MI’s Mexico Foreign Press Chatter – May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025
9:22 am

Cartels, particularly the Guzmán family, once again dominated headlines this week. The New York Times covered on seventeen relatives of El Chapo who crossed the border to the United States, delivering themselves to federal authorities as part of Ovidio’s plea deal. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported on the narrow escape of another Chapito, Iván Archivaldo, who took a page from his father’s book, constructing a hidden tunnel behind a bathroom cabinet through which he made his escape when authorities came knocking. And in yet another Chapo-related story, the Washington Post revealed that a former cartel lawyer is a candidate to become a criminal-court judge on the June 1^st inaugural judicial election, among a stream of other questionable characters, all of whom somehow managed to make it through several filters meant to prevent organized crime from installing sympathetic figures in positions of influence.

With so much going on, it’s no surprise that the newly arrived U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, former army colonel Ron Johnson is expected to focus on ‘security, fentanyl, organised crime and migration’ according to a Financial Times profile; he’ll have plenty to keep him busy – especially as the U.S. is moving to revoke visas of government officials, as ProPublica reported.

Still on the subject of violence, the NYT reported on the shocking murder of 23-year-old influencer Valeria Márquez, who was shot during a TikTok livestream. The Times highlighted this was ‘the latest reminder of the rise in violence against women in the country’, just days after a mayoral candidate was gunned down while she greeted supporters. The story went on to note that, despite the recent enactment of laws to combat gender-based, ‘the country still has one of the highest rates of femicide in the world’.

The Economist also joined in criticism of the judicial election: the paper claims that President Sheinbaum is ‘throttling the rule of law’, as elected judges will be more likely to uphold only popular laws, thus politicising what should be an impartial court, which in turn is all but certain to result in lower investment and prosperity.

Shifting gears, the NYT’s Frugal Traveler columnist Elaine Glusac set out for yet another culinary tour of Mexico City, with a twist: instead of hitting the top spots or looking for hidden gems, she attended three different cooking classes. The story notes: ‘Part of the experience trend in travel, cooking classes are booming. They are a major component of what the market research firm Grandview Research calls culinary tourism, accounting for $11.5 billion globally and projected to grow nearly 20 percent a year to 2030.’ And in more offbeat news, the Guardian reported the Mexican government is ‘seeking compensation’ after YouTube megastar MrBeast used a video of Mayan temples to promote other products. ‘I can’t believe the government’s letting us do this’, he said after entering a pyramid, which according to the note ‘prompted criticism from several users who complained that MrBeast had access to areas restricted to Mexicans’. President Sheinbaum ‘requested clarification on the conditions under which the YouTuber was granted access’ – clearly an issue that demands presidential attention.

Lastly, on this week’s MexMoves, Damian and Eduardo sit down with Juan Carlos Zuazua, CEO of Viva Aerobus—Mexico’s fastest-growing low-cost airline—to learn what it really takes to run an airline. Alex González Ormerod shares why he’s optimistic about the Mexican economy. Plus, highlights from Mexico’s annual banking convention and an assessment of two key fintech players: Nubank and Mercado Pago. You can listen to it here.

Photo of the Week

A spread of botanas, or snacks, including salsas and tortillas made in the cooking class at Casa Jacaranda. Photo by Jake Naughton for The New York Times.

FOREIGN PRESS COVERAGE

Cartel Family Members Cross Border in Apparent Deal With U.S., Official Says

14/05/2025, The New York Times, Alan Yuhas

El Chapo’s family enters US as part of negotiating plea deal of drug lord’s son

13/05/2025, The Guardian, Agence France-Press

The Underground Hunt for Mexico’s Most Wanted Drug Kingpin

12/05/2025, The Wall Street Journal, Steve Fisher and José de Córdoba

This lawyer was counsel to El Chapo — and could soon be one of Mexico’s judges

15/05/2025, The Washington Post, Mary Beth Sheridan

Former US army green beret becomes Trump’s man in Mexico