Mexico Roundup: Cartel shootout, priest murder suspect arrested, border crossings
Mexico troops shootout with Sinaloa cartel
Mexican troops recently engaged in a shootout in Culiacan, Sinaloa, resulting in the deaths of 19 suspected members of the notorious Sinaloa cartel. This incident was prompted by an attack from a group of more than 30 armed individuals, further intensifying amid drug-related conflicts that have plagued the region since the arrest of cartel co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. Local authorities managed to apprehend one individual during the incident, whilst a significant number of gunmen managed to flee the scene. The Mexican authorities confiscated nearly 30 firearms and seven vehicles, amidst a surge of violence in Sinaloa that has led to approximately 200 deaths and over 300 missing persons since early September, a part of a broader ongoing crisis that has seen over 450,000 murders nationwide since 2006.
Local drug lord arrested over death of Mexican priest
Edgar N, a local drug dealer, was arrested in connection with the tragic murder of Father Marcelo Pérez, a Catholic priest and vocal human rights advocate. The shooting occurred shortly after Father Marcelo had concluded a Mass in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas when two assailants on a motorcycle opened fire. The priest was well-known for his campaigns against drug trafficking and violence in his community. His assassination has prompted widespread mourning and serves as a stark reminder of the escalating violence surrounding turf wars between rival cartels.
Semiconductor roadmap to double exports and jobs
An economic initiative was launched on October 16, involving the US Embassy in Mexico and the National Chamber for the Electronic, Telecommunications and Information Technology Industry (Canieti). They unveiled a Master Plan aimed at developing Mexico's semiconductor industry, with ambitions to double exports and job creation by 2030. The plan aims to increase annual exports from $4.9 billion to $9.8 billion and to boost employment from 10,000 to 20,000 jobs, primarily focusing on relocating high-value operations to Mexico. This strategic initiative is expected to enhance the country's capabilities in producing electric vehicle components while reducing reliance on imports. Additionally, the Mexican Finance Ministry is developing tax incentives mirroring those of the U.S. CHIPs Act to encourage investments in this burgeoning sector, with Foxconn recently announcing plans to establish a factory for assembling "superchips" for Nvidia in Guadalajara.
President addresses judicial reform issues
President Claudia Sheinbaum has sought to address issues surrounding judicial reform in Mexico, defending a new initiative that allows citizens to directly elect judges. She argues that this reform represents a significant step toward enhancing the country's judicial robustness and serves as a potential global benchmark. This proposed change, however, faced criticism from Supreme Court Justice Alfredo Gutiérrez Ortiz Mena, who expressed concerns regarding the potential threat to judicial independence. In response, Sheinbaum insisted on the legality and necessity of the reform, asserting the support of the Mexican populace while emphasising a need for transparency in the judicial selection process. This ongoing debate has raised alarm about the implications for judicial independence, amid fears of increasing government influence and a potential constitutional crisis.
Reduction in illegal border crossings to the U.S.
Recent data indicates a reduction in illegal crossings from Mexico, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection reporting a 7% decrease in September, reaching a four-year low of 53,858 arrests. This decline is attributed to more stringent asylum policies from the Biden administration coupled with enhanced enforcement actions by Mexican authorities. Notably, Mexicans constituted nearly half of all arrests made, marking an increase from prior months. In total, the Border Patrol recorded 1.53 million arrests over the fiscal year ending September 30, a drop from over 2 million in previous years.
