year-round avocado availability in the U.S., fueling a booming market for Mexican avocados now worth over $3 billion a year. (Juan José Estrada Serafín/Cuartoscuro)
1995: Canada still on top, but Mexico makes up ground
Canada was again the top exporter to the United States, sending goods worth $145.35 billion to its southern neighbor, an increase of 30.7% compared to pre-NAFTA 1993.
Canada thus had a 19.5% share of the U.S. market for imports, an increase of 0.4 percentage points compared to 1993.
In 1995, Japan was still the second-largest exporter to the United States, shipping goods worth $123.48 billion to the U.S. Japan thus had a 16.6% share of the U.S. market for imports, a decline of 1.9 percentage points compared to 1993.
Mexico was the third-largest exporter to the United States in 1995. It shipped goods worth $61.68 billion north, an increase of 54.5% in the space of just two years. Mexico had an 8.3% of the U.S. market for imports in 1995, an increase of 1.4 percentage points compared to 1993.
China also increased its exports to the U.S. and its share of the U.S. market for imports in 1995. Its exports were worth $45.54 billion, a 44.4% increase compared to two years earlier. China’s share of the U.S. market for imports increased to 6.1% from 5.4% in 1993.
2000: Canada remains No. 1 despite losing share of the US market for imports
Canada was once again the largest exporter to the United States, shipping goods worth $230.84 billion to its southern neighbor, an increase of 58.8% compared to 1995. However, Canada’s share of the U.S. market for imports fell to 18.9%, a decline of 0.6 percentage points compared to five years earlier.
In 2000, Japan was once again the second-largest exporter to the United States, sending goods worth $146.48 billion to the U.S., an increase of 18.6% compared to 1995. However, Japan’s share of the U.S. market for imports fell to 12%, a decline of 4.6 percentage points compared to five years earlier.
In contrast, Mexico’s share of the U.S. market for imports increased to 11.1%, an increase of 2.8 percentage points compared to 1995. Mexico’s exports to the United States were worth $135.92 billion in 2000, an increase of an impressive 120.4% compared to five years earlier. Mexico was closing in on Japan.
China was on the move as well. The value of China’s exports to the U.S. exceeded $100 billion for the first time ever in 2000, coming in at $100.02 billion. China had an 8.2% share of the U.S. market for imports in 2000, up 2.1 percentage points compared to 1995.
Japan outranked Mexico as one top exporters to the U.S. in the early 2000’s, led by products like the Sony Walkman and Toyota vehicles. (Lcarsdata/CC BY-SA 2.5)
2005: Canada still in front as China moves ahead of Japan and Mexico
Canada remained the top exporter to the U.S., sending goods worth $290.38 billion to its southern neighbor, a 25.8% increase compared to 2000. However, Canada’s share of the U.S. market for imports continued to fall, declining 1.5 percentage points in the space of five years to 17.4%.
Meanwhile, China’s exports to the United States reached $243.47 billion in 2005, an increase of 143.2% compared to 2000. Thus China was the second-largest exporter to the United States, ahead of both Mexico and Japan. China first moved into second place in 2003, beating out Mexico for that spot after exceeding Japan’s export total the previous year. In 2005, China had a 14.6% share of the U.S. market for imports, an increase of 6.4 percentage points compared to five years earlier.
Mexico’s exports to the United States were worth $170.1 billion in 2005, a 25.1% increase compared to five years earlier. However, its share of the U.S. market for imports fell to 10.2%, a decline of 0.9 percentage points compared to 2000.
Japan’s share of the U.S. market for imports was 8.3% in 2005, down 3.7 percentage points from 2000. Japan shipped exports worth $138 billion to the U.S. in 2005.
2010: China is the new leader; Mexico gains market share as Canada continues to retreat
China was easily the top exporter to the U.S. in 2010, shipping goods worth $364.94 billion to the world’s largest economy. China thus had a 19.1% share of the U.S. market for imports, up 4.5 percentage points from five years earlier.
As noted in the introduction to this article, China first became the top exporter to the U.S. in 2007 before relinquishing the position to Canada in 2008. China retook the top spot in 2009 and maintained an iron grip on it through 2022.
In 2010, Canada found itself in second spot in the list of largest exporters to the United States, sending goods worth $277.65 billion to its southern neighbor. That dollar figure represented a 4.4% decrease compared to Canada’s sales to the U.S. five years earlier. Canada’s share of the U.S. market for imports was 14.5% in 2010, down 2.9 percentage points from five years earlier.
Meanwhile, the value of Mexico’s exports to the U.S. increased 35.2% compared to 2005 to reach $229.91 billion. Mexico’s share of the U.S. market for imports was 12% in 2010, an increase of 1.8 percentage points compared to 2005. In 2010, Mexico remained the third-largest exporter to the United States.
Japan was the fourth-largest exporter to the United States in 2010, sending goods worth $120.54 billion to the U.S., a decrease of 12.6% compared to five years earlier. Japan’s share of the U.S. market for imports was 6.3%, a decrease of two percentage points compared to 2005.
China dominated the U.S. import market in the 2010s with products including textiles, machinery, electronics and a wide range of other manufactured goods. (Shutterstock)
2015: China remains No. 1 with a 21.5% share of the US market for imports
That’s right, China’s share of the U.S. market for imports was above 20% in 2015 — 21.5% in fact, an increase of 2.4 percentage points compared to five years earlier. The total value of the goods China shipped to the U.S. in 2015 was $483.24 billion, an increase of 32.4% compared to 2010. Thus, China was easily the largest exporter to the United States in 2015.
Meanwhile, Mexico pipped Canada for second place. Mexico’s exports to its northern neighbor were worth $296.41 billion in 2015, just ahead of Canada’s exports to the U.S., which totaled $296.15 billion.
Both countries had a 13.2% share of the U.S. market for imports in 2015. Mexico’s share increased 1.2 percentage points compared to five years earlier, while Canada’s share declined 1.3 points.
In 2015, Japan clung onto fourth place in the list of the largest exporters to the United States, although Germany wasn’t far behind. Japan’s exports were worth $131.36 billion, a 9% increase compared to five years earlier. However, Japan’s share of the U.S. market for imports was just 5.8%, a decrease of 0.5 percentage points compared to 2010.
2020: China still No. 1 but its share of the US market falls
China was the top exporter to the United States in 2020, shipping goods worth $434.75 billion to the U.S. China had an 18.7% share of the U.S. market for imports in 2020, a year of economic turmoil due to the COVID pandemic. Its share of the U.S. market was 2.8 percentage points lower than in 2015. The U.S.-China trade war was underway.
Meanwhile, Mexico sent goods worth $325.21 billion to the United States in 2020, an increase of 9.7% compared to 2014. It had a 14% share of the U.S. market for imports, up 0.8 percentage points from 2015, and remained the second-largest exporter to the United States.
Canada’s exports to the United States were worth $270.31 billion in 2020, a decrease of 8.7% compared to 2015. Canada had an 11.6% of the total U.S. market for imports, a decrease of 1.6 percentage points compared to five years earlier.
Japan remained the fourth-largest exporter to the United States, although the value of its exports and its share of the U.S. market for imports both declined.
Japan sent goods worth $119.49 billion to the U.S. in 2020, a 9% decrease compared to 2015. Its share of the U.S. market for imports was 5.1%, a drop of 0.7 percentage points compared to five years earlier.
Mexico was the largest exporter to the U.S. last year, shipping goods worth $534.31 billion to its northern neighbor, a 64.3% increase compared to 2020. Mexico had a 15.7% share of the total U.S. market for imports, an increase of 1.7 percentage points compared to five years earlier.
Canada exported goods worth $381.92 billion to the United States in 2025, making it the second-largest exporter to the U.S. While the dollar value of its exports increased 41.3%, Canada’s share of the U.S. market for imports fell 0.4 percentage points from 11.8% in 2020 to 11.2% in 2025.
China ranked as the third-largest exporter to the United States in 2025. The East Asian economic powerhouse shipped goods worth $308.65 billion to the U.S. last year, a decline of 29% compared to 2020. China had a 9% share of the U.S. market for imports, a decline of 9.7 percentage points compared to five years earlier.
Meanwhile, Japan could only manage seventh place in the list of the largest exporters to the United States, behind Mexico, Canada, China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Germany. Japan’s exports to the U.S. were worth $145.84 billion last year, a 22% increase compared to 2020. However, Japan’s share of the U.S. market for imports was just 4.3%, a decline of 0.8 percentage points compared to 2020.
President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday addressed another Mexican man's death in an ICE operation, an incident on the Interoceanic Railroad and upcoming trade talks with the U.S. (Presidencia)
Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds
🚆 Interoceanic Railroad “incident”: Sheinbaum said Tuesday’s accident on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec railroad was not a derailment, but rather the freight train “moved.” She said that train cars didn’t fully fall off the tracks. Inspections are underway, and any impact on the planned 2027 passenger service reactivation will be reported later.
🕊️ Mexican man’s death in ICE operation acknowledged: Sheinbaum said that a Mexican man killed in Florida on Tuesday after fleeing an ICE operation and being struck by a truck had been identified, but she didn’t release his name. She said the case will be folded into Mexico’s diplomatic efforts and criminal complaints over Mexican deaths tied to ICE.
🚫 Migration shouldn’t be criminalized, Sheinbaum says: Responding to Trump’s call for continued immigration traffic stops, the president said her government disagrees with the practice, arguing that while crimes should be pursued, migration itself shouldn’t be treated as one. She noted Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco has raised Mexico’s legal actions with the U.S. ambassador and deputy secretary of state.
🤝US-Mexico trade talks set for next week: A USTR delegation will visit Mexico to continue bilateral trade talks, three weeks after the U.S. declined to renew the USMCA for another 16 years. Sheinbaum said Mexico will seek agreements for “greater stability in the coming years.”
Why today’s mañanera matters
Today’s mañanera was significant as President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to incidents of national and international importance.
She commented on a freight train accident on Tuesday on the railroad that connects the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico. While no one was hurt, the accident is a major story in Mexico as it occurred less than seven months after a passenger train derailment on the same railroad in which 14 people were killed and around 100 people were injured.
The railroad — which was modernized during Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s 2018-2024 presidency and allows freight to be moved between the Pacific and Gulf coasts — is supposed to be the crown jewel of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec trade corridor. However, its status as such is significantly diminished by the two recent accidents.
Sheinbaum also responded to the death of a Mexican man in Florida on Tuesday. The man was fleeing from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and was hit by a truck. His death came just one day after the Mexican government filed criminal complaints in the U.S. in connection with the deaths of 17 Mexicans who have died in ICE detention centers or in ICE operations since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House in early 2025 and commenced an aggressive deportation campaign.
Sheinbaum responds to another accident on the Interoceanic Railroad
A reporter asked the president what report she was given about the “new derailment” on the Interoceanic Railroad.
The Navy Ministry and the government agency responsible for the railroad said in a statement on Wednesday that an accident involving “two articulated units” of a freight train occurred on Tuesday night. There were no injuries and the accident didn’t have any impact on the local population, according to the statement.
— Ferrocarril Interoceánico (@FInteroceanico) July 15, 2026
The accident, which occurred in the municipality of Asunción Ixtaltepec, Oaxaca, was widely reported as a derailment.
However, Sheinbaum said that, “rather than a derailment, [the train] moved.”
“The train cars didn’t completely fall, but it was an incident,” she said.
“It was reported yesterday by the Navy and inspections are being carried out,” Sheinbaum said.
Asked whether the accident would have an impact on the “reactivation” of the Interoceanic Railroad passenger train, which is slated for early 2027, the president said the government would report on that at a later date.
Sheinbaum acknowledges death of Mexican fleeing ICE operation in Florida
A reporter asked the president whether a Mexican man hit by a truck in Florida on Tuesday while fleeing an ICE operation had been identified.
Sheinbaum said he had been identified, but didn’t provide his name.
“In an ICE operation, he runs and while crossing a street is run over,” she said.
The Miami Herald reported on Tuesday that a “28-year-old Mexican man died in an apparent traffic accident Tuesday morning following an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations agents in St. Augustine, marking the third death involving ICE in a week.”
“The man ran away from agents and was hit by a truck, Florida Highway Patrol Master Sergeant Dylan Bryan told the Miami Herald.”
Man dies during immigration encounter in Florida, the third ICE-involved death in a week https://t.co/EIiv2Z278B
Sheinbaum said that the death of the Mexican man on Tuesday would be incorporated into “the work we’re doing, both in the diplomatic way and in the direct [criminal] complaints.
“If there is a person who committed a crime, he or she must be pursued. But migration in itself shouldn’t be criminalized,” Sheinbaum said.
She said that Foreign Affairs Minister Roberto Velasco has directly informed U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau about Mexico’s legal actions against ICE-related deaths in the United States.
Sheinbaum noted that she hasn’t recently spoken to Trump, but told reporters that she will raise the issue of ICE-related fatalities when she does.
“I’ve [already] raised it several times — the issue of Mexicans in the United States,” she said.
Mexico-US trade talks scheduled for next week
Sheinbaum noted that a delegation from the Office of the United States Trade Representative will come to Mexico next week to continue bilateral trade talks.
Sheinbaum said that at next week’s talks, Mexico will be aiming to “reach some agreements that give us greater stability in the coming years.”
She reminded reporters that annual revisions of the USMCA are slated to take place in the coming 10 years as a result of the United States’ decision not to renew the pact for an additional 16 years.
“At any time,” Mexico, the United States and Canada can agree to extend the pact for 16 more years, said Sheinbaum, who has attributed the U.S. decision to Trump’s “protectionist vision” while stressing that North American economic integration is “very difficult to break.”
The USMCA governs the bulk of around US $2 trillion in annual trade in North America. While the Trump administration last year imposed tariffs on a range of Mexican goods including vehicles, steel and aluminum, most Mexican products can still enter the U.S. duty-free.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
Legendary Mexican architect Diego Villaseñor believes that his designs are an extension of their natural surroundings. (Ana Paula de la Torre)
This was not your typical interview. Speaking with Diego Villaseñor, the architect, was the most special interview experience I have ever had. This legend, considered one of the 100 best living architects, invited me to visit one of his most recent works in Amatlán de Quetzalcóatl, Morelos. After walking down a gorgeous, winding road lost in the woods, I arrived at a house that seemed to be a continuation of the surrounding trees, with a terrace that seemed to float among them.
Villaseñor sat with an edition of four books containing pictures of some of his greatest works among the more than 100 he has created in his 84 years. He took the time to convey to me the essence of his architectural philosophy, which he views as a tribute to beauty, emotion and nature.
For Villaseñor, design can only be viewed within the context of nature. Does nature exalt the work? Does it create an emotional response in the viewer? (Ana Paula de la Torre)
The architect spoke about his work as if he were seeing it for the first time, feeling surprised, passionate and in awe of a creation he admired. The most extraordinary aspect is that in every picture of his work, nature is the protagonist. His passion is evident in his designs, which are created to exalt nature.
The importance of emotion and beauty in feeling alive
Villaseñor was born in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco. He was friends with Luis Barragán and artists like Chucho Reyes. For Villaseñor, architecture is about using beauty to create emotional states that bring out the best in humanity. He sees the home as an extension of nature: “I am a framer of the landscape,” he says.
“Humans should have the right to beauty,” he notes, becoming emotional as he expounds. For him, feeling accomplished is important, and we can achieve that state through the spaces we inhabit. “We need to eat so our bodies function, and similarly, we need to feel in harmony to give our best.” In this sense, spaces are crucial in bringing us to states of contemplation, gratitude and plenitude through beauty.
Villaseñor believes that visual chaos is an aggression because it strays from our true nature. However, the beauty he creates, with nature as the main factor, is also inspired by daily life. During our interview, he mentioned popular songs, poems, and traditional clay or pre-Hispanic kitchens, such as the tlecuil — the traditional Mexican stove or brazier — as sources of inspiration.
Many of his masterpieces can be attributed to a curious mind. He is interested in all forms of life, as well as ideas from philosophy and science. “It is important for human beings to feel moved. When you are moved, you connect with something greater — you are no longer just an individual. Beauty that stirs the emotions gives life more meaning and creates moments of fulfillment.”
Architecture as a tribute to nature
Diego Villaseñor’s architecture is not merely about including nature; it blends harmoniously with it. In fact, his work highlights the area’s natural beauty and views. Additionally, his buildings prioritize the use of local natural materials, such as stone and wood crafted by Mexican artisans.
Like the frame for a beautiful painting, natural backdrops give the frame of reference and the “spectacle” that illuminates the quality of a given design, says Villaseñor. (Ana Paula de la Torre)
Moreover, when he designs a house in a natural landscape, he creates a shape that respects the surrounding vegetation, causing minimal disruption. His main goal is to honor nature while promoting the well-being of its users, so he incorporates current weather conditions, temperatures, winds and light into the design.
For Villaseñor, the journey to a house is as important as the house itself. This is why arriving at one of his creations is like a trip through nature. “How you feel throughout the process of finding a home is very important,” he claims. To him, a house is a natural extension of the landscape, a place that protects and nurtures our well-being.
Regarding the challenges facing young architects today, Villaseñor — who has been building with wooden blocks since the age of six — is clear: “Provide local solutions to local problems.” He believes that appreciating and utilizing local culture, rather than chasing global trends, is essential for creating practical designs in harmony with the environment. For him, it is also a powerful way to honor a region’s cultural richness.
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator for various outlets, including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
Could this be our new home? Seekers of a new Mexican city, Charlotte and Omar, give Guanajuato high marks. But the search isn't over yet. (Jorge Gardner/Unsplash)
One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about writing this series is that it has made Omar and me look at familiar places through a completely different lens. Guanajuato isn’t somewhere we’ve just stumbled across. In fact, I should probably admit from the outset that it has a slight advantage over some of the other places we’ve considered. It’s one of my favorite cities in Mexico.
We’ve visited several times over the years, and we’ve even made the journey from Puerto Vallarta on our motorcycle, Dora. And that’s no small ride, let me tell ya! Until now, though, we’ve always arrived as visitors.
Could Guanajuato be our new home?
Charlotte and Omar’s quest to find a new place to move to in Mexico from their current home near Puerto Vallarta is ongoing. (Charlotte Smith)
This latest trip felt different. Instead of planning which museums to visit or deciding where to have lunch, we found ourselves imagining what an ordinary Tuesday might look like. Where would we buy our groceries? Which café would become our regular spot? Would we still wander the colorful callejones months later, or would they simply become the route home?
That’s really what this series is about. It’s not about finding Mexico’s prettiest city. It’s about asking whether somewhere could become somewhere we’d love to call home.
If first impressions counted for everything, Guanajuato would already have won. The colorful houses spilling down the hillsides, the grand colonial buildings, the hidden plazas and the maze of narrow alleyways somehow feel both timeless and full of life. Around almost every corner there’s another view that makes you stop; another little street that begs to be explored. Even after several visits, we still find ourselves discovering corners we had never noticed before.
What I’ve always loved most, though, isn’t the architecture. It’s the atmosphere. Unlike some beautiful colonial cities that can feel as though they’re preserved primarily for tourists, Guanajuato has a heartbeat of its own.
The cultural vibrancy of Guanajuato
Thanks to the university, there’s a youthful energy that keeps the city vibrant throughout the year. Students fill the cafés, musicians gather in the plazas and there always seems to be something happening, whether it’s a concert, a theatre performance or simply groups of friends lingering in the Jardín de la Unión long after sunset.
It feels like a city that belongs to the people who live there. That matters more than I realized.
Guanajuato is a culturally vibrant city, with great art, museums and festivals. So for residents, there’s always something new to see or do. (Charlotte Smith)
When you’re thinking about relocating, it’s easy to focus on practicalities like healthcare, shopping and housing costs. Those things are obviously important, but so is finding somewhere that still feels alive once you’ve unpacked the boxes. Somewhere that encourages you to leave the house because there’s always another exhibition to visit, another café to try or another street musician worth stopping to listen to.
I don’t think we’d ever be short of things to do here.
Guanajuato is packed with museums, galleries and historic sites, from the famous Mummy Museum to the former home of Diego Rivera. The city hosts the internationally renowned Cervantino Festival each autumn, but even outside festival season there’s a cultural richness that feels woven into everyday life rather than staged for visitors.
How does it rate for comfort and convenience?
One of the things Omar and I both enjoy every time we visit is how little we think about the car. We spend hours wandering with no particular destination in mind, discovering another tucked-away restaurant, another hidden square or another alley we’d somehow never noticed before. It reminded me how much I value places where walking isn’t something you make time for. It’s simply how you experience the city.
Of course, Guanajuato makes you earn those walks!
The city climbs almost as much as it stretches, and before long you’re tackling another steep street or another staircase. During a visit, I find it part of the charm. But because this series is about imagining everyday life rather than a holiday, I couldn’t help wondering how I’d feel carrying shopping home or making a quick trip into town on a hot afternoon.
Hilly streets filled with steps look cool, but would you want to carry your groceries up and down them? This is one of the factors under consideration. (Charlotte Smith)
Then again, maybe that’s simply the trade-off. Places with this much character rarely come wrapped in convenience, and I’m not entirely convinced I’d want them to.
The city’s famous tunnel system only adds to its personality. Built beneath Guanajuato in former riverbeds, it’s unlike anywhere else we’ve experienced in Mexico. I’m sure we’d still miss a turn now and then, but I’d happily take a little confusion over endless traffic lights any day.
Climate and cuisine
The climate is another point in Guanajuato’s favor.
Living in Puerto Vallarta has made us become very familiar with humidity. Guanajuato offers something quite different. Days are generally warm without being oppressive, evenings cool enough to enjoy sitting outside and there are actual seasons. You might even find yourself reaching for a jacket at night … something that still feels like a novelty after living on the coast.
I found myself imagining long evenings in one of the city’s plazas with a coffee or a glass of wine, comfortable enough to sit and watch the world go by without looking for the nearest fan.
And then there’s the food!
Guanajuato’s climate and cuisine both passed the “new home” test with flying colors. (Charlotte Smith)
Every time we’ve visited, we’ve come away with a list of restaurants we’d happily return to. The city doesn’t have quite the same international dining scene as somewhere like Puerto Vallarta, but what it does have feels authentic and wonderfully varied. Traditional Guanajuato cuisine sits comfortably alongside modern Mexican restaurants, cozy cafés and enough hidden gems that I suspect we’d still be discovering favorites years after moving here.
For me, that’s always a good sign. If a city’s food scene keeps surprising you after multiple visits, it’s probably somewhere you could happily settle for the long haul.
Practical considerations
As always, though, we found ourselves looking beyond the romance and thinking about the practicalities. After all, choosing somewhere to live isn’t just about finding a place that excites you. It’s about finding somewhere that works.
Healthcare is one of those things we’ve become increasingly conscious of as we’ve imagined putting down roots somewhere new. Guanajuato has good healthcare for everyday needs, with specialists and modern facilities in the city itself. For more complex procedures or specialist treatment, León is only around 30 minutes away and offers some of the best medical facilities in the Bajío region.
That’s reassuring because, whether we like it or not, it’s the sort of thing you have to think about when you’re planning for the long term rather than the next holiday.
Airport access
The same goes for transport.
The Guanajuato International Airport, also known as the El Bajío International Airport, is strategically located in the economically growing El Bajío region of Mexico. (Guanajuato International Airport)
One thing that surprised me the first time we visited was just how well connected Guanajuato is. Guanajuato International Airport, near Silao, is roughly half an hour away, making domestic travel straightforward and offering direct flights to several cities in the United States, plus destinations across Mexico. Living near Puerto Vallarta, we’ve become used to having a good airport nearby, so it was nice to realize we wouldn’t be sacrificing that convenience.
Shopping is another consideration that probably doesn’t cross your mind when you’re visiting somewhere for a few days.
Markets and shopping
The historic center has plenty of markets, bakeries, fruit and vegetable stalls and small neighborhood shops that make daily errands feel pleasantly local. For larger supermarkets, home improvement stores or those inevitable trips to stock up on things you can’t find in the Centro, León and the commercial areas around Guanajuato have everything we’d need.
It struck me as a nice balance. We’d still be able to support local businesses for most of our day-to-day shopping, without feeling isolated from the conveniences of modern life.
Although the historic center is wonderfully walkable, I don’t think we’d want to be without a vehicle altogether. Not because we’d need it every day, but because one of the biggest advantages of living in Guanajuato would be exploring everything around it. We’d almost certainly find ourselves taking spontaneous drives to Dolores Hidalgo for lunch, heading over to San Miguel de Allende to catch up with friends or spending weekends discovering small towns we’d never heard of before. Having that freedom is something we’d miss if we relied entirely on public transport.
Cost of living and lifestyle factors
Affordability was another pleasant surprise. Compared with some of Mexico’s other well-known colonial cities, particularly San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato still feels relatively attainable. Housing prices have certainly risen, as they seem to have almost everywhere. But the city still offers excellent value if what you’re looking for is history, culture and quality of life rather than exclusivity.
Even in the city’s unique underground tunnel system, Guanajuato is the type of place where you always feel part of a larger community. (Charlotte Smith)
That’s something we kept coming back to. There are places in Mexico that feel as though they’ve been discovered to the point where locals and newcomers are competing for an increasingly limited housing market. Guanajuato didn’t give me that impression. It still feels like a Mexican city first and foremost, and that extends to the international community.
There are certainly foreigners here, enough that newcomers wouldn’t feel completely alone, but they don’t dominate the city in the way they do in some destinations. Personally, I found that appealing. Part of what we’ve loved about living in Mexico has been feeling immersed in Mexican life rather than living in an international bubble, and Guanajuato seems to offer exactly that balance.
Crime and safety concerns
Then there’s the question everyone asks. What about safety?
The state of Guanajuato regularly appears in national headlines because of organized crime in certain regions, and we’d be doing ourselves a disservice if we ignored that entirely. At the same time, one thing we’ve learned from living in Mexico is that statewide statistics rarely tell the whole story.
Talking to people who actually live in Guanajuato paints a much more nuanced picture than reading headlines from hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away. Residents acknowledge the challenges facing parts of the state while also describing a city where daily life continues much as it always has.
That doesn’t mean dismissing legitimate concerns. It simply means doing what we’ve tried to do throughout this series: look beyond the headlines and ask what everyday life is actually like. For us, that means speaking to locals, returning more than once, exploring neighborhoods instead of just tourist attractions and trusting our own experiences alongside the data.
Will Guanajuato open its colorful doors to Charlotte and Omar as new residents? The answer seems to be yes, even as the search continues. (Charlotte Smith)
So, could we live here? I think we could. In fact, of all the places we’ve written about so far, Guanajuato might be the one that’s been hardest to assess objectively simply because I already love it.
Is this our new home?
Would we miss the coast? Without question. Would we occasionally regret choosing a city built on hills? Probably while carrying groceries. But every place we’ve considered has involved compromise. Some offer convenience but little personality. Others have stunning scenery but don’t quite feel alive once the visitors go home.
Guanajuato strikes a balance that very few places manage. It has history without feeling stuck in the past, culture without feeling contrived and enough everyday life to make it feel like somewhere we’d genuinely belong rather than somewhere we’d simply admire.
As Omar and I continue wondering where the next chapter of our lives might take us, Guanajuato remains firmly on the shortlist. Maybe that’s because we’ve known it for years. Maybe it’s because every visit reveals something we hadn’t noticed before. Or maybe it’s simply because, even after all this time, it’s still one of the few places that makes us ask not, “When can we come back?” but, “What if we never really had to leave?”
The search continues …
I’m still not sure where we’ll eventually end up. But if this series has taught me anything, it’s that finding the right place isn’t about discovering somewhere that’s perfect. It’s about finding somewhere whose imperfections you’re happy to live with.
Guanajuato’s imperfections might just be part of its charm.
Charlotte Smith is a writer and journalist based in Mexico. Her work focuses on travel, politics and community. You can follow along with her travel stories at www.salsaandserendipity.com.
President Sheinbaum shakes hands with visiting Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino during a welcoming ceremony at the National Palace in Mexico City Wednesday. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
After a meeting in Mexico City on Wednesday with Panamanian President Juan Raúl Mulino Quintero, President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed the Mexican government’s support for the Panama Canal neutrality protocol.
Her remark during a joint press conference with Mulino at the National Palace comes after U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to retake control of the canal, which was formally transferred to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999. Two weeks ago, Trump said that the United States wouldn’t let China take control of the Panama Canal, a vital shipping route that connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Mulino, a center-right president elected in 2024, noted that Panama and Mexico are both “bridge nations,” in that Mexico links North America to Latin America and Panama is the connection between North and South America. “We are, because of our vocation and geography, countries that unite,” he said. (Matio Jasso/Cuartoscuro.com)
On Wednesday, Sheinbaum said: “As I stated in the bilateral meeting we had, we support the Panama Canal neutrality protocol.”
The protocol is attached to the 1977 “Treaty concerning the permanent neutrality and operation of the Panama Canal,” whose first article states that “[t]he Republic of Panama declares that the Canal, as an international transit waterway, shall be permanently neutral in accordance with the regime established in this Treaty.”
Sheinbaum also spoke about the importance of “respect for the sovereignty” of nations. As she is staunchly opposed to any kind of foreign intervention or interference in Mexico, the president makes it clear she also objects to foreign meddling in the domestic affairs of other countries. Just as she has spoken out against the United States embargo against Cuba, Sheinbaum would almost certainly resist any serious attempt by the U.S. to retake control of the Panama Canal.
On Wednesday, Mulino thanked Sheinbaum for her support of “national sovereignty” and of the Panama Canal as a “neutral tool of world trade.”
‘A new stage of cooperation, trust and friendship’
Early in her press conference remarks, Sheinbaum said that Mulino’s visit to Mexico reconfirms the “solid friendship” between Mexico and Panama.
She subsequently said there is a “shared willingness” to build an even closer relationship based on “mutual respect, dialogue and cooperation.”
At the end of her address, Sheinbaum thanked the Panamanian president for his willingness to “continue writing together with Mexico a new stage of cooperation, trust and friendship between our peoples and nations.”
In earlier remarks, she said that “Panama and Mexico are two nations deeply united by history, culture, and a shared vision of the role that Latin America and the Caribbean should play in the world.”
“We share the conviction that the great challenges of our time can only be addressed through collaboration, understanding, and the strengthening of our sovereignties and our institutions,” Sheinbaum said.
Referring to commonalities between the two countries, the president highlighted that both Panama and Mexico have an “interconnection” between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Panama has the Panama Canal while Mexico has a modernized railroad across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec between Salina Cruz, Oaxaca and Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz.
Sheinbaum also noted that there is Panamanian investment in Mexico and Mexican investment in Panama.
In addition, she thanked Panama for its “extraordinary cooperation” on efforts to eradicate the New World screwworm, whose presence in cattle in Mexico led the United States to shut its border to Mexican livestock.
“Every week we receive pupas from this plant … in order to develop the flies that are going to address the serious screwworm problem,” she said.
“We recognize the technical experience of your country, so … we have the idea of continuing with the exchange of information and the relationship on all agro-industry issues,” Sheinbaum said.
She also said that her meeting with Mulino, president of Panama since 2024, would allow Mexico and the Central American nation to “deepen and relaunch our cooperation in strategic areas” such as trade, investment, infrastructure, security, tourism, culture, education and innovation.
“Mexico recognizes the strategic role that Panama plays as a crossroads between continents and oceans, as well as its contribution to regional and international trade,” Sheinbaum said.
“We are living in a time when the world is facing profound economic and geopolitical transformations. In this context, cooperation between our countries takes on renewed importance.”
Mulino: Panama and Mexico are ‘bridge nations’
After arriving in Mexico on Tuesday with his wife, Maricel Cohen, and members of his cabinet, Mulino was given an official reception at the National Palace on Wednesday.
At his joint press conference with Sheinbaum, the Panamanian leader said it was an “honor” to be in Mexico, a country he described as an “economic, productive and cultural power of our continent.”
He went on to say that “Panama and Mexico are two bridge nations.”
“Mexico is the bridge between North America and Latin America. Panama is the bridge between two oceans and between the two halves of this continent,” Mulino said.
“We are, because of our vocation and geography, countries that unite,” he said.
After thanking Sheinbaum for her support of Panamanian sovereignty and the neutrality of the Panama Canal, Mulino said he spoke to the Mexican president about the importance of more countries in the region supporting Panama and adhering to the Panama Canal neutrality protocol.
“Current events demonstrate — as I have mentioned to the president — that these types of instruments provide protection against uncertainty and safeguard assets that not only belong to the state where they are located, but also serve the world and the international supply chain,” he said.
Mulino also talked up Panama as an investment destination, including for Mexican companies.
“Panama today is an investment-grade economy with projected growth of around 4% this year,” he said, adding that the country is a well-connected logistics, aviation and finance hub.
“We have a special [tax] regime for headquarters of multinational companies, under which more than 190 global companies already operate,” Mulino said.
“Of those, only two are Mexican. Hopefully the Mexican presence increases,” he said.
“… This afternoon I will meet with Mexican businesspeople and I’ll do it with genuine enthusiasm,” Mulino said.
“I’m a natural-born promoter. I’ve promoted my country my entire life, because governments sign agreements, but those who create jobs, move freight and build prosperity are investors and companies,” he added.
The Panamanian president, a center-right politician who served as security minister between 2010 and 2014, also weighed in on security issues.
“I would like to address an important issue, namely regional security,” he said.
“In this regard, Madam President, I would like to congratulate you, as well as your government and the army, on the operation carried out in Guadalajara last February,” Mulino said, referring to the operation targeting Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, who was actually fatally shot by soldiers well south of Guadalajara in the municipality of Tapalpa, Jalisco.
The CJNG moves drugs through Panama and sends narcotics to Europe and other destinations from the Central American nation that adjoins Colombia, a major cocaine producer.
Mulino said that together with the Organization of American States, he is planning a regional security meeting in Panama aimed at “coordinating actions and strengthening intelligence systems in order to stop the growth of [the flow of illicit] goods, violence and drug trafficking resources.”
“Mexico must be an important actor at that meeting,” he said.
“I reiterate the invitation so that, once a date is set, this beloved country is represented,” Mulino said.
Elsa Aguirre (1930-2026) is often grouped with Silvia Pinal, Dolores del Río and María Felix as the leading female legends from Mexico's Golden Age of Cinema. (Margarito Pérez Retana /Cuartoscuro.com)
Film icon Elsa Aguirre, known for her striking beauty and acting talent during the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema in the 1940s and 1950s, has died at 95.
The National Association of Actors (ANDA) confirmed her death, calling her “one of the most iconic and emblematic actresses” of her era. No cause of death was disclosed.
President Sheinbaum took time out from her mañanera press conference Wednesday to acknowledge the death of the Mexican cinema icon Elsa Aguirre, sharing a personal photo taken with her. (Mario Jasso / Cuartsocuro.com)
She starred in more than 40 films, often sharing the screen with legends such as Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete, and is often highlighted alongside other female luminaries of the era such as María Félix, Dolores del Río and Silvia Pinal.
President Claudia Sheinbaum paid tribute during her Wednesday morning press conference, describing Aguirre as “a symbol” for Mexico.
“Our condolences to her family,” Sheinbaum said. “A woman, a symbol of Mexico’s Golden Age of Cinema and a joyful woman. And with a voice … one of those deep, very beautiful voices.”
Born Elsa Irma Aguirre Juárez in 1930 in the city of Chihuahua, Aguirre began her career after winning a beauty contest at age 14 organized by Clasa Films Mundiales.
She made her debut in 1945 and went on to appear in dozens of films across genres.
Known for her versatility, she portrayed both ingénues and complex leading women in films such as 1949’s “La mujer que perdí” (“The Woman I Lost”) and 1954’s “Cuidado con el amor” (“Beware of Love”).
Aguirre worked alongside many of the era’s biggest stars, including Infante, Negrete, Luis Aguilar, Pedro Armendáriz and “Cantinflas” (Mario Moreno).
After deciding to gradually withdraw from movie sets to pursue holistic well-being, she appeared occasionally on Mexican television. Her most notable recurring roles were in the 1990s in the telenovelas “Acapulco, cuerpo y alma” (“Acapulco, Body and Soul”) and “Mujeres engañadas” (“Deceived Women”).
#LoVisteEnVentaneando ✨ Elsa Aguirre: Una estrella que brillará por siempre. Despedimos a una de las máximas leyendas de la Época de Oro del cine nacional. Más allá de su innegable talento y belleza, Elsa Aguirre nos deja un legado de pasión, disciplina e historias que seguirán… pic.twitter.com/XAjjZX0tAD
Aguirre said she had followed a vegetarian diet since the age of 33, and later became a fervent practitioner of yoga. After overcoming bronchopneumonia in 2023, she said in subsequent interviews that her health had improved and that she took daily walks.
Her personal life brought both high-profile relationships and hardships, among them a brief romance with Negrete and the death of her only child, a son named Hugo, in 1996. She was married three times.
In later years, Aguirre withdrew from public life, settling in Cuernavaca, Morelos. She retired from television acting in the early 2000s; her final film appearance came earlier, in 1980’s “Albur de amor” (“Love’s Gamble”).
Aguirre’s death comes about a year after the death of her sister, actress Alma Rosa Aguirre, with whom she sometimes collaborated.
The Golden Age of Mexican Cinema roughly spanned the 1930s to 1950s and produced many of the country’s most enduring films and stars.
