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¡Hola amigos! This week, Mexico preps for a historic judicial election – and most voters still don’t know who’s running. The peso climbs, exports jump, and CDMX seizes land for affordable housing. Meanwhile, over 700 animals flee violence, and in the capital, locals get ready to ride naked for cyclist rights.

Plus: healthcare options if your uninsured – and the Spanish phrase to keep handy when your brain takes a siesta mid-sentence.

📣Que Paso

📈 The peso strengthened 2.3% last week, hitting a record high under President Sheinbaum as global dollar weakness and investor confidence drove gains.

🏘️ Mexico City expropriated 2,165 m² of private land in the Cuauhtémoc borough to build new affordable housing. Officials say the move supports urban renewal and access to dignified living.

📦 Mexico’s exports rose 5.8% in April. Growth was fueled by strong U.S. demand, even as tariff tensions remain.

🏁 On June 15, NASCAR will make history with its first-ever Cup Series points race outside the U.S. – hosted at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and broadcast live on Prime Video.

⚖️ Mexico City lawmakers proposed banning junk food and alcohol ads at sports events, with a push to extend the policy nationwide to curb youth consumption and align public health with marketing rules.

✈️ President Sheinbaum said Mexico will review airline overbooking laws to strengthen passenger protections after recent boarding denials.

🐅 Over 700 exotic animals – including tigers, elephants, and jaguars – were evacuated from the Ostok Sanctuary near Culiacán, Sinaloa, due to escalating violence in the area. The animals were relocated to a wildlife reserve in Mazatlán.

News on Mexico’s Judicial Elections

Reminder: Mexico’s first-ever judicial elections take place this Sunday, June 1. Voters will elect judges, magistrates, and justices at federal and local levels.

🧑‍⚖️ Only 23% of voters are expected to turn out for Mexico’s June 1 judicial elections, as 77% say they haven’t heard of any candidates and 18% consider themselves well informed, according to a new Enkoll poll.

🗳️ President Sheinbaum urged citizens to vote in Mexico’s first-ever judicial elections on June 1, calling it a historic chance to shape a judiciary “that truly serves the people” through six ballots covering judges, justices, and magistrates. Watch the video here.

🗳️ Mexico’s election authority is investigating claims that civil servants and political parties, including Morena and Movimiento Ciudadano, tried to sway voters ahead of judicial elections.

📉 Foreign investors and legal experts are raising red flags over Mexico’s judicial elections, calling the June 1 vote a “Kafkaesque” overhaul that could erode legal protections and make it harder to challenge government actions in court.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Healthcare in Mexico without Insurance: What You Need to Know

Think you’ll just pay out-of-pocket if something happens in Mexico? That assumption could cost you more than you think.

From travelers and part-timers to long-term residents, too many people believe healthcare will be affordable — until they’re in a private ER facing a MXN 20,000 deposit just to be seen. Public care isn’t even an option for most non-residents.

With medical inflation at 14.9% this year and hospital bills hitting MXN 468,000 in real emergencies, going without coverage isn’t just risky — it’s financially reckless.

Here’s what you need to know before a medical crisis makes the decision for you.

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🏠 Real Estate Roundup 

7 Smart Moves to Protect Your Home

Whether you’re renting in Querétaro or just closed on a dream home in Mérida, security should never be an afterthought. And you don’t need a massive budget or a full alarm system to get serious about home safety.

Here’s what to check – and what to upgrade – right now:

1. Know your area. Visit the local police station and ask what types of crimes are common. This isn’t paranoia – it’s proactive. Every colonia has its patterns.

2. Walk your space like a stranger. Check lighting in hallways, parking areas, and shared entrances. Look for missing bulbs, broken locks, and blind spots your landlord might overlook.

3. Secure your entry points. Reinforce front doors with longer screws in the strike plate and set screws in old hinges. These low-cost upgrades can slow down break-ins by minutes – which makes all the difference.

4. Add a peephole or smart doorbell. Know who’s knocking before you open the door. If you want even more peace of mind, go with a doorbell camera you can check from your phone.

5. Light smart. Use motion-activated lights outside and programmable smart bulbs indoors to mimic your daily routine when you're away. That lived-in look is a huge deterrent.

6. Use DIY security kits. If you’re renting, go for portable alarms, door sensors, and smart locks that don’t require drilling or permanent install.

7. Stay consistent. Security habits matter more than gear. Lock up. Arm the system. Set app reminders. Most break-ins happen when you forget the basics.

📍 Immigration Essentials

Changing Plates When You Move between States in Mexico

When moving to a new state in Mexico, you’re not automatically required to change your license plates. Some states – like Guanajuato – allow you to keep your existing plates as long as you continue paying the annual vehicle tax. There’s no expiration as long as payments are up to date.

However, not all states make it that easy.

Others require annual re-plating or issuing a new circulation card, which may involve returning in person to your previous state to complete the process.

If you choose to officially register your vehicle in your new state, it’s critical to cancel your previous registration first. Each state operates independently, and if your plates remain active in your former state, taxes will continue to accrue. Some foreigners have been hit with back taxes of 10,000–15,000 pesos because they didn’t cancel plates properly before registering elsewhere.

To cancel plates, you'll need to do what's called an “administrative cancellation” in your old state. If you can't go in person, you can authorize someone to act on your behalf using a notarized carta poder (power of attorney), along with your ID, their ID, and two witness signatures.

If you’re re-registering, bring:

• Your original invoice (factura) or title

• Proof of payment for taxes and tenencia

• Circulation card and cancellation certificate (if applicable)

• Residency card or license

• Proof of address in your new state

• Customs documents (pedimento) if the car was imported

Driving between states with mismatched paperwork? You’ll need a temporary permit to legally transport the vehicle – these now last one to three days and must be issued by your local transit office.

While there’s no official deadline for updating your registration, it's best to handle it promptly to avoid tax penalties and headaches down the road.

Click here for more general information.

🇲🇽 Viva México

The Pastry War: When Croissants Sparked a Cannon Fight

It sounds like a joke – but it really happened.

In 1828, during violent street fighting in Mexico City, a French pastry chef named Monsieur lePâtisserie claimed Mexican soldiers looted and destroyed his bakery. He demanded 60,000 pesos in damages – at a time when most Mexicans earned about a peso a day.

The Mexican government ignored the claim. So did France…at first.

Ten years later, Remontel tried again – this time directly appealing to King Louis-Philippe. By then, France was already frustrated with Mexico over unpaid debts from its war for independence. So the king saw an opportunity: Remontel’s pastry shop became the excuse to act.

Suddenly, the original claim ballooned to 600,000 pesos.

When Mexico still refused to pay, France retaliated – with warships. In 1838, the French navy blockaded the entire Gulf Coast, from the Yucatán to the Rio Grande, crippling Mexico’s economy. They bombarded and captured the port of Veracruz, destroyed the legendary fortress of San Juan de Ulúa, and took nearly the entire Mexican navy.

More than 30,000 French soldiers were involved.

Former president Antonio López de Santa Anna led an unsanctioned counterattack to defend Veracruz. Though his forces were defeated and he lost a leg to cannon fire, the act made him a national hero and revived his political career.

The war ended in 1839 when England intervened, and Mexico agreed to pay the 600,000 pesos – but not the millions more it owed.

What began as a single business dispute escalated into a full-scale naval conflict – one that exposed the fragile state of Mexico’s early independence, and the lengths foreign powers were willing to go to assert control.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Mexico’s Gut-Friendly Ferment That’s Perfect for Hot Days

Feeling the heat? Cool off the Mexican way with a glass of tepache.

This lightly fermented pineapple drink goes back to Aztec times and is still a favorite in mercados and cantinas across Mexico. Made with pineapple rinds, raw cane sugar (piloncillo), and a touch of cinnamon, it’s naturally fizzy, a little funky, and totally refreshing over ice.

Packed with probiotics, vitamin C, and bromelain (a powerful anti-inflammatory), tepache supports digestion, boosts immunity, and even gives your brain a lift with B vitamins and essential minerals.

Think of it as Mexico’s tropical take on kombucha – only sweeter, fruitier, and way more fiesta-ready.

Discover the health perks – and how to make your own.

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🎉 Vamos! Can’t Miss Events

🎬 Sundance Film Festival: CDMX – May 29-June 1, 2025, Mexico City
The second edition of Sundance Film Festival: CDMX is back, bringing four days of cutting-edge indie cinema to the big screen at Cinépolis theaters across the city. From Cinépolis Diana to Mítikah, Carso, and Oasis Coyoacán, catch a handpicked selection of films from this year’s Sundance in Park City — plus filmmaker Q&As, panels, and pop-up conversations. Get more info here.

⚔️ Festival Medieval – May 29–31, 2025, Guanajuato City
Step into the Middle Ages as Guanajuato's historic Alhóndiga de Granaditas transforms into a medieval fairground. Enjoy knightly tournaments, falconry displays, fire shows, and traditional dances. The festival also features a bustling medieval market with handcrafted armor, period attire, and artisan goods. Admission is free. More details here.

🎶 Nader Khaledi Live – May 31, 2025, San Miguel de Allende 
Ready for a night of music without borders? Persian-Canadian maestro Nader Khaledi brings flamenco, jazz, Middle Eastern, and Latin American sounds together in a soul-stirring fusion concert. Expect strings, wind, and percussion in a one-of-a-kind performance at Univerciudad UG – Casa El Nigromante. Click for more info.

🚴‍♂️ Día al Desnudo – May 31, 2025, Mexico City
Ready to ride “as bare as you dare”? Join CDMX’s boldest cyclists for Día al Desnudo, the city’s take on the World Naked Bike Ride. This annual protest promotes body positivity, cyclist rights, and eco-awareness – all on wheels. The event kicks off at 8:00 am from Palacio de Bellas Artes and rolls through Paseo de la Reforma and the heart of the city. Clothing is optional. More info here.

🏜️ SCORE Baja 500 – June 4-8, 2025, Ensenada, Baja California
Rev up for the legendary Baja 500 – a rugged off-road rally through desert, coastline, and mountain terrain around Ensenada. Part of the iconic SCORE World Desert Championship, this high-octane race draws elite drivers from around the globe and hardcore fans from across Mexico. Get more info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

“Se me fue el avión”

Translation: I totally blanked.

You’re mid-conversation, trying to remember a Spanish word…and poof – it’s gone. Or maybe you just lost your train of thought completely.

That’s when this phrase comes in handy. It literally means “the plane left me” — but you’ll hear it all the time when someone forgets what they were saying.

Think of it as your go-to for those moments when your vocab vanishes or you're standing in the mercado, wondering what you came in for.

Why El Expat Insider Mexico? Life abroad isn’t just about relocating — it’s about reinventing. Every sunrise in Mexico brings new opportunities to explore, learn, and connect. Whether you’re here for a season or a lifetime, we’re your compass for making the most of every moment. Because life’s too short to live on autopilot.

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