¡Hola amigos! This week, Mexico offered its support to Colombia after Monday's devastating earthquake, new anti-money-laundering rules were announced, the central bank held interest rates steady, and Mexican airlines could lose the ability to launch new U.S. routes or add more flights.

Plus, a refresher on some of your most-asked immigration questions, what’s really behind Mexico’s latest censorship debate, and the little phrase that makes asking for almost anything sound more Mexican.

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What unusual residents of Mexico’s National Palace are officially considered government assets?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

🇨🇴 Mexico offered support to Colombia after Monday’s devastating earthquake, with President Sheinbaum pledging to provide whatever assistance the country needs.

⚽ A Tijuana-based youth soccer team that won an international tournament in Colombia is asking for help to get home after yesterday’s earthquake disrupted flights.

💰 Mexico updated its anti-money-laundering rules to focus greater scrutiny on higher-risk sectors and activities.

✈️ The FAA is reviewing Mexico’s Category 1 aviation safety rating, which could prevent Mexican airlines from launching new U.S. routes or increasing flights on existing routes.

🥑 Mexican avocado exports to the U.S. are gradually resuming after Mexico deployed 1,557 Army personnel to Michoacán following security threats against inspection personnel.

🛣️ Mexico to invest $2.17 billion in transportation and public infrastructure across Oaxaca.

⚖️ A former Guerrero governor was arrested for allegedly ordering the destruction of evidence tied to the 2014 disappearance of 43 Ayotzinapa students.

🏦 Mexico’s central bank held its interest rate at 6.50% for the second consecutive meeting.

🌰 Beijing imposed preliminary tariffs of up to 51.6% on Mexican pecans, claiming they’re being sold too cheaply in China.

🧑‍💼 Congress is reviewing 17 proposals to help young Mexicans secure formal jobs.

💼 Mexico's unemployment rate rose for the second straight month, reaching 2.9% in June, its highest level since September 2025.

🇵🇪 Mexico and Peru have restored diplomatic relations after months at odds over former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chávez, who was granted asylum in Mexico.

For years, a company owned by American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, and other major airlines sold U.S. government agencies access to roughly 722 million passenger ticket transactions.

The records spanned 39 months of past and future travel, pulled from 10,000+ U.S.-based travel agencies and booking services including Expedia, Kayak, Priceline, and credit-card rewards portals. 

The database covered flights on more than 240 airlines – including both domestic and international tickets.

Government users could search by passenger name, itinerary, fare details, or even credit-card number. They could even set alerts to be notified when a matching ticket was booked.

The company behind it? Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) – a data broker.

ARC shut the program down, but the unsettling part remains: there are hundreds of other data brokers collecting personal information about you right now.

That’s why we partnered with Incogni. They contact data brokers on your behalf, request removal of your personal information, and keep following up because that data can reappear.

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If a serious illness or injury requires you to be transported from Mexico to the U.S. or Canada, the cost may be far higher than you expect.

Medical evacuations from Mexico often start around $15,000 to $25,000, while air ambulance costs can climb to $200,000 or more. And without coverage, you may be required to pay upfront.

But the price tag is only part of the story. Who decides when you can leave? Where can you be taken? And does your existing insurance actually get you home?

The answers aren't always what you’d expect.

Read more 

Mexico is considering new rules for television and radio that would require broadcasters to distinguish news from opinion, address false or decontextualized information, and give audiences a formal way to challenge what they see or hear.

But the real controversy is over what happens next.

Under the proposal, Mexico’s telecommunications regulator could review complaints, order broadcasters to comply, and potentially initiate sanctions.

Supporters say it protects audiences. Critics say it could give the government too much influence over the media.

So who ultimately decides what’s “truthful” – and where does audience protection end and government interference begin?

Read More

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Mexcaltitán is a tiny Pueblo Mágico on an island in Nayarit, home to roughly 800 people and reached only by boat. Just one kilometer around and 400 meters across at its widest point, the entire town is easily covered on foot.

Until it starts raining.

During the rainy season, rising lagoon waters flood the streets. Locals use small open boats known as pangas to navigate the flooded streets. 

This transformation has earned the town its nickname: the Venice of Mexico.

Brightly colored houses line the temporary canals, where even the shortest journey must be made on water. There are virtually no cars here. Unusually high sidewalks help protect homes when water levels rise.  

A handful of streets cross the oval-shaped island and meet at a central plaza, while another circles the water’s edge. 

Some believe Mexcaltitán was Aztlán, the mythical homeland from which the Mexica began their journey to found Tenochtitlan. Like Tenochtitlan, Mexcaltitán’s streets also point toward the four cardinal directions. But there’s little archaeological evidence to support the claim.

Reaching Mexcaltitán from Puerto Vallarta takes about four hours by road. The journey then continues by boat through mangrove-lined channels rich in birdlife.

Water touches every part of life here, including the economy. Shrimp fishing peaks from May to August. Local fishing crews enter the surrounding wetlands by boat at dusk, returning shortly before dawn with their catch.

By day, shrimp color the sidewalks red as they’re laid out to dry in the sun. The catch dominates local menus, appearing in tamales, tortillas, ceviche, empanadas, and cocktails.

Today, both Mexcaltitán’s history and its surrounding wetlands are officially protected. The island has been a Zone of Historical Monuments since 1986 and forms part of the Marismas Nacionales de Nayarit Biosphere Reserve.

Take a quick tour of the island here.

Ruda (Mexican rue) is a pungent herb used by traditional healers for everything from easing stomach cramps to sweeping away malas vibras (bad vibes).

It's a traditional remedy for digestive issues, including stomach pain, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, and intestinal parasites. It's also used to boost circulation to help with varicose veins and applied topically to reduce swelling, toothaches, and muscle pain.

It’s most commonly prepared as a tea using the fresh or dried leaves. 

When cooled, it can be dabbed directly on skin to eliminate lice, scabies, athlete's foot, and dermatitis. Some practitioners also create tinctures and poultices for concentrated healing. Avoid sun exposure after applying it because ruda can make skin photosensitive.

Beyond medicinal uses, ruda is also considered a protective plant. Many people hang dried bundles in their homes to shield against envy and negative energy. It's frequently incorporated into limpias (spiritual cleansings) and purification rituals. 

Cuidado: this potent herb requires care when used internally. Pregnant women should avoid it completely because it can cause uterine contractions and miscarriage. Always check with a trusted herbalist or healthcare provider before taking it.

Festival Mundial del Bolero – August 21–23, Mexico City
Celebrate one of Latin America's most enduring musical traditions. Artists from over a dozen countries perform across three evenings. The festival honors bolero, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Expect both classic interpretations and contemporary performances. More info here.

Tierra Mezcal Fest – August 22–23, Toluca, State of Mexico
Explore the world of agave at the first Tierra Mezcal Fest. More than 40 mezcal producers gather for tastings, food, workshops, and conversations with master mezcaleros. The interactive Tierra Mezcal Passport offers a hands-on journey through Mexico's mezcal traditions. More info here.

Festival Internacional del Globo de Papel de China – August 22–23, Tahmek, Yucatán
Watch giant handmade balloons light up the sky over Tahmek. Crafted from papel de China, the globos feature geometric patterns, Maya-inspired imagery, and scenes from local life. International teams join local artisans for the festival. Arrive early and prepare for crowds and possible rain. Free entry. More info here. 

Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería – August 26–September 6, Jalisco
One of Mexico's biggest celebrations of mariachi and charrería returns to Jalisco. Gala concerts, the International Mariachi Parade, and championship charreada competitions take place in Guadalajara and across the state. More info here.

Feria de la Granada y la Pitahaya – August 29–31, Apaseo el Alto, Guanajuato
Discover Apaseo el Alto's sweet local pomegranate variety. The region's annual festival celebrates both fruits. Sample jams, wines, and ice cream made from the harvest. Browse local crafts and enjoy cultural performances. More info here.

GEMA Festival – August 26–30, San Miguel de Allende
The inaugural GEMA Festival launches a new celebration of gastronomy, wine, mixology, and art across San Miguel de Allende. The five-day program blends culinary experiences with contemporary culture, introducing a new annual fixture on the city's events calendar. More info here.

This week's lesson comes from Spanish Paulina, one of the reader-recommended teachers featured in The Insider's Guide to Spanish Teachers in Mexico.

Te encargo 

Translation: Literally, it means "I'm entrusting this to you," but don't worry – it's not as serious as it sounds. 

In everyday Mexican Spanish, te encargo is simply a polite, friendly way to ask someone for something. Think of it as "Could you please...?" or "Would you mind...?" in English.

For example:

Te encargo una cerveza, por favor.  "Could you get me a beer, please?"

Te encargo un café, por favor.  "Could you get me a coffee, please?"

So go ahead and use te encargo. It'll help you sound polite, natural, and totally local in Mexico.

Want more practical Spanish like this?

For more than 30 years, Paulina has helped foreigners gain the confidence to speak Spanish through private lessons, group classes, and intensive programs in Los Barriles Baja California Sur and online.

Website: www.spanishpaulina.com
Email: [email protected] 

A: The palace cats.

16 cats have free rein of Mexico’s National Palace, roaming its gardens, offices, and historic halls. They wander into meetings, appear during televised press briefings, greet tourists at the doors, and have even been known to steal a lick of ice cream from staff.

No one knows exactly when the cats first arrived, but palace staff remember them roaming the grounds as far back as 50 years ago. 

But in 2024, Mexico made their status official. The government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador declared the cats “living fixed assets” – a designation normally reserved for things like buildings and furniture. 

They became the first animals in Mexico to receive the designation.

This status obligates Mexico’s Treasury to provide their food and care for the rest of their lives, even after the president who granted it left office. The cats have also been vaccinated, sterilized, and microchipped, with their own feeding stations, little houses, and a permanent veterinarian.

Meet the cats of Mexico’s National Palace

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