¡Hola amigos! This week, Mexico wants to increase foreign tourist fees, Trump wants a piece of Mexico’s energy business, and the UN is considering offering help with the country’s missing persons crisis, but the government is trying to block it.

Plus, how marriage or divorce could affect your residency, when you could be held responsible for an accident at your home, and the Chihuahua’s ancient cousin who helped guide souls to the afterlife.

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Q: What happens to the dead in Mexico when there's no one left to remember them?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

💸 Mexico plans to raise its foreign tourist fee by 17.8% in 2027, despite tourism industry concerns that the increase could make Mexico the most expensive country for taxes and fees charged to foreign visitors.

🇲🇽 Trump wants Mexico to buy more U.S. natural gas and give American companies greater access to Pemex, but Sheinbaum says Mexico's oil rights cannot be handed over to foreign companies.

🪖 President Sheinbaum denies claims by residents of Apatzingán, Michoacán, that the Mexican Army was ordered not to intervene in attacks on civilians.

💰Sheinbaum's proposed 2027 budget would cut funding by 3.2% for Mexico's National Search Commission, which coordinates efforts to find missing people, while boosting the National Guard's budget by nearly 29%.

🌐 In an unprecedented move, the UN is set to consider offering Mexico international assistance with its forced disappearance crisis, but the Mexican government is lobbying member countries to reject the proposal.

🛫 Volaris launches the first nonstop flights between Guadalajara and Washington Dulles Airport. 

✈️ The U.S. announced it will lift restrictions on Mexican airlines launching new flights to American cities from Mexico City's Benito Juarez airport and Felipe Angeles ​airport.

🚗 Mexico eliminates its 10% import tariff on certain auto parts for 5 years.

🏥 IMSS healthcare workers plan a second national march in Mexico City on October 21 after rejecting a 6.8% pay package.

⚖️ Former Chihuahua Attorney General was arrested on suspicion of treason for allegedly allowing U.S. agents to join a raid on a suspected drug lab without authorization. 

💧Hundreds protested dirty tap water and worsening shortages in Guadalajara for the second Sunday in a row.

💄Mexico City beauty brand AORA México makes TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026 list for its plastic-free makeup packaging made from recyclable aluminum, tin, and wood.

🌎 International travel to Mexico rose 6.3% from January to August 2026 compared to the same period last year.

📱 A new presidential decree in Mexico requires digital platforms to protect minors from violent, sexual, and other harmful content.

🚨 After nearly 4 days of a joint U.S.–Mexico search 140 miles west of Ensenada, the U.S. Coast Guard called off efforts to find 11 people still missing after a boat capsized. 16 people were rescued.

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If you already have Temporary or Permanent Residency in Mexico, getting married or divorced brings up some important questions.

Will your residency status change? What happens if you change your last name? And could a divorce affect your ability to stay in Mexico?

The answers depend on your circumstances and how you originally qualified for residency, so it's important to understand which INM requirements apply to you.

Read More

A friend trips on your patio. A guest falls on a broken stair. Your housekeeper gets injured while working in your home.

In all three cases, someone was hurt on your property. But the reason they were hurt – and their relationship to you – can change what you're legally responsible for.

And even if you have home insurance in Mexico, that doesn't necessarily mean every situation is covered.

Find out when you could be held financially responsible, and why your home insurance might not protect you the way you think.

Read More

Long before the Chihuahua became one of Mexico's most recognizable dogs, another little perro held a special place in ancient Mexican life.

The Techichi (also called Tlalchichi) was a small, sturdy dog kept by the Toltecs more than 1,000 years ago. DNA research has found that modern Chihuahuas retain genetic traces of Mexico's pre-Columbian dogs, although their exact relationship to the Techichi remains uncertain.

Archaeologists uncovered 27 dogs buried at ancient Tula, a major Toltec city in what is now the state of Hidalgo, north of Mexico City. Among them were smaller, short-legged dogs associated with the Tlalchichi. Ancient dog figurines found at Tula show large, rounded, upright ears, much like those of the modern Chihuahua.

The Techichi was more than a companion in ancient life. Like the Xoloitzcuintli, it was believed to guide souls to the underworld.

The journey to Mictlán was said to be long and perilous, with many obstacles along the way. According to Mexica beliefs, souls had to cross a river, where a dog could help carry them safely to the other side.

Some versions of the legend say dogs refused to help people who had mistreated them during their lifetime.

Dogs were so important to these beliefs that some people were buried with them, allowing their loyal companions to accompany them on that final journey. This belief was also reflected in burial traditions in western Mexico, where people placed ceramic dogs in tombs to accompany the dead.

The famous pottery dogs of Colima, dating back roughly 2,000 years, are examples of this tradition. Some are thought to represent Techichis, with their plump bellies and little legs.

The Techichi gradually disappeared as a distinct type after the Spanish conquest, as European dogs arrived and Indigenous traditions changed. But its possible connection to today's Chihuahua suggests that part of its ancient legacy may have survived.

With its delicate green clusters resembling miniature broccoli, huauzontle has been part of Mexican food traditions for centuries.

Known botanically as Chenopodium berlandieri subsp. nuttalliae, this native plant once held a prominent place in ancient Mexico's food culture.

For the Mexica (Aztecs), huauzontle was more than just another vegetable. According to UNAM, it was considered the fourth most important crop in pre-Hispanic Mexico, after corn, beans, and chile.

Huauzontle also held ceremonial significance. Its seeds were among the goods that communities paid as tribute to the Aztec Empire. Centuries later, this once-important crop remains part of Mexico's culinary heritage.

A traditional quelite (edible green), it is closely related to quinoa. It provides plant protein, dietary fiber, calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C.

Its fiber supports digestion, while calcium contributes to bone health and iron is essential for producing healthy red blood cells. Huauzontle also contains polyphenols, natural plant compounds with antioxidant properties.

Oh, and its tiny seeds are edible, too.

Today, huauzontle remains a traditional ingredient in central Mexico, particularly Puebla and Tlaxcala. One popular preparation involves tucking cheese between clusters of huauzontle, dipping them in egg batter, and serving them in salsa.

For something simpler, try it sautéed with garlic, onion, and chile, or added to soups and stews.

Mexico Fall Tour 2026 – October 21–November 1, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Elite show jumping comes to Club Hípico Otomí for 12 days of international competition. Between rounds, there’s regional food, live mariachi, cultural performances, and international DJs. Mexican and international riders compete for more than 13.5 million pesos in prize money. Admission is free. More info here.

Feria del Mucbipollo – October 25, Mérida, Yucatán 
Celebrate this seasonal specialty. Mucbipollo is a giant tamale filled with seasoned meat and traditionally baked underground. It's central to Hanal Pixán, Yucatán's Maya Day of the Dead tradition. Watch a traditional cooking demonstration and sample regional variations. More info here.

Campo de Xolos: Bienvenidos a Itzcuintlán – October 27–November 1, Mexico City 
Mexico’s ancient xoloitzcuintle gets its own Día de Muertos festival. These dogs were traditionally believed to guide souls through the underworld. Art exhibitions and concerts celebrate the breed’s cultural legacy. A market sells xolo-themed memorabilia. Admission is free. The festival is dog-friendly, although entry rules vary by venue. More info here.

Festival Miquixtli – October 29–November 1, Cuernavaca, Morelos
Taste local Day of the Dead breads and vote for the best. An October 30 parade features giant papier-mâché figures, dancers, and marching bands. Singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas performs that evening. Horror film screenings add a darker twist to the festivities. Most activities are free. More info here.

Festival Cultural de Calaveras – October 30–November 8, Aguascalientes
Giant figures parade through the streets, inspired by traditional Day of the Dead altars. The festival honors José Guadalupe Posada, whose artwork inspired La Catrina. Follow a pan de muerto trail through local bakeries. Collect stamps for a chance to win prizes. Free workshops teach breadmaking and traditional crafts. More info here.

Gran Desfile de Día de Muertos – October 31, Mexico City
Ancient underworld myths inspire this year's spectacular Day of the Dead parade. Giant puppets and floats bring these stories to life. Other highlights include lucha libre-themed floats and a tribute to Juan Gabriel. The procession begins at 2 p.m. More info here. 

Las Pangas de Luz – October 31–November 2, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Traditional fishing boats adorned with flowers and lights illuminate the waterfront after dark. Vallarta's iconic boardwalk and historic center become a Day of the Dead corridor. The celebrations are part of the state-wide Festival de las Almas. More info here.

¿En qué quedamos?

Translation: What did we agree on? / So which is it?

Ever had someone tell you one thing and then something completely different? That's a perfect moment for ¿En qué quedamos?

In Mexico, this expression is used to clarify an agreement, confirm what was decided, or point out when someone is contradicting what they said earlier.

Trying to confirm dinner plans?

¿En qué quedamos, a las seis o a las siete? / What did we decide, six or seven?

And when someone changes the plan for the third time?

!¿En qué quedamos?! / So which is it?!

Tone and context make the difference. It can be a simple question or, when said with frustration, a way of calling someone out.

Check out The Insider’s Guide to Spanish Teachers in Mexico and find trusted teachers and schools recommended by fellow readers.

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A: In some Mexican communities, they're remembered through a tradition honoring the ánimas solas.

The ánimas solas are souls who have nobody left to remember them, no family to prepare their favorite foods, and no altar waiting for their return. Rather than leave them forgotten, people make room for them alongside their own ancestors.

The custom reflects a long history of honoring the dead. Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) explains that altares de ánimas developed through the blending of Indigenous beliefs about the dead with Catholic practices introduced during the colonial period. Religious brotherhoods organized prayers for departed souls, while community mayordomías helped maintain collective religious traditions.

In the southeastern state of Campeche, the custom takes several forms. Some families in Hopelchén prepare a separate table with food, bread, water and candles. In Escárcega, one woman even places a chair beside her altar so the visiting souls can rest. In Candelaria, residents light candles in the street on October 28 to guide wandering or abandoned souls.

In Puebla, October 30 is observed in some Día de Muertos traditions as a day to remember the ánima sola.

And in Hidalgo's Huasteca region, families place small offerings with candles on walls or ledges outside their homes for souls who have no relatives left to welcome them.

The idea connecting these practices is that remembrance is a communal responsibility. Even when someone's last living relative is gone, there can still be a candle burning for them.

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