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This column by Carlos Fernández-Vega originally appeared in the January 10, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those ofMexico Solidarity Media*, or theMexico Solidarity Project.*
The situation is tense, and for that reason it is difficult to accept – especially after the ignominious violation of Venezuelan sovereignty – that the most recent public threat, as violent as it is insulting, launched by the indecent man who occupies the Oval Office (“we are going to start now hitting land with regard to the cartels… that are controlling Mexico; we have to do something”) is considered in the upper echelons of the national government simply as “part of his way of communicating”, when he has had our country in his sights for some time now, and for him the pretext is of no consequence.
That’s right: the shameless Trump declared that “we are going to start attacking the cartels on the ground now. The cartels are controlling Mexico,” he declared last [Thursday] night in an interview with Fox News. Hours earlier, when asked by The New York Times whether there are limits to his global power, he replied: “Yes, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. That’s the only thing that can stop me. I don’t need international law.”
It’s true that the bilateral relationship, besides being complicated, must be handled with the utmost care and precision, but after the latest outrageous act by the head of the White House cartel, who openly and brazenly announced he would invade Mexican territory on a whim, a strong response from the Mexican government was to be expected. But it didn’t materialize. In yesterday’s morning press conference, President Sheinbaum said that “with President Trump we have an agreement, an understanding on the issue of security with Mexico; which, by the way, we are strengthening… Because of the statements President Trump has made these past few days, which we consider, well, to be part of his communication style, but I nevertheless asked Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente to make direct contact with the Secretary of State (the hawk Marco Rubio, another disgrace). And if necessary, to speak with President Trump to strengthen coordination within the framework we have already explained on several occasions.” Fine, but even Kalimán’s patience has its limits.
One more thing: “We’re going to strengthen communication… Two or three days ago, Secretary Rubio himself spoke about the good security coordination we have with Mexico, which they’ve presented on several occasions; there’s the joint working group we have. So, we need to further strengthen the relationship, this information we’re sharing, about the number of seized labs, in short, so they have all the information. And within the framework of what we’ve been working on, we need to strengthen coordination.”
Days ago, after the kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro and the violation of Venezuelan sovereignty, the President reiterated that “we do not agree with interference or interventionism, but rather with cooperation and collaboration. That is what we have always stated, and we always state it to the U.S. government. First, it is a matter of sovereignty, of defending national sovereignty. But second, an attempt at intervention or unilateral action in Mexican territory would serve no purpose. And with the United States, we must collaborate and coordinate, but never in a situation of subordination, but rather of collaboration and coordination… It is about communication, it is about dialogue; we prioritize dialogue above all else. We have our position, we have our principles, but we always seek dialogue with the U.S. government, and fortunately, we have very good communication.”
Okay, but the point is that nothing can be entrusted to the buccaneer Trump, since he’s the first to break agreements, using any number of ridiculous excuses. He’s a pathological liar, indecent, and treacherous, and if, as he himself boasts, his only limit “is my own morality; it’s the only thing that can stop me; I don’t need international law,” then hold on tight, because it’s obvious that for him, like the classic tale, morality is a tree that bears mulberries or is utterly useless.
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Limits
January 10, 2026January 10, 2026
After the latest outrageous act by the head of the White House cartel a strong response from the Mexican government was to be expected. But it didn’t materialize.
-
Brutal Yankee Aggression Against Patria Grande Expands, says Popular Socialist Party of Mexico
January 9, 2026
The United States of America in its neo-fascist stage, no longer even retains the appearance of a democratic country.
-
Nahua People of Alpuyeca Seek Indigenous Recognition via Mexico’s Supreme Court
January 9, 2026
The Nahua demanded the consultation by carried out by the Alpuyeca, Morelos municipal government to secure Indigenous rights five years ago to no avail.
The post Limits appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
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‘No One Surrendered Here:’ Venezuela’s Acting President Leads National Tribute to Martyrs of US Military Aggression
(orinocotribune.com)
Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez presided over a moving ceremony on Thursday at the Eclectic Monument of the Bolivarian National Guard Military Academy in Caracas, honoring the memory and sacrifice of soldiers and civilians killed on January 3 in the illegal bombing carried out by the US regime in an operation aimed at abducting President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. Those wounded that day were also honored.
During the ceremony, wreaths, medals, and posthumous decorations were presented to the families of 39 officers and professional troops who were posthumously promoted for their heroism in fulfillment of their oath. The tribute included military personnel of various ranks and civilians who were victims of the imperialist aggression.
Millions of Venezuelans followed the ceremony with tears on their faces, sharing the visible pain of the relatives of the fallen soldiers, as reported by Orinoco Tribune. “The sentiment of being violated is now part of the Venezuelan soul, and this has been translated into a stronger anti-imperialist national sentiment,” said Orinoco Tribune’s editor, Jesús Rodríguez-Espinoza.
The ceremony also paid tribute to the 32 Cuban soldiers and officials who were also killed defending Venezuela on January 3. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez and the Cuban ambassador to Venezuela, Jorge Luis Mayo Fernández, took part in the wreath-laying ceremony on behalf of these fallen soldiers.
Lessons of diplomacy
“I speak to the people of the United States: the people of Venezuela did not deserve this vile, warmongering aggression from a nuclear power,” said Acting President Delcy Rodríguez. “I said yesterday that it has become a stain on our relations and on our history. If I could say anything, it is not about revenge, but rather about vindication. We will give lessons and examples of what the Bolivarian Diplomacy of Peace in international action truly means.”
She emphasized that “our men and women who fell in combat are heroes and heroines of the homeland of Simón Bolívar, and the brothers of Cuba, sons of Martí and Fidel, are also heroes and heroines of this homeland, because as one people they fought in defense against an illegal and illegitimate aggression.”
“We are not warmongers; we are men and women of the state, lessons we learned from Bolívar: what it means to have dignity, to have moral superiority, and to have spiritual wealth,” she noted.
Rodríguez invoked the military doctrine of the nation’s father, Simón Bolívar, emphasizing that the Venezuelan Army has been trained for defense, not war. “Bolívar never taught the use of supremacy to humiliate anyone. There was always respect for the dignity of the adversary,” she stated, recalling Bolívar’s maxim: “Liberty is the only objective worthy of the sacrifice of men.”
The Chavista leader reiterated that the concept of homeland in Venezuela transcends borders and is based on love, reaffirming that the country will continue to set an example of dignity before the world, keeping its head held high and its spirit unyielding in the face of any attempt at forced subordination.
Rodríguez also emphasized that the men and women of the Venezuelan armed forces wear their uniforms to protect the republic and defend national morale. In this regard, she elevated to the status of heroes of the homeland not only the fallen Venezuelan fighters, but also the Cuban brothers and sisters who died defending Venezuelan soil, sons of Martí and the commander of the Revolution, Fidel Castro.
Victims committee
Rodríguez announced the creation of a commission to provide comprehensive support to the families of the fallen heroes. “I have seen in the faces of the mothers—I saw the face of a woman, my mother, when my father was murdered. In the faces of the wives of the fallen, I have seen the face of my mother, who also lost a husband, and in the faces of the girls and boys who lost their fathers, I have seen the faces of Jorge and me, when we also lost our father as children, vilely murdered,” she said.
She reaffirmed her absolute loyalty to the constitutional order and to President Nicolás Maduro: “We have historical dignity, and we have commitment and loyalty to President Nicolás Maduro, who has been kidnapped. We have loyalty to the first lady, Deputy Cilia Flores, and we have committed ourselves to not rest until we see them free, back home, and back in their homeland.”
The acting president also announced the construction of a memorial to those who refused to surrender to foreign aggression. “Rest assured that Venezuela stands with us on this journey, and that is why we have decided to build a monument in honor of our heroes, heroines, and martyrs,” she added.
At the closing of her speech, she declared, “Honor and glory to the men and women who died in combat. No one surrendered here! There was combat here, combat for this homeland, for our Liberators, for Miranda, Sucre, Ribas, for Urdaneta, for Manuela Sáenz, for Ezequiel Zamora, for our Liberator Father Simón Bolívar. There was combat here for Chávez, and there was combat for Venezuela!”
High-ranking military officers were present, including General Vladimir Padrino and other members of the high military command.
Cuba’s foreign minister
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez pledged the joint struggle of both nations to ensure the release of the Venezuelan president and his wife, as well as the victory of the Revolution that both countries lead.
“I came from Cuba to pay an emotional tribute to the Venezuelan combatants who fell in combat in defense of the Bolivarian and Chavista Revolution and the sacred Venezuelan homeland,” Minister Rodríguez stated before Delcy Rodríguez and leaders of the Bolivarian National Armed Force.
In his speech, he highlighted the work of the Cuban troops who, “in unequal combat, confronted the imperialist enemy that was desecrating the sovereignty of the Venezuelan homeland and protecting the constitutional president, Nicolás Maduro.” The Cuban foreign minister extended a message of “honor and glory” to those who fell, and of “love and peace” to the Venezuelans killed during the US military attacks.
In the political and diplomatic sphere, Minister Rodríguez shared the conviction that both revolutions, the Bolivarian and the Cuban, are beacons for the liberation of Latin America. This led him to remember Army General Raúl Castro, the Eternal Commander Hugo Chávez, and President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who, loyal to the thought of Bolívar and Martí, have paved the way in the construction of the emancipation of the peoples.
“Hasta la victoria siempre, venceremos!” he said after finishing his speech to the families of the military personnel and civilians who gave their lives during the imperial armed aggression.
List of martyrs honored:
• First Lieutenant Christopher Barreto
• Second Sergeant Major Andrés Barina
• Third Sergeant Major Pedro Carrillo
• Third Sergeant Major Jesus Martinez
• Third Sergeant Major Brayan Núñez
• Third Sergeant Major Adrián Robles
• Third Sergeant Major César García
• Third Sergeant Major Yoicar Brito
• Third Sergeant Major Luis Baraco
• Third Sergeant Major Eduardo Peraza
• Third Sergeant Major of the Militia José Rodríguez
• First Sergeant Elietnis Camacho
• First Sergeant Crisbel Gómez
• First Sergeant Angel Divas
• First Sergeant Anahís Molina
• First Sergeant Alejandra Oliveros
• First Sergeant José Vera
• First Sergeant Richard Rodriguez
• First Sergeant Fabián Estévez
• First Sergeant Ramón Martínez
• First Sergeant Jonathan Cordero
• Second Sergeant Saúl Pereira
• Second Sergeant Carlos Mata
• Second Sergeant Victor Hernandez
• Second Sergeant Pedro Carruido
• Second Sergeant Joel García
• Second Sergeant José Sucre
• Second Sergeant Ezequiel Monjes
• Second Sergeant Luis López
• Second Sergeant Fran Gerson Hurtado
• Second Sergeant Jean Pierre Parra
• Second Sergeant José Ilarraza
• Second Sergeant Jerry Aguilera
• Second Sergeant Franco Contreras
• Second Sergeant Isaac Tovar
• Second Sergeant Ángeles Tovar
• Second Sergeant Juan Fernández
• Second Sergeant Kelvin Sojo
• Citizen Johana Sierra
• Citizen Rosa González
• Citizen Lenin Ramirez
• Citizen Javier Soto
• Third Sergeant Major Jesús Alberto Martínez Marantes
Diplomatic contacts
On Friday, Venezuela’s Acting President Rodríguez announced that she had held telephone conversations with the presidents of Colombia, Brazil, and Spain, “in the context of the serious criminal, illegal, and illegitimate aggression perpetrated against Venezuela,” as reported by Alba Ciudad.
“During these exchanges, I provided detailed information about the armed attacks against our territory. These attacks resulted in the murder of over 100 civilians and military personnel, as well as about the serious violations of international law, including the violation of the personal immunity of the constitutional president of the republic, Nicolás Maduro, and First Lady Cilia Flores,” explained Delcy Rodríguez.
“Likewise, we agree on the need to advance a broad bilateral cooperation agenda, based on respect for international law, the sovereignty of states, and dialogue between peoples,” she said.
• Rodríguez gave special thanks to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the people of Brazil “for the support and assistance given to Venezuela in the most critical moments after the aggression suffered.” The US military attack destroyed a major warehouse with insulin doses delivered for free by the Venezuelan government to renal patients. Brazil immediately sent shipments of insulin to solve the emergency.
• With Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Rodríguez reported that “I reaffirmed that Colombia and Venezuela are brother countries, committed to moving forward together to confront and resolve the problems that commonly affect us, based on mutual respect and regional cooperation.”
• In a conversation with Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, Delcy Rodríguez reported that “I thanked him for the courageous stance of the Spanish government in condemning the aggression against Venezuela and expressed our interest in working together on a broad bilateral agenda that is beneficial to both our peoples and governments.”
• “I reaffirmed that Venezuela will continue to confront this aggression through diplomatic channels, faithful to the principles of Bolivarian Diplomacy of Peace as the only path to defending our sovereignty and preserving peace,” said the acting president.
• She also published a statement expressing, on behalf of the Venezuelan government, her deep gratitude to the Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his government for the support given to Venezuela during the grave hours of the unequal and illegitimate aggression against the noble Venezuelan people.
• Rodríguez also reported having a cordial meeting with the ambassador of China, Lan Hu, “to whom we conveyed our sincere gratitude for his condemnation of the abduction of President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, as well as the aggressions against Venezuela. We value China’s firm and consistent position in strongly condemning the serious violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty.”
Later, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil reported receiving the Russian ambassador, Sergey Melik-Bagdasarov. “In this meeting, we received a renewed message of solidarity and support from the Russian government toward the Venezuelan people and government, which is currently facing the kidnapping of President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, following an illegal and unjustified military aggression that has claimed the lives of over 100 civilians and military personnel.”
“We agreed on the importance of jointly defending dialogue, diplomacy, and respect for international norms and the sovereignty of nations as the only ways to foster constructive bilateral and international relations. We continue working on the cooperation agenda between our two countries,” Gil wrote on social media.
(Alba Ciudad) with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SF
From Orinoco Tribune – News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond via This RSS Feed.
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Venezuela: Communes Are on the Frontline in Defense of the Bolivarian Revolution
(orinocotribune.com)
On January 6, a new wave of popular mobilization took place to defend the revolution and demand the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro. Thousands of representatives from self-governing communes from across Venezuela gathered in the streets of the capital.
The fundamental strategy of the Bolivarian Revolution is the transfer of political and economic power to the communes—the only way to build a true direct democracy. This movement, initiated by Hugo Chávez and then Maduro, will continue in 2026. For her first visit with the people since assuming the interim presidency, Delcy Rodriguez met with residents of the José Félix Rivas Commune in Caracas.
On January 7, 2026, Interim President Delcy Rodríguez met with residents of the José Félix Rivas Commune in Caracas.
This “revolution within the revolution” already encompasses 4,950 communes. These are people’s self-governments that are found in both urban and rural areas. They can range in size from 1,000 to over 50,000 inhabitants, depending on the case.
In 2024, President Nicolas Maduro appointed Angel Prado—leader of the peasant commune “El Maizal”—to head Venezuela’s Ministry of Communes, Social Movements, and Urban Agriculture.
In 2025, two-thirds of residents reported that a commune existed in their area, and 83% of them knew the members of their communal council. One of the missions entrusted to the new minister was to reach out to and strengthen 6,000 communes by the end of 2026. In 2025, the president issued directives to the ministers: “70% of each of your budgets must be transferred to the communal councils and communes.”
January 7, 2026, in Caracas: fifth straight day of massive demonstrations in support of President Maduro and the ongoing Bolivarian Revolution. The mobilization of January 7 was led by the country’s 5,000 communes. Photo: Thierry Derrone.
In parallel, every three months, in a nationwide vote, residents of the communes choose one of seven projects (socio-productive, infrastructural, cultural, educational, public services, etc.) previously defined by their assemblies. The implementation of these project are co-financed by the government. These “consultas populares” (popular consultations) are a training ground for meaningful participation by everyone, regardless of their political affiliation, as well as an effective tool against corruption, since communal committees receive, monitor, and report to the residents on the proper use of the funds provided by the government.
For the November 23, 2025, election, 8,508 polling stations were set up, including 2,518 new ones, to ensure greater accessibility to voting. This represents a 70% increase in the number of polling stations compared to previous elections.
This bottom-up communal model has also enabled the implementation of a new justice system. On December 15, 2024, in 4,817 polling stations spread across communes throughout the country, Venezuelans elected 28,486 communal justices of the peace. These justices of the peace are responsible for arbitrating local disputes between citizens living in the communes, thus preventing them from having to resort to traditional courts.
The mobilization of January 7 was led by Venezuela’s 5,000 communes. Photo: Thierry Derrone.
Another large-scale creation that complements the political, economic, productive, and legal aspects is the University of Communes, a comprehensive training center in law, political economy, agroecology, etc. This university, the main headquarters of which opened on May 24, 2025, in the state of Carabobo, develops course content and organizes training throughout the country based on needs assessments conducted by the inhabitants of the communes.
Furthermore, in 2026, a sweeping constitutional reform will make the commune a foundation of the Venezuelan state. Thousands of assemblies will be held throughout the country to generate proposals aimed at ” building a modern democracy based on the direct participation of citizens, the power of social movements, and the community,” in the words of Nicolás Maduro. “We are moving towards a major process of broad democratization of Venezuelan society, of political, institutional, economic, social, cultural, and educational life.”
Caracas, January 7, 2026: Demonstrators demand that their president, Nicolás Maduro, be liberated by the US. President Maduro was abducted in the morning of January 3, 2026. Photo: Thierry Derrone.
(Venezuela Infos) by Thierry Derone
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
SL
From Orinoco Tribune – News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond via This RSS Feed.
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Brutal Yankee Aggression Against Patria Grande Expands, says Popular Socialist Party of Mexico
(mexicosolidarity.com)
This statement was originally published by the Partido Popular Socialista de México on January 8, 2026.
After the United States used its enormous military power to brutally attack the peaceful Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, bombing it and kidnapping its constitutional president, Nicolás Maduro Moros, to move it to Yankee territory in open violation of international law, what followed? Three parallel processes: first, the aggressor country has deployed a campaign of disinformation to try to break the unity of the Bolivarian government, spreading lies about the loyalty of the President in charge, Delcy Rodriguez; second, has expanded its aggressive attitude by publicly pointing out Colombia and Mexico as possible next targets; and third, has shown an open contempt for the UN Charter, making it clear that this power, in its neo-fascist stage, no longer even retains the appearance of a “democratic” country, respectful or guardian of the international order, as it has claimed to be for decades.
In fact, the criminal Donald Trump has said that they have an “understanding with Delcy Rodriguez”, and that now Trump himself has the threads of power over Venezuela and its policies in his hands; a lie that clashes with reality. He also said that Colombia is “ruled by a sick man who likes to produce cocaine and sell it to the United States,” and that “he’s not going to continue doing so for very long”; and that drugs were “entering in torrents” into the United States via Mexico and that “we will have to do something, shortly, about it.”
In synchrony with the White House, its ambassador in Mexico, Ronald Johnson, celebrated the “detention” of the Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro; clashing with the Mexican government that, emphatically and repeatedly, by the voice of President Claudia Sheinbaum, and through its ambassadors in the Security Council of the UN, and in the OEA, strongly condemned this act of violation of international law.
In the face of these facts, the Popular Socialist Party of Mexico:
- Denounces to the people of Mexico and the peoples of the world the fact that Donald Trump has become a violator of international law and justice, and denounces the complicit attitude of his ambassador in Mexico.
- Reiterates its demand to the Yankee government for the immediate release of prisoner of war Nicolás Maduro Moros, who remains the legitimate president of Venezuela and remains illegally abducted by the Yankee government.
- Calls on the people of Mexico to close ranks, with the greatest firmness and without doubts or bargaining, in their solidarity with the people and government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; with the people and Government of Colombia, and with the Government of Mexico, which supports unrestrictedly the defense of national and Latin American sovereignty.
***For national liberation & socialism!***Mexico City, January 8, 2026
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Brutal Yankee Aggression Against Patria Grande Expands, says Popular Socialist Party of Mexico
January 9, 2026
The United States of America in its neo-fascist stage, no longer even retains the appearance of a democratic country.
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Nahua People of Alpuyeca Seek Indigenous Recognition via Mexico’s Supreme Court
January 9, 2026
The Nahua demanded the consultation by carried out by the Alpuyeca, Morelos municipal government to secure Indigenous rights five years ago to no avail.
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Detentions of Americans by Mexican Army & National Guard are on the Rise
January 9, 2026January 9, 2026
Most arrests are related to firearms and explosives, and so carried out by the Army and National Guard.
The post Brutal Yankee Aggression Against Patria Grande Expands, says Popular Socialist Party of Mexico appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
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Nahua People of Alpuyeca Seek Indigenous Recognition via Mexico’s Supreme Court
(mexicosolidarity.com)
This article originally appeared in the January 8, 2026 edition of Desinformémonos.
Mexico City. Since 2019, the Nahua people of Alpuyeca have been requesting that their municipality in Morelos be declared Indigenous territory in order to exercise autonomy and their right to self-determination, including decisions regarding internal forms of social, political, and community organization. The lack of response from the local Congress has led the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation to review the omission and delay in this process.
With a divided vote of five to four, the Plenary of the highest court exercised its power of attraction on the amparo [injunction] in review 384/2024, at the request of the ministers Hugo Aguilar Ortiz, President of Mexico’s Supreme Court, and Irving Espinosa Betanzo, due to the lack of action of the Legislative Power of Morelos.
The Court will analyze whether the delay in the procedures for the creation of the Indigenous municipality violates human rights protected by the Constitution, considering that the inhabitants of Alpuyeca initiated the procedure more than five years ago for the corresponding consultation to be carried out, without the responsible authorities having carried it out until now.
The request for judicial review was supported after hearing from representatives of the Union of Indigenous and Afro-Morelos Municipalities and Communities, who denounced that the Morelos Congress had exceeded the legal deadlines established in the local Constitution and its own regulations for issuing the ruling on the creation of the indigenous municipality of Alpuyeca. The matter will be assigned to a justice for the drafting of the proposal to be submitted to a vote by the full court.
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Nahua People of Alpuyeca Seek Indigenous Recognition via Mexico’s Supreme Court
January 9, 2026
The Nahua demanded the consultation by carried out by the Alpuyeca, Morelos municipal government to secure Indigenous rights five years ago to no avail.
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Detentions of Americans by Mexican Army & National Guard are on the Rise
January 9, 2026January 9, 2026
Most arrests are related to firearms and explosives, and so carried out by the Army and National Guard.
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People’s Mañanera January 9
January 9, 2026January 9, 2026
President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on reduction of violence in Guerrero, phone-call with Brazilian President Lula, Trump’s comments about attacking Mexico, minimum wage increases, maritime monitoring, and García Luna arrests.
The post Nahua People of Alpuyeca Seek Indigenous Recognition via Mexico’s Supreme Court appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
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Trump Administration Hosts Oil Executives, Insists on Sweeping Venezuelan Oil Concessions
(venezuelanalysis.com)
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This article by Arturo Rojas was originally published in the January 8, 2026 edition of El Economista.
The number of U.S. citizens detained by Mexican Army and National Guard personnel has steadily increased in recent years. Official records, spanning more than 13 years (from 2012 to February 2025), show that 3,526 Americans have been apprehended; more than 80% of these cases have occurred since 2018.
Figures released by the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA) through the transparency platform indicate that cases have occurred in 24 states; border states lead the numbers.
In Baja California, 946 US citizens have been detained since 2012; followed by Tamaulipas (645) and Sonora (621); these three entities account for 63% of the total.
The other entities where cases were reported were Quintana Roo (461); Baja California Sur (424); Chihuahua (220); Coahuila (110); Nuevo León (25); Jalisco (13); Michoacán (11); Sinaloa (12); Guanajuato (5); Morelos (5); Chiapas (5); Mexico City (4); Colima (4); Guerrero (4); Zacatecas (4); Aguascalientes (2); Durango (1); Oaxaca (1); San Luis Potosí (1); Veracruz (1) and Yucatán (1).
The year 2024—the year of Donald Trump’s election victory and Claudia Sheinbaum’s inauguration—had the highest number of cases with 969 arrests, an average of at least two arrests per day. Compared to the previous year (402), this represents a 141 percent increase.
The arrests carried out by the Mexican Army and the National Guard, as reported, are conducted under the principle that military personnel act in cases of flagrant crime, mainly in application of the Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives, as well as in operations aimed at reducing the rates of violence in the country.
As explained, the detainees and the seized items are immediately turned over to the appropriate ministerial authority, in accordance with Article 16 of the Constitution and Article 230 of the National Code of Criminal Procedure. It is this ministerial authority that, based on its investigations and powers, determines the type of crime or crimes committed by the individuals placed at its disposal.
While there is no official data detailing what happened to each detainee, it can be observed that, as of June 2025, the number of Americans being processed in the Mexican prison system was lower than the number of those apprehended.
Data from the Decentralized Administrative Body for Prevention and Social Reintegration, as of June 30 of last year —the most up-to-date publicly available—, indicate that there are a total of 1,132 US citizens in prisons in Mexico.
The records also show the cases by Federal Social Rehabilitation Centers (Ceferesos); here, Cefereso No. 18 CPS Coahuila stands out, with 35 people, and Cefereso No. 11 CPS Sonora, with 26, as well as Cefereso No. 17 CPS Michoacán, with 17 inmates.
Black Market Weapons
The increase in the detention of U.S. citizens in Mexico, particularly for federal firearms-related crimes, reflects broader dynamics of transnational organized crime and illegal arms trafficking, experts said.
Victor Hernandez, director of the Latin American Institute for Strategic Studies, pointed out that U.S. citizens are a priority target for cartels because of the ease with which they can acquire weapons in their country without raising suspicion.
“With a driver’s license, they can buy weapons at any store and cross the border without raising any red flags,” he explained, while dismissing the narrative that people with dual nationality represent a greater risk, as there is no statistical support for it.
Regarding the role they may play within Mexican drug trafficking, the expert indicated that, while it is not impossible for them to occupy leadership positions, they generally perform specialized roles, such as financial operators, logistics links or hitmen with specific skills.
Jorelvy Calixto, a security specialist and external consultant for Global Thought, pointed out that one of the worrying elements is not only the incorporation of foreigners into illicit activities, but also the transfer of technical and tactical knowledge to Mexican criminal organizations.
“They not only work on illegal matters, they also contribute know-how on new forms of attack, explosives manufacturing and the use of technology,” he explained.
This exchange of knowledge, he said, has contributed to the cartels increasing the lethality and sophistication of their attacks, with direct effects on the civilian population.
The consulting firm identified dual nationality, which facilitates border crossings, as well as the ease of acquiring weapons in the United States and the constant flow of information about their use and clandestine manufacture, as key factors for the recruitment of US citizens.
“What we used to see in terrorist groups we are now seeing more and more in cartels,” he warned.
Both specialists agreed that, in terms of intelligence, it would be essential to have lists of criminal records and risk profiles of US citizens entering Mexico, in order to prevent crimes and guarantee due process in accordance with national and international jurisdiction.
Legislation
According to current legislation in Mexico, carrying and possessing firearms without a license is a severely punished crime for any person within Mexican territory, including foreigners.
The Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives punishes the illegal importation of firearms into the country with prison sentences of three to ten years. The law allows foreigners to carry firearms only under very limited circumstances, such as in the case of permanent residents or those who obtain temporary licenses for sporting purposes.
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Detentions of Americans by Mexican Army & National Guard are on the Rise
January 9, 2026January 9, 2026
Most arrests are related to firearms and explosives, and so carried out by the Army and National Guard.
-
People’s Mañanera January 9
January 9, 2026January 9, 2026
President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on reduction of violence in Guerrero, phone-call with Brazilian President Lula, Trump’s comments about attacking Mexico, minimum wage increases, maritime monitoring, and García Luna arrests.
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These are not times for complacency
January 9, 2026January 9, 2026
US governments have spent two centuries acting according to their own interests, not those of the global community. Someone has to stop the empire and its representatives.
The post Detentions of Americans by Mexican Army & National Guard are on the Rise appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
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Every day, President Claudia Sheinbaum gives a morning presidential press conference and Mexico Solidarity Media posts English language summaries, translated by Mexico Solidarity’s Pedro Gellert Frank. Previous press conference summaries are available here.
Guerrero: Violence down and security advancing
The state of Guerrero is experiencing a sustained decline in violence. Intentional homicides fell 24% between 2024 and 2025 —with the lowest numbers since 2009— and the cumulative decrease reaches 65%. High-impact crimes dropped 18%. These results are due to a coordinated security strategy, with unified command, patrols, and joint operations. Between October 2024 and December 2025, some 1,788 suspects were arrested, 815 weapons were secured, more than 34 tons of drugs were seized, and six drug labs were dismantled.
Dialogue with Brazil: Sovereignty, integration, and women’s rights
President Claudia Sheinbaum held a call with her Brazilian counterpart Lula, in which they discussed the defense of Latin American sovereignty and advances in bilateral relations. Lula invited the President to Brazil in May —an invitation she will consider— and both exchanged experiences on women’s rights policies.
Relationship with the United States: Cooperation yes, subordination no
Sheinbaum reported that she instructed Minister of Foreign Relations Juan Ramón de la Fuente to contact U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and, if necessary, request a direct conversation with President Trump, following his statements concerning a possible ground military intervention against Mexican cartels. The President emphasized that the bilateral relationship will be maintained within the framework of dialogue, security cooperation, information exchange, and respect for Mexico’s sovereignty.
Minimum wage: From neoliberal abandonment to regional leadership
The President highlighted that during the neoliberal period, Mexico had the lowest minimum wage in the hemisphere, even below that of Haiti. Today, thanks to the labor policy of the Fourth Transformation, Mexico ranks third in minimum wage in Latin America, behind only Uruguay and Chile, showing a historic recovery in workers’ income.
Maritime monitoring with sovereignty and international coordination
Sheinbaum reported that there is an agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard and Northern Command for the Ministry of the Navy to have absolute control in national territorial waters. Coordination is activated only in case of an approach by suspicious vessels. Thanks to permanent monitoring, 1.6 tons of cocaine have been seized at high sea. The President was clear: the only desirable scenario is cooperation with respect for sovereignties.
García Luna case: Orders now being executed
Regarding the recent arrests linked to former Minister of Public Security Genaro García Luna during the Calderon administration, the President explained that they correspond to previously issued arrest warrants that had not been executed. She noted that, with Ernestina Godoy’s arrival at the Federal Attorney General’s Office, case files are being reviewed and pending judicial orders are being effectively applied.
Immediate response to the earthquake: Support and resources guaranteed
The Government indicated that it has sufficient resources available to address the damages caused by the 6.5 magnitude earthquake registered last Friday. The earthquake had its epicenter in Guerrero and was felt in at least eight states, including Mexico City. The President emphasized that the priority is attention to the population and ensuring the State’s timely response.
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People’s Mañanera January 9
January 9, 2026January 9, 2026
President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on reduction of violence in Guerrero, phone-call with Brazilian President Lula, Trump’s comments about attacking Mexico, minimum wage increases, maritime monitoring, and García Luna arrests.
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These are not times for complacency
January 9, 2026January 9, 2026
US governments have spent two centuries acting according to their own interests, not those of the global community. Someone has to stop the empire and its representatives.
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President Sheinbaum Instructs Foreign Ministry to Contact Rubio After Trump’s Comments on Attacking Mexico
January 9, 2026January 9, 2026
A September meeting between Rubio & the Foreign Minister was followed by airstrikes off the coast of Acapulco.
The post People’s Mañanera January 9 appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
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This editorial by Daniel Carlos García Gómez originally appeared in the January 9, 2026 issue of La Jornada de Oriente, the Puebla edition of Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those ofMexico Solidarity Media*, or theMexico Solidarity Project.*
The treacherous aggression by the Washington government against Venezuela and the kidnapping of its president, Nicolás Maduro, in violation of international law and the sovereignty of a country like Venezuela, cannot go unpunished. Something more than mere condemnation must be done to stop Donald Trump ‘s interventionism and the adoption, two centuries later, of the Monroe Doctrine.
Under the pretext of combating drug trafficking and terrorism, the United States resorts to this tactic to attack Venezuela and seize its resources, primarily oil. Hence, the reaction of the UN Security Council is late and ineffective, which encourages Trump’s impunity.
Those who cynically dare to fabricate causes, as the United States already did in Iraq; those who shamelessly violate international law, the self-determination of peoples, and respect for human rights and dignity— why should we conclude that they will act correctly in the rest of the world? Democratic and Republican governments have spent two centuries acting according to their own interests, not those of the global community.
This moment requires a more effective awakening of Mexican progressivism and the left, an intensification of the political and ideological struggle, so that the fascism represented by Donald Trump does not prevail.
Although the Mexican government has signed a joint statement with progressive counterparts from Latin America and Spain , so far it has not had enough of an impact to contain the interventionist policies of the United States, much less the threats looming over other peoples and governments that do not submit to the designs and interests of Washington.
From the very day of the US armed attack on the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, countless protests have taken place around the world, yet governments have failed to react in a manner commensurate with the scale and magnitude of the aggression. These are not times for lukewarm or outright inaction. Someone has to stop the empire and its representatives.
That’s why I’m outraged that those who criticize Maduro and his government accept and justify the intervention, and that, in the case of our country, they have no qualms about accepting foreign interference, which foreshadows the stance they would adopt in similar scenarios. But on the other hand, I’m also concerned by the disdain of those who think that what’s happening in Venezuela couldn’t happen in Mexico.
January 3rd attack on Caracas, Venezuela
Much of this distorted view of reality is due to the mass media (with some exceptions), which continue to be an expression of financial oligarchies and conservatism, now radicalized to the point of fascism. These are the sectors that are currently echoing Trumpism, which, unfortunately, has recently gained ground on the continent.
In Venezuela, a people’s resistance has emerged, which we hope will contain the US aggression and the “fifth columnists,” like Corina Machado . But international solidarity , firm denunciation, mobilization, and even a boycott of US companies are also needed. Peaceful civil resistance may be a viable strategy today.
But it also requires a more effective awakening of Mexican progressivism and the left, an intensification of the political and ideological struggle, so that the fascism represented by Donald Trump does not prevail.
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People’s Mañanera January 9
January 9, 2026January 9, 2026
President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, with comments on reduction of violence in Guerrero, phone-call with Brazilian President Lula, Trump’s comments about attacking Mexico, minimum wage increases, maritime monitoring, and García Luna arrests.
-
These are not times for complacency
January 9, 2026January 9, 2026
US governments have spent two centuries acting according to their own interests, not those of the global community. Someone has to stop the empire and its representatives.
-
President Sheinbaum Instructs Foreign Ministry to Contact Rubio After Trump’s Comments on Attacking Mexico
January 9, 2026January 9, 2026
A September meeting between Rubio & the Foreign Minister was followed by airstrikes off the coast of Acapulco.
The post These are not times for complacency appeared first on Mexico Solidarity Media.
From Mexico Solidarity Media via This RSS Feed.
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US Senate Advances Measure to Restrict Trump’s Military Aggression Against Venezuela
(orinocotribune.com)
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