¡Hola amigos! This week, Pemex is under fire after officials were caught hiding details tied to the Gulf oil spill, President Sheinbaum is once again requesting approval for U.S. special forces to enter Mexico, and get ready for a lot more roadwork as the country ramps up major infrastructure projects.

Plus, what you can and can’t schedule online with immigration and what you need to know about Labor Day pay requirements.

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❓México Trivia

Which cenote in Mexico is so deep it took a NASA robot to finally reach the bottom?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

🛢️ Pemex discovered that three officials hid information about a pipeline leak tied to the Gulf oil spill.

🪖 President Sheinbaum requested Senate approval for U.S. special forces to enter Mexico for joint training between August 1 and October 15, 2026.

🤝 The U.S. and Mexico have set their first formal USMCA negotiation meeting for the week of May 25 in Mexico City.

🛣️ Mexico is accelerating an $18.1 billion federal highway plan with major construction already underway nationwide.

📉 Mexico’s economy is expected to stay near stagnation in 2026 with growth under 2% and elevated inflation.

⛽ President Sheinbaum warned gas stations charging too much for diesel could face tax audits. Nearly half are over the price cap.

🚛 Mexico has blocked imports of used tractor trailers to support the heavy vehicle industry and stabilize the domestic market.

⚠️ A gunman opened fire at the Teotihuacán pyramids, killing a Canadian tourist and injuring several others.

🚨 President Sheinbaum is demanding answers after U.S. and Mexican officials died in a crash in Chihuahua following a drug lab operation she says the federal government was not informed about.

🛍️ Mexico’s retail market is projected to reach nearly $700 billion by 2034. 

🍎 Your Health Pulse

📍Immigration Essentials

Online Immigration Appointments: What You Can and Can’t Schedule

Not every immigration procedure in Mexico can be scheduled online – and even when it can, it depends on whether your local office uses the system.

Larger INM ((Instituto Nacional de Migración) offices typically offer online appointments, while smaller regional offices still require you to show up in person to request a date or same-day service.

Procedures that can be scheduled online include:

• Exchange of a Residency Visa sticker issued in your passport at a Mexican consulate to a Residency Card.

• Applications for residency via Family Unit.

• Change of status to temporary or permanent resident on humanitarian grounds.

• Change of status from Temporary Student to Temporary Resident.

• Change of status from Temporary to Permanent residency.

• Renewals of existing residency cards.

• Replacement of lost/damaged residency cards.

• Notifications (change of address, marital status, employment, nationality)

Notifications of changes (such as address, marital status, employment, or nationality) can be scheduled online, but you must attend the appointment in person.

Regularization procedures are not included in the online system and must be handled directly at an immigration office.

The system also limits you to the office tied to your registered address, so you won’t be able to book appointments in other locations. 

🧩 Life in México

Labor Day Pay Rules and Closures

Labor Day in Mexico is observed on May 1 and is a mandatory day of rest under the Ley Federal del Trabajo. This law comes from Articles 74 and 75, which establish May 1 as a mandatory rest day and require double pay for any work performed on that day.

If an employee does work that day, the law is explicit: the employer must pay the worker their ordinary daily salary plus double pay for the services rendered – resulting in triple pay in total.

The law applies to part-time or full-time household staff, such as your maid and gardener. So if you plan on having your maid come in on May 1, you are legally required to pay 3x their daily rate.

Because May 1 falls on a Friday this year, and most institutions are already closed on weekends, many services will remain shut from Friday through Sunday.

This includes:

• Banks (under CNBV closure regulations)

• Government offices such as SRE and SAT

• Public schools under the SEP calendar

Most in-person services will not resume until Monday, and tax deadlines falling on May 1 are typically extended to the next business day.

If you need to handle banking, official paperwork, or administrative tasks, it’s best to plan around the three-day closure window.

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🇲🇽 Viva México

The Day Veracruz Was Invaded by the U.S.

On April 21, 1914, U.S. forces landed in Veracruz, Mexico’s most important port.

The invasion was triggered by a diplomatic crisis days earlier in the oil port of Tampico, where Mexican soldiers briefly detained a group of American sailors. The men were quickly released, but the incident escalated tensions between the two countries.

To understand how this happened, it helps to step back.

By early 1914, Mexico was deep in revolution.

General Victoriano Huerta had seized power in a coup, ordering the assassination of President Francisco Madero and installing a harsh military rule.

In the U.S., Woodrow Wilson took office shortly after Madero’s murder. Appalled by the political executions, he refused to recognize the new regime. President Wilson moved to weaken Huerta by preventing a major arms shipment from reaching his government, ordering U.S. forces to seize the port of Veracruz.

What began as a landing operation quickly escalated into days of fighting, and U.S. forces remained, turning the mission into an occupation. U.S. leadership believed the move would pressure Huerta’s regime, but instead, many Veracruz residents saw a foreign military taking control of their port.

Even Huerta’s opponents rejected foreign interference, and the invasion sparked widespread resistance and fighting across the city.

With seasoned soldiers tied up on other fronts of the Revolution, the defense of Veracruz fell to its people.

As U.S. forces moved into the city, resistance formed street by street. Naval cadets, many still teenagers, were among the first to respond, joined quickly by armed civilians.

Among the fighters was José Azueta, a young naval officer, who was gravely wounded.  He refused medical treatment from U.S. doctors, an act still remembered as a symbol of national dignity.

Across Mexico, opposition to the intervention crossed rival factions, even as the Revolution continued.

The occupation lasted until November 23, when mediation by Argentina, Brazil, and Chile finally pushed U.S. forces to withdraw.

The U.S. occupation left a lasting mark on U.S.–Mexico relations and Mexico’s sense of sovereignty. In Mexico, the defense of Veracruz is remembered not for victory, but for resistance – when cadets, civilians, and a divided nation stood against foreign intervention.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Chaya: The Mayan Leaf Powering Modern Wellness

Chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) is often called tree spinach for a very practical reason: it looks like spinach, growing on a tall, woody shrub.

Native to southern Mexico, especially the Yucatán Peninsula – chaya grows easily in backyard gardens and home plots.

Since pre-Hispanic times, the Maya have used chaya in both traditional medicine and everyday cooking, including infusions and dishes like tamales and stews.

Chaya is traditionally used to support everything from inflammation and circulation to blood sugar, kidney health, cholesterol, and digestion.

Gram for gram, it delivers more iron than spinach, plus vitamin C to help your body actually absorb it. Chaya has calcium levels you’d normally associate with dairy, and more protein than you’d expect from a leafy green. It also contains fiber, potassium, and essential amino acids, making it a highly nutrient-dense addition to everyday meals.

The plant’s botanical name, Cnidoscolus, literally means "nettle thorn" in Greek. While cultivated varieties are smooth, their wild relatives carry stinging hairs. This biological defense is why some locals still greet the shrub with a polite "Con su permiso, madrecita Chaya" before harvesting; lore suggests that if you ask nicely, the plant won’t hurt you.

When preparing it, there are two non-negotiables: cook it, and avoid aluminum. 

Raw chaya contains naturally occurring compounds that can release small amounts of cyanide when the leaves are damaged, but a rolling boil of 10–15 minutes renders it safe to eat. Aluminum can react with the plant’s natural compounds, so keep it out of pots, bowls, and even foil.

In everyday Mexican kitchens, chaya shows up in everything from scrambled eggs and soups to refreshing green aguas frescas, often blended with pineapple or lime. Its flavor is mild and similar to spinach.

Chaya is commonly passed from garden to garden through cuttings. If someone gives you a stem, you’re holding a plant that may have been shared hand to hand for generations.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Festival FYJA 2026 (Festival Flores y Jardines) – April 30–May 3, Mexico City
Polanco transforms into an open-air showcase of garden design and nature as Festival FYJA returns with ephemeral garden installations, landscape architecture, and creative interpretations of the Mexican garden. More info here.

Festival Vallarta Azteca del Folclor Internacional 2026 – May 3–9, Puerto Vallarta
Now in its 20th edition, this weeklong folklore festival brings together dance groups from across Mexico and international delegations for performances across Puerto Vallarta, from the Malecón to Teatro Vallarta and neighborhood cultural spaces. Expect performances, parades, and open-air shows highlighting traditional music and dance, most free and spread across multiple venues. More info here. 

Dog Festival by Pooff – May 3, Monterrey, Nuevo León
A pet-friendly day at Parque Rufino Tamayo brings together grooming, photo sessions, and training classes alongside contests, games, and dog-focused brands. Expect a relaxed atmosphere with music and food. Free entry. More info here.

Desfile Cívico-Militar del 5 de Mayo 2026 – May 5, Puebla, Puebla
Puebla’s main civic-military parade returns to its traditional route along Boulevard 5 de Mayo, restoring a more accessible, city-centered format after recent years. The procession brings together more than 10,000 participants, including students, military units, and civic groups, alongside floats and ceremonial displays. More info here.

Festival Internacional del Arte, Queso y Vino 2026 – May 7–24, Tequisquiapan, Querétaro
Marking its 50th edition, this long-running festival takes over central Tequisquiapan across multiple venues with wine and cheese tastings, regional food, concerts, cultural programming, and family-friendly activities. More than 30 wineries participate, with free-entry events running over several weekends along the Ruta del Queso y el Vino. More info here. 

Festival Cultural de Mayo 2026 – May 7–29, Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara’s leading annual arts festival returns with a multi-venue program spanning music, dance, visual arts, and circus, with performances and exhibitions across spaces including Teatro Degollado and the Instituto Cultural Cabañas. More info here.

Torneo Internacional de la Pesca del Pez Vela 2026 – May 8–10, Zihuatanejo, Guerrero
Now in its 41st edition, this long-running sport fishing tournament draws national and international anglers to the coast of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo for three days of open-sea competition centered on sailfish, with additional prize categories including marlin and dorado. More info here. 

💡 Say It in Spanish

¿Le puedo transferir?
Translation: Can I transfer you the money?

This is what you’ll hear when it’s time to pay – especially with contractors, cleaners, deliveries, or small businesses… and no one has cash.

If you’re asking a friend, keep it casual: ¿Te puedo transferir?

🎯 Trivia Answer

El Zacatón cenote

Located in the state of Tamaulipas, El Zacatón is the deepest water-filled sinkhole in the world, reaching a depth of about 335 meters (over 1,100 feet).

For years, no one could find the bottom. Divers pushed deeper and deeper, setting records, but still came up short. One expedition in the 1990s reached over 280 meters without touching the floor, reinforcing its reputation as “bottomless.”

The mystery wasn’t solved until 2007, when NASA deployed an autonomous underwater robot called DEPTHX. Designed to explore oceans on distant moons, the robot mapped the cenote’s depth and structure, finally revealing how deep it truly goes.

Unlike the crystal-clear cenotes of the Yucatán, El Zacatón is something else entirely. Its warm, mineral-rich waters give off a slight sulfuric smell, and floating islands of grass drift slowly across the surface – giving the cenote its name, from zacate, meaning grass.

What makes it even more fascinating is how it formed. While most cenotes are created by collapsing limestone, El Zacatón likely developed through underground volcanic activity, where acidic waters gradually carved out a massive vertical shaft over thousands of years.

Take a video tour straight down into El Zacatón.

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