¡Hola amigos! This week, lawmakers are trying to criminalize memes, Grupo México is making a MX$160 billion move on Banamex, home gas prices are ticking up, and the pharma industry is still clashing with Sheinbaum over medicine delays. Oh, and a triple cyclone system is drenching half the country.

Also inside: a breakdown of tips and pitfalls of becoming a Mexican citizen, whether IMSS is worth it, the official rules for kids in cars, and a brand-new Pueblo Mágico book you’ll want to get your hands on.

It’s a lot to digest. We get it. So here’s an adorable baby seal on ice that has absolutely nothing to do with this issue — and that’s the point.

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❓México Trivia

Which CDMX neighborhood traces its name to a formidable 1700s estate mistress who sued the Jesuits and won?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 Qué Pasó

📛 On September 23, Morena Deputy Armando Corona Arvizu submitted a bill to amend Mexico’s Federal Penal Code to criminalize creating or sharing memes, stickers, AI images, or deepfakes that depict public officials, minors, or people with disabilities without their consent and in a way that “humiliates” them. Dubbed the “Anti-Sticker Law,” the proposal includes penalties of 300 to 600 days of minimum wage fines and up to 6 years in prison. President Sheinbaum has publicly rejected the initiative, stating her administration is against censorship and supports freedom of expression. As expected, the meme game on X is on fire.

📵 These types of censorship laws aren’t new in Mexico. In early 2025, Puebla enacted a law called the Cybersecurity Law Reform, which punishes digital insults, emotional harm, or moral damage…even in private messages. Penalties include up to 3 years in prison and fines of up to 200 days of minimum wage. Critics say the government is already using it to go after journalists.  

🚫 On Monday, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned 8 individuals and 12 companies in Mexico that they say supplied illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals to Los Chapitos, the Sinaloa Cartel faction run by El Chapo’s sons. See who is listed in the official statement.

🏦 Grupo México has submitted a binding offer to acquire 100% of Banamex from Citigroup, valuing the deal at MX$160B. The proposal promises Mexican ownership, regulatory oversight, and preservation of Banamex’s art and historic buildings. Grupo México’s shares dropped 17% on the news.

🎤 President Sheinbaum marked her first year in office on Sunday with a speech before 400,000 people in Mexico City’s Zócalo, highlighting 19 constitutional reforms and 40 new laws. Watch the speech here. 

🩺 Mexico will unify its public healthcare system by 2027, allowing care at any IMSS, ISSSTE, or IMSS-Bienestar clinic. Registration starts in January, with a single health ID linking patient records across all systems.

🔥 Home gas prices are expected to rise as distributors absorb the cost of new federal safety rules for LP gas, including GPS, QR codes, and monitoring systems. Though companies pay upfront, experts say part of the cost may be passed to households.

💊 The fight continues. Mexico’s pharmaceutical industry rejected President Sheinbaum’s claim that 32 companies intentionally delayed medicine deliveries. Industry leaders say unpaid state debts of up to MX$40B and overloaded state warehouses are the real issue. IMSS reports 97% supply, but watchdogs warn of ongoing shortages in critical meds.

🦠 Mexico confirmed a second case of the flesh-eating screwworm parasite in Nuevo León within two weeks. The infected calf, traced back to southern Mexico, was intercepted in Montemorelos.

🩸 IMSS is expanding mobile blood donation drives across Mexico in schools, workplaces, and public institutions to boost voluntary donations and ensure safe supply.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Is IMSS Really Worth It?

We’ve had quite a few readers reach out and ask if it’s worth it for Mexican residents to enroll with IMSS (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social). It’s an important question – and not surprising considering some people swear by IMSS while others warn you off.

Here’s the plain-English version of what IMSS is (and isn’t), so you can decide with eyes wide open.

If you have temporary or permanent residency in Mexico or you’re a spouse of a Mexican citizen, you may be eligible to enroll in Seguro de Salud para la Familia (the IMSS voluntary plan).

This voluntary insurance program offers access to certain doctors, clinics, and hospitals, along with some prescription medications. It is way more affordable than private options and a lot of foreigners will use it just to have peace of mind should an accident happen.

Before you sign up, keep these limits in mind:

• Care is restricted to IMSS public hospitals and clinics only (not private hospitals).

• Long wait times are common due to high demand. There are plenty of horror stories of people having accidents and waiting hours on end to receive care. 

• Pre-existing conditions are not covered; applicants are screened during the application process.

• English-speaking staff are rare, which can be challenging for non-Spanish speakers.

• If you’re enrolling voluntarily (not through an employer), you may receive lower priority for services.

Enrollment in IMSS is paid annually per person, and coverage starts the first day of the month after payment. See the full cost table here.

For application requirements and how to apply online or in person, click here. 

IMSS can be an affordable safety net for basic and emergency care, but it’s not a full substitute for private international insurance…especially if you want faster access, English-speaking providers, or a wider hospital network.

Find your broker today.

📍Immigration Essentials

Tips & Pitfalls of Becoming a Mexican Citizen

Thinking about taking the leap from permanent resident to Mexican citizen? The process can be rewarding, but it isn’t always straightforward. From paperwork snags and unexpected name issues to navigating appointments with SRE, there are plenty of hurdles that can stall your application.

Longtime reader Emerson Howell Nagel offers a firsthand look at her naturalization journey – what went smoothly, what went wrong, and the lessons learned along the way — so you can avoid common setbacks and move forward with confidence.

Read more here.

🧩 Life in México

Mexico’s Rules for Kids in Cars

Drive around Mexico and you’ll see it: kids crammed into back seats, bouncing in pickup beds, or squeezed between parents on motorcycles – often with little protection.

For many of us, it can be jarring.

Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for ages 5–29 worldwide. In Mexico, 2022 data shows 1 in 10 injuries in children aged 0 to 9 are due to traffic accidents, which is about 75,000 cases per year.

Yet car seat usage for kiddos is low. According to Mexico’s National Institute of Public Health (INSP), only 28% of children ages 0–5 and 12% of children ages 5–11 use a child restraint system.

Yes, there are laws. The Ley General de Movilidad y Seguridad Vial (LGMSV) requires anyone under 12 or who needs it due to their physical constitution to ride in the back seat using a child restraint system (SRI). [Artículo 3 - LVII]

Exceptions for taxis, ride-hails, or buses are set in state or municipal traffic regulations.

Mexico currently lacks a specific NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana) for child restraints. Until one is issued, follow the seat manufacturer’s instructions and choose a product with recognized safety certification. 

Penalties. Fines are calculated based on the unit of measurement and actualization. Carrying a child under 12 in the front seat can bring fines of 5, 7, or 10 UMAs and vary state by state. The 2025 daily UMA is $113.14 MXN right now. Violations can affect your driver’s license and license plates – again, this depends on local state rules.  

Why this matters: It’s worth knowing what the laws are. Enforcement may be inconsistent, but the risks are real. Whether they’re your kids, your grandkids, or someone else’s children you’re driving, using a proper car seat isn’t just about avoiding fines, it’s about giving kids the best chance of staying safe on Mexico’s roads. 

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Little Badge That Sparked a Big Movement

In 2001, Mexico did something quietly radical: it created a badge for small towns with big soul. The new designation, Pueblo Mágico, set out to spotlight places where traditions still breathe, plazas hum on Sunday, and the landscape itself feels like a legend come to life. 

The idea wasn’t to chase more beach crowds; it was to lift up lesser-known communities, protect heritage, and nudge weekend travelers to look inward, toward the country’s own hidden treasures.

Day one had a trio of pioneers: Huasca de Ocampo in Hidalgo, Real de Catorce in San Luis Potosí, and Tepoztlán in Morelos. Each had its own flavor: mines and basalt prisms, a ghostly desert town, a mystical mountain crowned by Tepozteco. 

The program proved it wasn’t just about charm; it demanded stewardship. When Tepoztlán fell short, it lost its status in 2009—and then did the work to win it back in 2010. That arc – accountability, course-correction, comeback – became part of the program’s DNA.

From the start, there were rules. A town needed at least 5,000 residents and to be reasonably accessible. Locals had to form a Pueblo Mágico committee, map a real tourism plan, and budget for it. The designation unlocked help – sprucing up facades, plazas, signage – and, yes, the coveted logo on highway markers that whispers to passing road-trippers: “Turn here.”

Growth came in waves. The first decade was cautious…just a few dozen additions, many already famous. 

Then fresh funding hit around 2010 and the map began to sparkle with new names. By 2020 the list had climbed to 132, and in a single burst 45 more were added in summer 2023. By August 1, 2023, the official count reached 177.

There were plot twists, too. San Miguel de Allende (never short on admirers) left the program in 2008 upon receiving a UNESCO World Heritage inscription, graduating to a different kind of protection and prestige. On the other end of the spectrum, tiny Mexcaltitlán in Nayarit, population ~2,000, lost its badge and later returned in 2020, likely with special dispensation…proof that magic can outweigh math when a town’s story matters.

Despite Mexico’s global allure, official promotion of these towns has mostly aimed inward. The badge, in many ways, is a love letter to domestic travelers—to families piling into cars, to chilangos chasing fresh air for the weekend, to abuelas returning to mercados they once knew by scent alone.

That choice has kept many Pueblos Mágicos wonderfully authentic, affordable, and lived-in—places where visitors blend into daily life rather than displace it.

Two decades on, the magic isn’t an illusion…it’s a pact. Communities promise to guard their heritage; travelers promise to arrive with curiosity and care. When that pact holds, everybody wins – and the badge over the town sign means something real.

Want to explore beyond the usual routes? Friend of the newsletter Chuck Burton’s new book, Pueblos Mágicos: A Traveler’s Guide to Mexico’s Hidden Treasures, maps 62 of these towns with regional routes, insider tips, and his favorites. It’s a beautifully organized invitation to discover Mexico’s magic…one town at a time.

Pick up a copy today. 

🪷 Viva Wellness

Meet Mexico's Sacred Leaf Hojo Santa

Hoja santa has wrapped tamales, soothed headaches, and flavored mole for centuries. Used by Indigenous healers, midwives, and chefs, it’s one of Mexico’s most versatile botanicals.

Its name means “holy” or “sacred leaf.” In Nahuatl, it’s known as tlanepa or tlanepaquelite, meaning “aromatic herbal medicine.”

This velvety, heart-shaped plant belongs to the peppercorn family and can grow up to 12 inches across.

The leaf contains safrole, a natural compound concentrated in its essential oils that gives hoja santa its distinctive peppery-anise kick and supports its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and mild anesthetic properties. 

Traditional healers have used it to ease fevers, sore throats, gout, digestive issues, respiratory problems, anxiety, and to treat skin irritations topically.

Modern research also suggests hoja santa’s essential oils may help support mental clarity and mood, thanks to antioxidant and neuroprotective compounds found in many Piper species.

Beyond its medicinal properties, hoja santa is used in kitchens across Mexico. The raw leaf delivers bold peppery-anise notes, but cooking transforms it into a mellow, nutty flavor. 

In Veracruz, Chiapas, and Tabasco, the large leaves wrap tamales, fish, or meat before steaming or grilling. In Oaxaca, softened leaves are used to wrap artisanal cheeses, giving them a subtle herbal finish. And in Tabasco and Yucatán,hoja santa is featured in a green herbal liquor called Verdín.

Recently, in Mexico’s trendiest bars, mixologists are pairing Hoja Santa’s anise notes with citrus or vanilla for herbal twists on classic cocktails.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

🎭 Festival Internacional Cervantino – October 10–26, Guanajuato City
The “Fiesta del Espíritu” returns for its 53rd edition, transforming Guanajuato into a world stage with 140 shows and 3,400 artists from 31 countries. This year’s guests of honor are the United Kingdom and Veracruz, bringing everything from punk and pop to son jarocho, marimbas, and danzones. More info here.

🏍️ Bajío Biker Fest 2025 – October 24–25, León
León Fairgrounds turns into biker central for three days of live music and two-wheel culture. Last edition drew 270+ clubs; this year the main plaza fits 8,000+ fans. Expect motorcycle exhibits, parts and gear, food, pre-Hispanic dances, and booths from clubs and brands across Mexico. More info here.

🌟 Star Wars “Training Day” Parade – October 25, Mérida
This free parade raises suicide-prevention awareness, organized by the 501st Legion (Maya Garrison). At 4:00 PM, 240+ costumed participants from nine countries will march about 2 km from Plaza Grande to the Monumento a la Patria; organizers expect 10,000–25,000 spectators. More info here.

🤸 Parkour Challenge Puerto Vallarta – October 25–26, Puerto Vallarta
Los Arcos del Malecón hosts two days of parkour with workshops on fluidity, technique, creativity, and speed/fitness, plus competition in Freestyle and 1v1 Speed; open to athletes 15+ and capped at 300, with cash and in-kind prizes for top finishers. General access includes clinics and training areas; Speed entries include direct registration for the 1v1 bracket. More info here.

🧜 Tlanchana, Mythological Ballet – October 25–26, Teatro de la Ciudad, CDMX The legendary water guardian of the Toluca Valley comes to life in Tlanchana, a world-premiere ballet that blends neoclassical dance, theater, and clown. Directed by Tonatiuh Gómez, the production explores Mexico’s ancestral myths and our connection to water and nature. Performances are October 25 at 7:00 pm and October 26 at 6:00 pm. More info here.

🎸 Gipsy Kings – November 2, Puerto Vallarta
Flamenco-pop icons behind “Bamboleo” and “Volare” hit Teatro Vallarta for a one-night performance led by André Reyes—passion, rumba, and timeless hooks made for the stage. Show starts at 6:30 pm. Tickets are still available so don’t wait to grab your seats. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

“Recordar” vs. “Acordarse”
Translation: Both mean to remember, but they’re not interchangeable.

In Mexico, recordar is often about reminding or something external sparking a memory: Recuérdame llamarte mañana. (Remind me to call you tomorrow.) Or, Ese olor me recuerda mi infancia. (That smell reminds me of my childhood.)

Acordarse (de) is used when you yourself recall something: Me acuerdo de tu nombre. (I remember your name.)

Both are correct, but in daily conversation acordarse is the more natural choice when talking about remembering something on your own. 

Recordar leans more toward reminders or when something else jogs the memory.

🎯 Trivia Answer

La Condesa.

La Condesa takes its name from the 18th-century Countess of Miravalle, Doña María Magdalena Dávalos de Bracamontes y Orozco. She was a formidable widow and landowner whose Tacubaya holdings — Hacienda de la Condesa — shaped today’s La Condesa and adjacent Hipódromo.

Widowed at 33, she slipped out of house arrest in Sentispac with nine children, reached Mexico City, and used the courts to seize control of a debt-soaked estate. She then spent decades lawyering like a pro: a long fight against the Jesuits over Santa Cruzada revenues (she won) and lawsuits against her brother-in-law to protect her daughters’ dowries. Archival records and her own correspondence portray a shrewd legal strategist and estate manager.

She also ran a kind of salon apothecary for New Spain’s elite—her letters mention “famous pills,” temazcal sweat baths, emetics, bloodletting, and viper-powder remedies mixed with oils and spirits.

Over time she attracted a cloud of urban legend: poison, a glass coffin, a haunted mansion. Great stories, but the documents don’t support them; they simply add mist to a very real power player whose title became the neighborhood’s name.

Why El Expat Insider Mexico? Life abroad isn’t just about relocating — it’s about reinventing. Every sunrise in Mexico brings new opportunities to explore, learn, and connect. Whether you’re here for a season or a lifetime, we’re your compass for making the most of every moment. Because life’s too short to live on autopilot.

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