Mexico Roundup: Trump offers to send troops, stranded Venezuelan migrants, $1.5 billion Unilever investment
Mexico’s Sheinbaum rejects Trump's offer to send troops to fight drug trafficking
On Saturday, May 3, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that she had turned down an offer from U.S. President Donald Trump to send American troops to Mexico to fight drug trafficking because "sovereignty is not for sale." Sheinbaum's remarks were in response to enquiries over a May 2 Wall Street Journal article claiming that Trump was putting pressure on Mexico to permit further U.S. military engagement against drug cartels in order to fight trafficking across the shared border.
Migrant children face ongoing risks crossing Mexico
A joint report by Save the Children and Plan International, released Monday, May 5, highlights high levels of violence, exclusion, and uncertainty experienced by migrant children travelling through Mexico toward the United States. Based on 155 interviews conducted between November 2024 and February 2025, the study found that children fleeing violence in their home countries often encounter continued rights violations rather than receiving protection. Interviewees, aged 7 to 16, originated primarily from Mexico, Honduras, and Venezuela, with others from Colombia, Guatemala, Afghanistan, and Haiti.
Thousands of Venezuelan migrants stranded in southern Mexico
At least 3,000 Venezuelan nationals are currently stranded in Tapachula, a city near Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala. Under intense heat, large crowds have gathered at immigration offices seeking flights out of the area. Unlike earlier migration patterns aimed at reaching the United States, many are now attempting to return to Venezuela or leave Tapachula by any possible means. A lack of passports, documentation, and financial resources continues to hinder their departure. Tapachula, once a primary entry point for migrants from Central America, has seen a sharp increase in displaced individuals overwhelming local shelters and public spaces.
Unilever to invest $1.5 billion in Mexico to boost production
Unilever announced a $30 billion pesos ($1.5 billion USD) investment in Mexico from 2025 to 2028 to expand its production capacity. The plan, disclosed during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s morning press conference, includes the creation of 1,200 jobs. The investment allocates 8 billion pesos ($408.3 million USD) to build a new factory in Nuevo León, northeastern Mexico, focused on beauty and personal care products.
Indigenous rights advocate missing after activism-linked threats
Sandra Estéfana Domínguez Martínez, a Mixe Indigenous lawyer and women's rights advocate from Oaxaca, is missing along with her husband. The couple was last seen on October 4 in eastern Oaxaca's Mixe region. Domínguez was known for denouncing gender-based violence and exposing misogynistic behaviour among local politicians. Her activism drew death threats, according to colleagues, who now believe these threats may be linked to her disappearance. Authorities have not confirmed any leads at this time.
