¡Hola amigos! This week, Sheinbaum is hitting back at Trump over the latest threats of U.S. intervention, Mexico just locked in a major new trade deal with the EU, and in a plot twist straight out of Narcos, authorities uncovered a fuel theft tunnel connected directly to Pemex facilities. 

Plus, what documents you need to show at immigration checkpoints, why Mexico is suddenly slashing red tape for major investments, and the adorable 2,000-year-old ceramic dogs of Colima.

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❓México Trivia

What event pulled Mexico into World War II after years of neutrality?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

⛽ Mexican authorities uncovered an “El Chapo”-style fuel theft tunnel connected to Pemex facilities in Nuevo León that was used to steal more than 205,000 liters of fuel.

🇲🇽Sheinbaum rejected Trump’s latest threats of U.S. intervention against Mexican cartels and demanded evidence for accusations against Mexican officials.

✈️ Ejido members blocked major access roads to Mexico City’s AIFA airport Monday over a long-running land dispute and warned the protests will continue without a government response.

⚡ Mexico announced a MX$140 billion plan to modernize its natural gas pipeline network through 2030.

📚 After major backlash, Mexico’s Ministry of Education scrapped plans to end the school year a month early for the World Cup and confirmed classes will still end on July 15 in most states.

🇺🇸 The U.S. State Department is reviewing all 53 Mexican consulates across the U.S.

🇪🇺 All 27 EU member states approved a modernized trade pact with Mexico that could boost bilateral commerce by 35% over five years.

🏦 Mexico’s central bank cut interest rates to 6.50% and signaled its rate-cutting cycle may be coming to an end.

🦬 A wild American bison calf was born in Sonora for the first time in more than 200 years. Her name is Lista.

🚨 Between 800 and 1,000 families fled Indigenous communities in the rural mountains of Guerrero after cartel attacks involving drones, explosives, and heavy weapons.

🐖 Mexico suspended U.S. pork imports after Iowa pigs tested positive for Aujeszky virus antibodies.

📍Immigration Essentials

Stopped at an Immigration Checkpoint? Know This before You Travel

Mexico’s immigration law requires foreigners to prove their legal status when requested by immigration authorities. 

But what happens if you don’t have your documents with you?

Under Mexico’s Ley de Migración, foreigners must present proof of their legal status and identity when requested by Instituto Nacional de Migración officers (Article 16). Only INM agents may request or retain your documents. Police or the Guardia Nacional generally cannot request immigration documents unless they are formally assisting INM operations (Articles 17 and 96).

If you don’t have your residency card or passport with you, INM may verify your status through an administrative review process rather than a criminal proceeding.

Under Article 68, immigration agents can take you to the nearest INM office to verify your immigration status. This process, known as a presentación administrativa (administrative presentation), allows INM to hold you for up to 36 hours while your status is verified. It is considered an administrative process rather than a criminal arrest.

What Counts as Proof? 

By law, your valid immigration document is the only official proof of legal stay.

• Residents must carry their residency card.

• Tourists must carry their passport with either their FMM tourist card (still issued at some land borders) or proof of lawful entry issued electronically at the airport, along with the entry stamp in their passport.

The law still does not explicitly address digital copies, which continues to create inconsistencies in real-world enforcement. Some INM agents accept digital scans of residency cards, while others require the original documentation.

There is nothing in the law that requires temporary or permanent residents to show a passport along with their residency card. However, some readers continue reporting roadside checkpoints where agents request both documents. Despite explaining to agents that both documents weren’t legally required, a few people who emailed us said they were pulled into secondary inspection and fined.

As with many things here in Mexico, there’s what the law says and what actually happens on the ground.

If you want the smoothest possible experience while traveling, it’s best to carry your original physical documents whenever possible. And know the law, which you can read here.

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🧩 Life in México

Plan México: Why Mexico Is Suddenly Slashing Red Tape

When President Claudia Sheinbaum introduced Plan México in January 2025, the administration outlined an ambitious strategy to position Mexico as a top destination for manufacturing, infrastructure, and industrial investment.

The plan aims to attract roughly $277 billion USD by 2030 and push investment above 25% of Mexico’s GDP.

Its broader goal is to expand infrastructure, strengthen energy capacity, create jobs, and make Mexico more competitive as companies move supply chains closer to the United States.

But Mexico’s economy has faced growing pressure.

The country’s economy contracted 0.8% during the first quarter of 2026, while uncertainty around U.S. tariffs and the upcoming USMCA review has weighed on investment.

That brings us to May 4, when President Sheinbaum announced immediate actions under Plan México aimed at cutting red tape and accelerating investment approvals.

One major change is a fast-track approval system for projects tied to semiconductors, automotive manufacturing, electronics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and energy.

Projects larger than 2 billion pesos or located in designated “Polos del Bienestar,” government-backed industrial development zones, may now receive authorization within 30 days.

For other projects, federal procedures must generally be completed within 90 days.

If agencies fail to respond, approvals could automatically move forward under “afirmativa ficta.”

The government is also creating:

• A Presidential Investment Office

• A national digital investment platform

• A unified foreign trade portal combining 132 procedures

• Faster approvals from COFEPRIS, Mexico’s federal health and sanitary regulator

Officials say COFEPRIS reduced procedures from 340 to 125 and cut approval times from 100 days to 24 days.

Energy and infrastructure are also central.

Mexico says it plans to add 32 gigawatts of new electrical capacity by 2030 and increase renewable energy generation from 24% to 38%. The government also announced more than 523 billion pesos in highway and road projects expected to generate roughly 1.4 million jobs.

Supporters say the reforms could help Mexico become more competitive as companies expand manufacturing and logistics operations across North America.

Critics and analysts say the biggest challenge will be execution.

Many goals require coordination across federal agencies, regulators, state governments, and private investors– areas where Mexico has historically struggled. Others question whether agencies can enforce the new timelines while maintaining oversight nationwide.

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Sacred Dogs of Ancient Colima

They’ve got round bellies, pointed ears, and curled tails, and some even sport a happy-looking grin. 

These charming ceramic pups are known as Colima Dogs.

Created roughly 2,000 years ago in what is now the western Mexican state of Colima, these figures were modeled after native dogs, especially the Xoloitzcuintli. 

While some were hollow with spouts (likely used for ritual liquids or offerings), many Colima Dogs were buried in shaft tombs beneath family homes as spiritual companions for the dead.

In ancient belief systems, the Xoloitzcuintli guided souls across the river to the underworld, the land of the dead. A faithful companion meant no one had to make the journey alone.

The pottery itself is unmistakable. Colima artists became famous for their smooth, hollow ceramic figures, finished with a polish and coated in a rich reddish slip. Many of the dogs appear delightfully plump, symbols of abundance and the comforts of home.

One famous pair, known as the “dancing dogs,” looks as if they’re caught playfighting on their hind legs. Some scholars believe the dogs’ lively, animated wrestling symbolizes the soul’s passage between the living world and the afterlife.

What makes these ceramic dogs so special is how alive they feel. Unlike many funerary objects, they look playful, expressive, even affectionate. More than 2,000 years later, they still don’t feel like relics.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Oaxaca’s Highlands Maybe the Reset Your Body Needs

If the summer heat in your part of Mexico is becoming relentless, head for the hills.  Oaxaca’s highlands offer fresh breezes, shaded trails, and magnificent views. 

Get outdoors, refresh, and reset with these cool summer escapes.

Sierra Norte (Pueblos Mancomunados): More than 60 miles of trails connect Zapotec mountain villages through pine forest, rivers, and cloud forests. Moderate to challenging terrain, with some routes climbing above 10,000 feet. Community-run cabins and local guides support overnight and multi-day hikes while offering a closer look at the distinctive Zapotec culture of Oaxaca’s Sierra Norte villages.

Santiago Apoala: Waterfalls, emerald rivers, caves, and natural rock pools perfect for cooling off after a hike. Located in Oaxaca’s Mixteca region, trails pass terraced hillsides and landscapes shaped by centuries of Mixtec history. Access is managed locally; just check in at the community ecotourism office in the village center to pay the modest entry fee and meet your local guide

Lachatao: Lachatao offers both shorter half-day hikes and longer 5–6 hour routes winding through pine and oak forests along paths used by Zapotec communities for generations. The Sendero de la Virgen trail passes orchids, rivers, agave, and old stone bridges connected to local religious traditions still celebrated today.

San José del Pacífico: Perched high in the Sierra Sur at roughly 8,200–9,200 feet elevation, San José del Pacífico is known for cool temperatures, shaded pine forest trails, and sweeping mountain views. The area offers several shorter forest hikes ideal for a half-day outing. After hiking, roadside comedores serving wild mushrooms, hot chocolate, and Oaxacan coffee are part of the experience.

The appeal of Oaxaca’s highlands goes beyond cooler air, with forested landscapes, mountain village culture, and the restorative benefits of time spent in nature.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Fiestas del Pitic 2026 – May 21–24, Hermosillo, Sonora
Hermosillo’s flagship cultural festival returns for 4 days of free concerts, performances, and public programming marking the founding of the city in 1700. The program spans multiple venues across the historic center with a mix of music, dance, and theater featuring national and international artists. More info here.

Rosarito Art Walk 2026 – May 23–24, Playas de Rosarito, Baja California
The Rosarito Art Walk marks its 15th anniversary with two days of exhibitions and opportunities to meet participating artists at CEART Playas de Rosarito. More than 80 artists and exhibitors are expected to participate across disciplines including painting, sculpture, photography, design, and folk art. Free admission. More info here.

Más Japón en el Bajío 2026 – May 29–31, León, Guanajuato
For fans of Japanese food and culture, this three-day festival at Poliforum León brings together traditional culture, gastronomy, technology, and special exhibitions. The event runs daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with an earlier 7 p.m. close on the final day. More Info here.

Feria de Corpus Christi 2026 – May 30–June 7, Papantla, Veracruz
Papantla’s annual Corpus Christi celebration returns with more than a week of concerts, cultural programming, regional food, carnival rides, and community events tied to the festivities in this Pueblo Mágico. Highlights include the Festival Xanath, showcasing Totonac culture through danzantes, Voladores traditions, poetry, and regional performances, alongside a traditional mole festival and free public entertainment throughout the fairgrounds. More info here.

Gumball 3000: Miami to Mexico City – June 5–10, Multiple Cities Across Mexico
Part road rally, part celebrity-driven supercar festival, Gumball 3000 arrives in Mexico for the first time with 100+ supercars traveling from Miami to Mexico City. The 27th edition includes stops in Monterrey and San Miguel de Allende, finishing with a free public festival in Mexico City during the opening week of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. More Info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

¿Quién sigue?
Translation: Who’s next?

You’ll hear this at pharmacies, butcher counters, doctor’s offices, food stalls, and anywhere there’s a loose line with no numbers being called.

Instead of a formal queue system, someone simply asks: ¿Quién sigue?

If you’re studying Spanish (or want to), I highly recommend getting a copy of Easy Spanish Step-By-Step. Check it out here. 

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🎯 Trivia Answer

The sinking of the Mexican oil tanker Potrero del Llano.

At the start of World War II, Mexico had remained neutral and many believed the conflict would stay far from Mexican shores.

However, late on the night of May 13, 1942, a German U-boat torpedoed the Mexican tanker near the coast of Florida while it was carrying oil to the United States. The ship was clearly marked as Mexican and was sailing with its lights on. 

The explosion split the ship in two, killing 14 Mexican sailors. Survivors later described the vessel turning into “a pot from hell” as flames spread across the water.

Just one week later, another Mexican tanker, Faja de Oro, was also sunk by a German submarine.

Days later, President Manuel Ávila Camacho declared war on Germany, Italy, and Japan, officially bringing Mexico into WWII. Two years later, Mexico sent Fighter Squadron 201 – known as the Aztec Eagles – to fight alongside Allied forces in the Pacific.

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