¡Hola amigos! This week, Moody’s downgraded Mexico’s credit rating just days after S&P’s warning while Mexico’s tech sector grew 27x faster than the national economy. Labor tensions are rising across the country and Mexico is rolling out health screenings for travelers ahead of the World Cup.

Plus, alternative ways to qualify for residency, insurance plans built to solve a human problem, and the polite way to make sure everyone’s on the same page.

Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here. It’s Free!

❓México Trivia

Which Mexican state declared independence from Spain before deciding whether it even wanted to join Mexico?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

🇨🇦 Puerto Vallarta International Airport will add new direct flights from Edmonton starting November 3 and Calgary beginning December 10.

🛫 After a decade-long suspension, Aeroméxico plans to resume direct flights between Mexico City and Caracas in October 2026.

🩺 President Sheinbaum said Mexico will implement epidemiological health screenings for travelers arriving from countries with contagious disease outbreaks ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

✈️ Mexico’s air traffic controllers union formally initiated strike proceedings over staffing shortages, unpaid overtime, and deteriorating infrastructure.

🚨 Riot police blocked CNTE teachers union protestors on Monday from entering Mexico City’s Zócalo ahead of a planned national strike and protest camp scheduled to begin June 1.

📉 A week after S&P Global Ratings revised Mexico’s credit outlook to negative, Moody’s downgraded Mexico’s sovereign rating from Baa2 to Baa3, placing the country one notch above speculative-grade status. The credit rating agency also revised its outlook from negative to stable.

🏦 A day after Mexico’s sovereign downgrade, Moody’s also downgraded BBVA México, Banorte, Banamex, Santander México, and Banco del Bajío from Baa2 to Baa3.

💻 Mexico’s information and communication technologies (ICT) sector grew 27x faster than the 0.2% increase reported for the national GDP during the same period.

🤝 On May 22, Mexico and the European Union signed a modernized trade agreement that's projected to boost commerce by 35% over the next five years.

🚗 General Motors will move production of its Chevrolet Aveo and Groove models from China to Mexico starting in 2027.

🏟️ President Sheinbaum said her May 31 progress report may move from the Zócalo to the National Palace, with the event also set to be broadcast in public squares across all 32 states.

🚂 The Maya Train received a 15-year permit to transport diesel as the megaproject expands into freight operations and fuel logistics across southeastern Mexico.

⚽ President Sheinbaum confirmed Mexico will host Iran’s World Cup training base in Tijuana.

🎶 Monterrey’s FIFA Fan Festival announced paid concerts featuring Chayanne, Imagine Dragons, Grupo Firme, and Enrique Iglesias during the World Cup.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Does Your Insurance Get You Home?

Many people assume medical evacuation means being transported back to the U.S. or Canada during a serious emergency. But many travel and international health insurance policies only cover transport to the nearest suitable hospital, not necessarily the hospital you would choose, or one near family. Where you ultimately recover often isn’t part of the equation.

Most policies are designed to solve a medical problem. 

Dedicated medevac plans are designed to solve a human one.

In a major medical crisis, the real issue often isn’t just treatment. It’s where you recover, who can reach you, and whether you have any control over the process. Many evacuation decisions are made by the insurer’s medical team and based on what they consider medically necessary.

Some dedicated medical evacuation memberships work differently, providing bedside-to-bedside transport to the hospital of your choice once you are medically stable to travel, including hospitals in your home country.

The best time to understand your coverage is before you ever need it.

Need help understanding what your policy includes? A vetted broker can walk you through medical evacuation options and explain where coverage gaps may exist.

Find your broker here

📍Immigration Essentials

Alternative Ways to Qualify for Residency in Mexico

Last week, we covered how most residency applicants qualify through monthly income or savings/investments (check it out here).

But Mexico’s immigration system also offers several alternative pathways for people who do not meet the standard “economic solvency” requirements.

Marriage to a Mexican National or Foreign Resident
If you are married to a Mexican citizen or legal foreign resident, you may be eligible to apply for residency from within Mexico by exchanging a visitor permit for residency.

Common-Law Partnership
Mexico also recognizes common-law partnerships (“concubinos”), including same-sex partnerships. Requirements for proving the relationship can vary by immigration office or consulate.

Family Ties in Mexico
Certain family connections may qualify you for residency in Mexico, including a Mexican spouse or common-law partner, Mexican parentage, or a Mexican-born child.

If Your Baby Is Born in Mexico
If your child is born in Mexico, both parents immediately become eligible to apply for legal residency directly through an immigration office in Mexico.

Residential Property Ownership
You may qualify for Temporary Residency if you own residential property in Mexico valued at approximately MXN $10,758,500 pesos or more. The property must be located in Mexico, free of liens or mortgages, and titled in your name.

Capital Investment
Mexico also offers a Temporary Residency pathway through qualifying investment in a Mexican-owned business or approved investment structure. The minimum investment amount is approximately MXN $5,378,664 pesos. These applications are generally more complex than standard income or savings applications.

Humanitarian Grounds
Some residency applications may qualify on humanitarian grounds, although these cases are reviewed individually through local immigration offices.

Most residency applications must begin at a Mexican consulate abroad, although some Family Unit applications may be processed from within Mexico.

Requirements, documentation, and procedures can vary depending on the consulate or immigration office handling the application.

One Click Can Be Expensive

It usually starts with something small – a text, a call, or an email that looks completely legitimate. And it only takes one wrong click, reply, or call to lose money you won’t get back.

ScamBrief is a free weekly newsletter that shows you the exact scams happening right now – how they work, what they look like, and the red flags that can save you from making a costly mistake.

👉 Subscribe to ScamBrief for free

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Corn Fungus Mexico Turned Into a Delicacy

Around most of the world, farmers destroy it on sight. In Mexico, chefs serve it in quesadillas, soups, and upscale restaurants as a delicacy known as huitlacoche.

Also called cuitlacoche, the fungus grows naturally on corn during the rainy season, swelling the kernels into bulbous silver-gray growths. 

While most countries treat it as a destructive crop disease, Mexico became one of the only places on earth to embrace it as cuisine. Some farmers now intentionally infect corn so it can be harvested year-round.

Nicknamed “the Mexican truffle,” it has a deep, earthy flavor somewhere between black truffle, shiitake mushroom, and roasted corn. 

It’s delicious folded into tortillas with Oaxaca cheese and epazote. It’s also commonly cooked in soups, tamales, sauces, and quesadillas.

Beyond its culinary appeal, it is highly nutritious. The fungus is packed with protein, fiber, antioxidants, and lysine, an essential amino acid that ordinary corn lacks. When eaten with corn tortillas, the combination creates a more complete amino acid profile.

In the past, it was believed that huitlacoche was a prized pre-Hispanic food. However, modern historical research suggests Indigenous communities originally viewed it simply as damaged, blighted corn. 

During the colonial period, rural and Indigenous communities began incorporating the fungus into everyday cooking, driven in part by food scarcity.

Over centuries, that resourcefulness evolved into a culinary art form, turning a crop blight into one of Mexico’s most sophisticated gastronomic treasures.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Beyond the Aphrodisiac: The Roots of Mexico’s Damiana

Damiana has long been known as Mexico’s “love herb,” but its traditional uses go far beyond its reputation as an aphrodisiac.

Known scientifically as Turnera diffusa, damiana is a drought-resistant perennial shrub with bright yellow flowers found in hot, semi-arid climates throughout Mexico, Central and South America, and southern Texas.

The leaves have a slightly sweet, floral flavor with subtle citrus notes and hints of blackberry and licorice. When brewed, damiana releases a rich herbal fragrance often compared to chamomile.

While damiana is best known for libido and sexual wellness, communities in Mexico have long used the plant to support digestion, menstrual comfort, and general wellness. It is used as a calming herb associated with relaxation, stress relief, and emotional balance. 

Researchers are currently studying damiana for its antioxidant and other plant-based compounds, and early findings suggest potential links to digestion, blood sugar regulation, and mood support. 

Today, damiana is commonly found in tinctures, herbal blends, and teas throughout Mexico. 

In Baja California Sur, damiana has become part of the region’s desert identity. It’s still used in traditional remedies, but these days it’s also become a recognizable flavor in Baja’s cocktail scene. You’ll now find it in herbal liqueurs and botanical drinks poured everywhere from beach bars to boutique hotels across the peninsula.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Día de la Música 2026 – June 6, Mazatlán, Sinaloa
Mazatlán’s free, open-air Día de la Música returns with nine stages spread across the Centro Histórico and Olas Altas, filling the city with live performances from afternoon through late evening. The annual festival blends boleros, banda, rock, orchestral music, and karaoke, drawing locals and visitors into the streets of the historic center. More info here. 

Torneo de Aguas Abiertas Día de la Marina 2026 – June 6, Acapulco, Guerrero
This open-water swimming competition brings athletes to Acapulco for races ranging from 1.25 to 5 kilometers across the bay. Held as part of Día de la Marina celebrations, the event also supports local food drives. More info here. 

Aldea Global 2026 – June 9–21, Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City
Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Chapultepec Forest will host this large-scale cultural festival featuring international food, music, art, and country pavilions inspired by participating nations. The free event also includes live performances, themed exhibitions, plus fan zones to watch World Cup matches in the park. More info here.

Festival del Pescado y el Marisco 2026 – June 14, Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada’s classic seafood festival returns to the gardens of the historic Riviera Cultural Center with tastings, Baja wines, craft beer, live music, and cooking competitions. First launched in 1978, it celebrates the region’s fishing traditions with local chefs, producers, and restaurants. More info here. 

World Naked Bike Ride Guadalajara 2026 – June 13, Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara’s annual World Naked Bike Ride returns with hundreds of cyclists expected to take part in the peaceful protest promoting cyclist safety, environmental awareness, and respect for people who commute by bicycle. More info here.

YogArte Fest 2026 – June 15–21, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí
This weeklong wellness festival brings together yoga classes, alternative therapies, art, music, and a conscious-living marketplace in San Luis Potosí. Alongside yoga sessions and workshops, visitors can browse handmade jewelry, organic products, vegan food, essential oils, and local wellness brands at the festival’s open-air market. More info here.

Art Toy Con 2026 – June 20–21, Mexico City
Designer toys, street art, vinyl collectibles, and contemporary illustration come together at Centro Cultural Universitario Tlatelolco for this growing convention focused on Latin America’s urban art and collectible culture scenes. The two-day program features exhibitions, workshops, limited releases, and independent artists from across the region. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

¿Sí quedó claro?
Translation: Does that make sense? / Is that clear?

This is the polite way to make sure everyone’s on the same page — whether you’re explaining something to your gardener, housekeeper, contractor, or the guy fixing your internet for the third time.

It comes from quedar, the same verb behind:

• ¿Ya quedó? – Is it done?

• Quedó bien – It turned out well

But here, ¿Sí quedó claro? is less about the task and more about whether the message landed.

It’s softer (and way more natural) than bluntly asking ¿Entendió? (Did you understand?)

🎯 Trivia Answer

Chiapas.

When Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, Chiapas did not automatically become part of the new nation. At the time, the region was still governed under the Captaincy General of Guatemala, and after declaring independence from Spain, Chiapas suddenly faced a complicated question: should it join Mexico, become part of Guatemala, or remain independent altogether?

The debate deeply divided the region. The city council of Ciudad Real pushed to join Mexico, while Tuxtla favored Guatemala. Other towns supported the idea of an independent Chiapas entirely.

At the time, Chiapas was geographically isolated, economically struggling, and culturally distinct from much of Mexico. Its strong Indigenous identity – and long political ties to Guatemala – made the decision far from obvious.

To settle the dispute, Chiapas held a public plebiscite in 1824. The vote ultimately favored joining Mexico, and on September 14, 1824, Chiapas officially became part of the Mexican Federation.

But even then, not everyone agreed. The Soconusco region near the Guatemalan border refused to fully commit and remained politically neutral for nearly two decades before Santa Anna formally reincorporated it into Mexico in 1842.

*Some of the links in this newsletter may come from our affiliates or sponsors, meaning we could earn a commission if you purchase.

Not Yet a Subscriber? Click Below to Get Our Newsletter Every Week — It’s FREE!