¡Hola amigos! This week, Mexico rolled out a contingency plan to keep gasoline prices from spiking, the peso weakened, and Congress approved a gradual shift to a 40-hour workweek. Meanwhile, Sheinbaum is holding back her electoral reform to review the wording, and the Mexican Senate cleared temporary entry for U.S. Special Forces for joint training exercises.

Also in this issue: the residency updates you’re required to report, how to protect yourself from currency swings when buying property, and Mexico’s surprisingly powerful prescription for stress.

And speaking of stress relief…behold: a tiny hamster eating a tiny pizza off a tiny plate. No analysis required.

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❓México Trivia

Why is St. Patrick’s Day officially commemorated in Mexico?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

⛽ Mexico said it has a contingency plan to prevent gasoline prices from soaring by lowering the IEPS fuel tax to shield consumers and keep inflation in check as tensions disrupt oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

🗳️In her March 3 mañanera, President Sheinbaum said she held back her electoral reform to review wording changes and ensure there were “no contradictions,” and did not confirm when it will be sent to Congress. 

🕒 Congress approved a gradual shift to a 40-hour workweek by 2030, with the first cut from 48 to 46 hours taking effect in 2027.

💵  The Mexican peso weakened 0.31% Monday to 17.2853 per dollar after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran rattled global markets, with banks selling the dollar near 17.78 pesos.

⚖️ President Sheinbaum is weighing legal action against Elon Musk after he alleged on X that drug cartels control her administration. 

🚆 The Mexico City–Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) rail line is scheduled to launch before Easter. 

🎤 Shakira's free concert shattered the Zócalo attendance record Sunday, with around 400,000 fans filling the plaza.

🪖 Mexico’s Senate approved the temporary entry of 12 U.S. Special Forces personnel for joint training exercises in Cozumel and the State of Mexico through July 15.

📉 CJNG-related violence following the killing of El Mencho grounded nearly 300 flights and wiped out more than MX$28 billion in market value from Mexican airport operators and airlines in a single day.

⚰️ CJNG leader “El Mencho” was buried Monday in a golden casket in Zapopan, Jalisco.

📊 Mexico reached 22.5 million IMSS-registered jobs in February – the highest ever for a second month of the year – adding 157,882 new positions, 87.4% of them permanent.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

What Your International Health Insurance Might Not Cover

Most people living in Mexico assume their international health insurance has them fully covered…until they’re paying out-of-pocket for something they thought was included.

Many essential protections like emergency evacuation, outpatient care, or prescription benefits aren’t standard. They’re add-ons called policy riders.

And here’s the part most people miss: you usually can’t add them once your policy is active. Some riders cost a few hundred dollars a year. Others can protect you from five-figure medical bills.

Choosing the right riders isn’t about over-insuring. It’s about protecting yourself from financial surprises and making sure your policy actually works when you need it.

Read more. 

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📍Immigration Essentials

Mexico Residency: The Updates You’re Required to Report

If you’re a temporary or permanent resident of Mexico, staying compliant with the National Institute of Migration (INM) is a must.

One key obligation is notifying the INM when certain personal circumstances change.

What counts as a change? A whole lot.

• Change of home address.

• Change of name.

• Change of nationality.

• Change in marital status. This includes marriage, divorce, the death of a spouse, or a change in a common-law partnership.

• Change in economic activity. For example, switching employers, starting a new job, or opening a business.

The rule is simple: You have 90 calendar days to notify the INM after the change occurs.

Miss the deadline? A fine may be imposed for notifying INM after the deadline.

Notifications must be made in person at your local INM office.

Bring your resident card, proof of the change (like a marriage certificate or new passport), and a completed application form, which you can fill out online before your visit.

Keep in mind that documents issued abroad must be apostilled or legalized and translated into Spanish.

There’s no fee for filing these notifications. But don’t let the 90-day window close on you – staying ahead of this requirement ensures your residency remains hassle-free.

See the official INM guidelines for reporting changes.

🧩 Life in México

Protect Your Money When Buying or Building in Mexico

A couple buying a $400,000 USD condo in San Miguel thought they were set.

At 17.5 MXN, their numbers worked. By closing, the peso moved to 17.0. That small shift added about $12,000 USD to the exact same property.

Nothing changed about the condo. Only the exchange rate.

Most buyers focus on the purchase price. But if you’re buying or building in Mexico, the currency is part of the price – and it can move in days, not months.

Here’s where people get caught:

– Waiting for “the perfect rate”
– Assuming the bank will give them a fair deal
– Forgetting how quickly things can change between deposit and closing

That’s why Monica Wright, expat real estate expert, is hosting a free live webinar with George Reavis of MexEdge this Thursday at 12 pm CST.

Here’s what they’ll cover…

• How currency fluctuation directly affects your real estate purchase or construction costs in Mexico

• Proven strategies to protect yourself against unfavorable exchange rate moves

• The smartest ways to move money from the U.S. or Canada to Mexico

• Common (and expensive) mistakes buyers make with currency exchange

• How to keep more of your money through every transaction

It’s FREE and happens this Thursday, March 5 at 12:00 PM CST.

Register here.

🇲🇽 Viva México

Cantinflas: The Man Who Made Nonsense a National Treasure

In Mexico, his face is instantly recognizable: the pencil-thin, two-part mustache above a mischievous grin. One of the country’s most beloved comic legends, Cantinflas was the irresistible underdog who made wordplay an art form.

Mario Moreno was born in Mexico City in 1911. 

He adopted the name Cantinflas so his family wouldn’t know he was working in the “disreputable” world of show business. 

Cantinflas started out in the rough and tumble carpas, traveling tent shows where audiences were merciless. Be good, or get booed off. 

During one performance, stage fright seized him. Instead of freezing, Moreno began rambling – stringing together clever, circular phrases that sounded important but went nowhere. The audience loved it. 

He eventually refined it into the persona of a fast-talking underdog from Mexico City’s poorest neighborhoods. This scrappy character could outtalk authority figures with rapid-fire monologues that were dazzling and hilariously evasive.

This way of speaking became so iconic that it entered the dictionary: cantinflear- meaning to speak or act in a nonsensical and incongruous way, without saying anything of substance

Charlie Chaplin himself reportedly called him “the best comedian alive.”

He was a master of misdirection with words and in the bullring. As a torero bufo (bull-fighting clown), Cantinflas became wildly popular. 

In the arena, he distracted the bull with unorthodox antics: mimicking its movements, dancing rumba and danzón just out of reach, even calmly reading a newspaper beside the animal during a lull in the action.

His first starring film role, Ahí está el detalle (1940), made Cantinflas a national obsession. International fame came with Around the World in 80 Days (1956), which won five Academy Awards including Best Picture. Cantinflas won a Golden Globe for Best Actor for his role as Passepartout.

Offscreen, Mario Moreno kept his heart where Cantinflas lived: on the side of the little guy. He helped provide housing for working-class families and gave generously, especially to children’s causes. 

On the façade of Teatro de los Insurgentes, Diego Rivera’s sweeping mosaic tribute to Mexican theater, Cantinflas is at the center, passing coins from the rich to the poor.

If you’re in Mexico City and want to learn more, you can visit the Cantinflas Museum.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Mexico’s Wild Prescription for Stress

Research from King’s College London found that seeing or hearing birds is linked to improved mental wellbeing that can last up to 8 hours. Other studies show birding reduces stress, lowers cortisol, sharpens focus, and improves mood by encouraging mindful attention to the present moment.

And if there’s a country built for it, it’s Mexico.

With about 1,100 bird species – roughly 100 species found nowhere else – Mexico sits at a major ecological crossroads where temperate and tropical ecosystems collide. It’s one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, and one of the richest birding destinations in the world.

Check out our top 5 spectacular birding spots:

Río Lagartos, Yucatán: 8 distinct ecosystems converge here, including the pink lagoons of Las Coloradas. During breeding season, North America's largest flamingo colony performs synchronized displays like a pink-feathered flash mob. You can also see the Yucatán woodpecker – found nowhere else on Earth. 

El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas: Visit this rare cloud forest (one of Mexico's most threatened ecosystems) March-May to see male quetzals display their meter-long tail plumes. Keep an ear out for the critically endangered Horned Guan’s haunting, low-frequency booms.

Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Campeche: Mayan ruins and Mexico’s largest tropical forest create a lost-world vibe. Home to toucans, parrots, and the Ocellated Turkey with metallic blues, oranges, and peacock-like “eye” spots. 

San José del Cabo Estuary, Baja California Sur: This freshwater oasis in the desert protects the critically endangered Belding's Yellowthroat. It's the species' largest remaining habitat and survives thanks to grassroots conservation by local residents. 

Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre), Chihuahua: The dramatic landscape makes this a deep-breath, slow-your-steps kind of place. Watch for Military Macaws circling the cliffs and Blue-throated Mountain-gems (hummingbirds) flashing electric color. After dark, keep an ear out for the Colima Pygmy-Owl — tiny, fierce, and way louder than you’d expect.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Festival Eurojazz 2026 – March 1–15, Cenart, CDMX
The 29th edition of Eurojazz returns to the green areas of the Centro Nacional de las Artes with free, open-air concerts every Saturday and Sunday. Two daily performances at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. feature artists from Europe and Mexico. More info here.

Feria Nacional de la Michelada 2026 – March 12–16, Cholula, Puebla
Held at Soria Park next to the Pyramid of Cholula, this 5-day festival celebrates one of Mexico’s most iconic drinks with 200+ types of micheladas and completely FREE admission. Expect classic and creative variations, food vendors, and free live performances. More info here.

La Samaritana – March 13, Oaxaca City, Oaxaca
Held on the 4th Friday of Lent, La Samaritana fills Oaxaca City with decorated stalls offering free aguas frescas in churches, homes, schools, and businesses. Inspired by the biblical passage of the Samaritan woman offering water, locals share traditional drinks like chilacayota, horchata, jamaica, and tejate. More info here.

Ensenada Beer Fest 2026 – March 20–21, Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada Beer Fest returns to the Riviera Cultural Center with 130+ breweries, 35 restaurants, a bazaar, and 8 stages featuring live music and DJ sets. The festival also features guided tastings and food pairings. More info here.

Running Las Vacas 2026 – March 20–22, Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila
This 3-day celebration returns to Ciudad Acuña with a lively program that includes a callejoneada with band, live music, mojigangas, donkey races, a greased pig contest, folk dance performances, regional gastronomy, and cultural exhibitions. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

Al frente de vs. Enfrente de
Translation: In front of vs. Across from

Mix these up, and you could end up on the wrong side of the plaza.

Al frente de usually means at the front of – close up, right there.

• El jardín está al frente de la casa.
  (The garden is in front of the house.)

• Estoy al frente de la fila.
  (I’m at the front of the line.)

Enfrente de is most often used for across from – facing it, with space in between.

• La tienda está enfrente de la plaza.
  (The store is across from the plaza.)

In everyday speech, enfrente de can sometimes also mean “in front of,” depending on context, but when giving directions around town, it almost always implies across from.

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🎯 Trivia Answer

Mexico commemorates St. Patrick’s Day because of El Batallón de San Patricio – a unit of mostly Irish immigrants who defected from the U.S. Army and fought for Mexico during the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). 

They fought in at least 5 major battles, but are best remembered for their stand at the Battle of Churubusco on August 20, 1847, just outside Mexico City. 

As Mexican troops attempted to raise a white flag of surrender three times, members of the San Patricios reportedly tore it down each time, choosing to continue fighting despite being nearly out of ammunition. It was a losing battle. 

Within weeks, 50 captured members of the battalion were hanged by U.S. forces. 

The executions sparked public outrage in Mexico. 

Today, a plaque in Mexico City’s San Jacinto Plaza honors them as martyrs. They are commemorated each year on September 12 – the anniversary of the executions – and on St. Patrick’s Day. Though the battalion was later disbanded, surviving members continued serving Mexico after the war, helping protect civilians from bandits before the unit was dissolved.

Check out the St. Patrick’s Day commemoration parade in Mexico City.

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