Mexico 2025-

Border Report – Mexico
Mexico
CUSMA/USMCA (formerly known as NAFTA)

9 May
Mexico’s democracy is fast eroding under Sheinbaum’s rule
León Krauze, award-winning Mexican journalist, author and news anchor
Sheinbaum’s Mexico is no beacon. If anything, it’s a flashing red warning light — a cautionary tale of how democracies steadily erode under years of institutional assault by autocratically minded politicians..
(WaPo) The kindness of strangers in Mexico City notwithstanding, the country remains a nightmare for immigrants. And though Sheinbaum has handled President Donald Trump’s bullying deftly, her own autocratic impulses are alive and well. She seems intent on dismantling Mexico’s democracy — a project initiated by her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, which she is now enthusiastically pursuing.
In his final major decision in power, López Obrador pushed a far-reaching judicial reform through a pliant legislature, undermining the separation of powers and strengthening the supremacy of the executive branch — now headed by Sheinbaum, his political disciple. The government had also dismantled independent watchdog agencies.
… These latest attacks on Mexican democracy are serious enough to have sparked a public war of words between Sheinbaum and former president Ernesto Zedillo — an unprecedented confrontation in the country’s modern political life.
In a lengthy essay published recently in Letras Libres magazine (where I work as an editor), Zedillo did not mince words. “Let us not be fooled,” he admonished. “Our young democracy has been murdered.”
Much like in the United States, Mexico’s former presidents rarely comment publicly on national affairs after leaving office. Zedillo, who concluded his presidency a quarter of a century ago, has since devoted himself to teaching at Yale University. He said little during López Obrador’s six years in office. His essay marks an unprecedented turning point in Mexico’s public debate and provides a stark warning about the true state of affairs in the country.

25 April
Telecommunications overhaul sparks free speech concerns
A comprehensive telecommunications reform bill that will significantly overhaul the Mexican government’s role in broadcasting and digital media is breezing through the Senate with the support of the ruling party Morena.
The bill was introduced Wednesday and passed through committee in less than 24 hours. If approved on the Senate floor, the legislation would move to the Chamber of Deputies where it is expected to continue on its fast-track path to President Claudia Sheinbaum’s desk.

7 March
Mexican Billionaire Carlos Slim Cuts Ties with Elon Musk’s Starlink, Costing Musk $7 Billion After Controversial Tweet
(MSN) Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has officially severed ties with Elon Musk’s Starlink, opting to invest in his own telecommunications infrastructure rather than relying on Musk’s satellite technology.
Slim’s company, América Móvil, announced a massive $22 billion investment over the next three years to enhance its network, signaling a major strategic shift in Latin America’s telecommunications industry. The decision is expected to deliver a financial blow to Starlink, which had anticipated a profitable partnership in the region.

6 March
Trump risks starting his own forever war in Mexico
León Krauze, award-winning Mexican journalist, author and news anchor
Mexico’s government is already offering unprecedented levels of cooperation. Trump should build on it.
During Tuesday night’s address to Congress, when talking about Mexico, President Donald Trump once again pounded the drums of war: “The cartels are waging war on America, and it’s time for America to wage war on the cartels,” he thundered.
The future of U.S.-Mexico relations will depend on how the White House ultimately defines this war Trump is foreshadowing. If it involves a unilateral U.S. military operation on Mexican soil, the strategy is likely to backfire — not only straining diplomatic ties but also miring America in an unwinnable war.
… In a recent conversation, journalist Luis Chaparro — who has access to high-level sources within Mexico’s organized crime networks — offered another argument against unilateral intervention: Cartel members would simply go into hiding, only to reemerge later and resume operations. Chaparro is also concerned about potential retaliation. If the cartels perceive themselves as under siege, they could escalate violence across Mexico, potentially targeting U.S. citizens or facilities.
According to journalist Jorge Fernández Menéndez, who has spent decades studying Latin American criminal organizations, such an attack would critically undermine recent progress in security cooperation between the two nations. After years of mutual distrust, intelligence services and military forces from both countries are finally working together more effectively.

27 February
Trump Officials Split Over How Hard to Go on Mexican Cartels
A Mexican delegation will meet in Washington on Thursday to finalize a security deal, as White House officials debate a strategy for fighting cartels and stemming the flow of drugs across the border.
Inside the White House, Trump officials are embroiled in a debate over whether to carry out military strikes against Mexican drug cartels or instead to collaborate with Mexican authorities to jointly dismantle criminal organizations.
On one side, several people familiar with the matter say, some U.S. officials are advocating for unilateral military action against cartel figures and infrastructure to stem the flow of drugs across the border. On the other side, those people say, some officials are arguing for increased partnership with the Mexican government to ensure, among other things, continued cooperation on the issue of migration.

13-18 February
Mexico awaits new response from Google on dispute over Gulf of Mexico name before filing lawsuit
President Claudia Sheinbaum shared a letter addressed to her government from Cris Turner, Google’s vice president of government affairs and public policy. It says that Google will not change the policy it outlined after U.S. President Donald Trump declared the body of water the Gulf of America.
As it stands, the gulf appears in Google Maps as Gulf of America within the United States, as Gulf of Mexico within Mexico and Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America) elsewhere. Turner in his letter said the company was using Gulf of America to follow “longstanding maps policies impartially and consistently across all regions” and that the company was willing to meet in person with the Mexican government.
Sheinbaum has had to walk a fine line with Trump amid threats of tariffs and Mexico and other Latin American countries have braced themselves for promised mass deportations, the brunt of which has still not been felt.
Along with the legal threat to Google, the Mexican president also announced Monday that Mexico and the U.S. would hold high-level meetings this week on trade and security in an effort to maintain a “long-term plan of collaboration” between the two countries.
It’s the latest round of talks between the two countries in which Mexico hopes to hold off a larger geopolitical crisis.
Bristling at ‘Gulf of Mexico’ name change on maps, Mexico says it might sue Google
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that her government wouldn’t rule out filing a civil lawsuit against Google if it maintains its stance of calling the stretch of sea between northeastern Mexico and the southeastern United States the “Gulf of America.”
Sheinbaum has repeatedly defended the name Gulf of Mexico, saying its use dates to 1607 and is recognized by the United Nations.
She has also mentioned that, according to the constitution of Apatzingán, the antecedent to Mexico’s first constitution, the North American territory was previously identified as “Mexican America”. Sheinbaum has used the example to poke fun at Trump and underscore the international implications of changing the Gulf’s name.

25 January
Rising Star Alcalde Takes Helm at Interior: Pro-Labor, Pro-Environment Stance Signals Challenges for Foreign Mining Interests
Mexico’s Triumvirate of Change: Luisa Alcalde, Claudia Sheinbaum, and María Luisa Albores González Lead Radical Shift Favoring the Poor … Women at the Helm: A Historic Triumvirate
Alcalde’s appointment as Secretary of the Interior marks a significant milestone in Mexican politics. Together with President Claudia Sheinbaum and María Luisa Albores González, they form an unprecedented triumvirate of women leading Mexico’s transformation. This shift represents a powerful statement about gender equality and the changing face of Mexican leadership.
… Luisa María Alcalde Luján, the newly appointed Secretary of the Interior in Mexico, represents a fresh wave of progressive leadership that embodies the spirit of the “Cuarta Transformación” (Fourth Transformation) championed by President López Obrador’s administration.
As Secretary of the Interior, Alcalde is poised to play a crucial role in safeguarding Mexico’s sovereignty and natural resources. Her legal expertise and progressive outlook suggest she will be a formidable force in negotiating Mexico’s energy future while prioritizing environmental concerns.
At just 37 years old, Alcalde brings a dynamic blend of youth, activism, and legal expertise to one of Mexico’s most crucial cabinet positions.Alcalde’s background is impressive and diverse. She holds a law degree from the prestigious Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and a master’s in law from the University of California, Berkeley.
This combination of Mexican and American legal education positions her uniquely to address the complex challenges facing Mexico’s interior affairs.

22-24 January
Trump’s Controversial Mexico’s Cartel ‘Terrorism’ Decree Sparks Political Turmoil
The recent decree to label Mexican cartels as terrorist groups has shaken up Mexico’s political landscape plus sparked heated arguments about national independence and safety. President Claudia Sheinbaum, next to opposition leaders, disagrees about accepting U.S. military assistance or protecting Mexico’s right to self-rule.
For U.S. officials who see cartels as an existential threat, cooperation with Mexico has always been a matter of mutual interest. But Trump’s abrupt classification of the cartels as terrorists evokes legal ramifications that could allow U.S. military and intelligence agencies broader leeway to operate. That is deeply alarming to many Mexicans, who recall a long history of foreign interventions that compromised national sovereignty. Sheinbaum, seeking to balance diplomatic courtesy with patriotic fervor, made it clear she would not accept an open door to American armed incursions—even as she conceded that the U.S. can act “on its soil” however it chooses.

Trump Seeks Labeling Latin American Cartels as Terrorists
In a decisive step, the US government labeled multiple Latin American cartels plus criminal networks as terrorist groups. The decision seeks to stop the groups’ activities and improve safety, affecting millions throughout the region.
In a decisive step, the US government labeled multiple Latin American cartels plus criminal networks as terrorist groups. The decision seeks to stop the groups’ activities and improve safety, affecting millions throughout the region. … The President spoke to the nation right after he put his signature on the document. He pointed out that this action might create friction with Mexico. “Mexico probably won’t like this,” he commented, showing his team’s commitment to fighting these crime syndicates. When pressed by reporters about whether this would lead to direct actions against the cartels within Mexican borders, Trump offered a cryptic response: “It could happen; things more strange have happened.” This ambiguity has left many analysts and citizens speculating about the future actions the US might take against these powerful groups.

14 January
Mexico and Canada mull trade maneuvers as Trump proposes “External Revenue Service”
(GZERO media) Incoming US President Donald Trump posted on Tuesday that he will create an “External Revenue Service” to oversee his planned trade tariffs, underlining his commitment to these policies – much to the chagrin of America’s neighbors.
The news came a day after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum laid out a plan to decrease Mexico’s trade deficit with China in what was widely seen as an olive branch to Trump.
By aligning more closely with Trump against China, Sheinbaum hopes she can carve out a special exception for Mexico, and a stronger hand in renegotiations of the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Her administration has already cracked down on the import of counterfeit goods from Asia and placed tariffs on Chinese e-commerce platforms Shein and Temu. She also plans to cut down on reliance on imports for textile and auto manufacturers based in Mexico — but whether that will spare her the wrath of the ERS is yet to be seen.
Mexican president might avoid Trump’s ‘day one’ tariffs
Sheinbaum intensifies actions on migration, fentanyl ahead of Trump’s inauguration
Analysts praise Sheinbaum’s strategy to engage with Trump
Mexico risks major hit from Trump presidency
(Reuters) – In late November, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump sent shock waves through global trade by threatening 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, effectively ripping up a regional trade agreement, if the two countries didn’t do more to curb migration and the flow of drugs. …
Now, as Trump prepares to take office, Sheinbaum has publicly sparred with the incoming U.S. president, but also shown concrete results that could help show Mexico is serious about cooperating on migration, security and China.
It is hard to know if that will be enough, or if the threat of tariffs on Trump’s first day in power is wholly realistic, but experts and former diplomats say Sheinbaum has made a solid start.

13 January
Mexico’s Sheinbaum lays out plan to cut Chinese imports in apparent nod to Trump
Roadmap to place Mexico in top 10 economies by 2030
Plan to substitute Asian imports, boost local output
Plan comes amid trade tensions with US
(Reuters) – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday rolled out an economic plan aimed at curbing imports from China in an apparent nod to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and his allegations that Mexico is a back door for Chinese goods entering the United States.
Sheinbaum also used her speech to defend the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade pact, which she said was the only way to compete with China. The deal is up for review in 2026.

3 January
Mexico Energy Industry Transformed By Constitutional Reforms
Three months since taking office on Oct. 1, President Claudia Sheinbaum has reshaped Mexico’s energy industry.
(Wilson Center) First, on Oct. 30, Sheinbaum signed a constitutional reform that altered the legal status of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and the state-owned oil company Pemex, making them “public companies” and no longer “productive state companies,” as they were designated during Mexico’s 2014 energy reform. While some industry members initially thought the status change of the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) was cosmetic, the approved amendments to Articles 25, 27, and 28 go much further and, for example, guarantee that CFE will take dispatch precedence over all private sector participation in the electricity sector. At the same time, third parties are prohibited from supplying power transmission and distribution services, as the state will solely develop such projects.
Weeks later, on Nov. 28, Mexico’s Senate approved another constitutional reform that would dissolve the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) and National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH) and fold them within the government Energy Ministry (Sener). The amendment was published in the country’s official legal gazette, known as the DOF, on Dec. 20, and will disappear seven autonomous agencies in 2025…