Mexico once felt like a second home, where vibrant culture danced with warm hospitality through every cobblestone street and sun-drenched beach. The country that gifted the world tacos, tequila, and Day of the Dead celebrations had completely captured my heart with its infectious energy and breathtaking landscapes. Yet I now find myself making the painful decision to stay away from this beloved nation, watching from afar as troubling developments unfold that make travel there feel increasingly dangerous and uncertain for visitors like me.
Rising Violence Reaches Record Levels
The homicide rate increased by 54.7%, and firearm-related crimes rose by 71.2% over the past 10 years. The national homicide rate reached 24.9 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023, with over 300,000 people murdered during that period. These numbers paint a devastating picture that extends far beyond statistics.
Recent years have seen consistently high homicide levels, with 2024 being the deadliest year on record for political figures in Mexico, with at least 201 politically motivated killings. Nationally, the homicide rate fell slightly for the third year in a row, from 25.9 per 100,000 in 2022 to 24.9 per 100,000 in 2023, although the number of reported disappearances has increased.
The most chilling aspect remains the sheer unpredictability of where violence might erupt. Colima remained the least peaceful state, with more than 100 homicides per 100,000 residents, the highest rate in the country, followed by Guanajuato, Morelos, Baja California, and Quintana Roo as the most violent states.
The Femicide Crisis Continues Unchecked
Femicide cases nearly doubled over the last decade, from 412 in 2015 to 827 in 2023, approximately doubling. This staggering rise represents more than numbers – it reveals a society where women face unprecedented levels of gender-based violence.
Men account for nine out of ten homicide victims, with these deaths often linked to organised crime, while female deaths are more commonly associated with domestic violence. The distinction matters little when the overall environment creates an atmosphere where violence against women has become normalized.
In 2023, 14 human rights defenders were killed, according to the human rights group Comité Cerezo and 18 environmental or land defenders were killed according to the organization Global Witness. These patterns show how violence targets those fighting for justice and equality.
The Disappearances That Haunt Families
More than 115,000 people were considered missing as of November 2025, with most having gone missing since 2006. Behind each number lies a family torn apart, searching endlessly for loved ones who vanished without a trace.
Many missing people may have been killed and buried in the nearly 5,700 clandestine graves that activists and authorities have uncovered, with around 53,000 human remains in storage, awaiting identification at the close of 2022. These discoveries paint a horrifying picture of systematic violence.
Jalisco reported the highest number of missing persons and clandestine graves discovered over the past two decades. The scale of disappearances suggests criminal organizations operating with devastating efficiency while law enforcement struggles to respond effectively.
The Judicial Reform That Undermines Democracy
Critics warn that Mexico’s 2025 judicial reform significantly weakens judicial independence, potentially resulting in politically motivated rulings and a decline in the rule of law, as it likely undermines judicial independence. This constitutional change fundamentally alters how justice operates in Mexico.
The reform replaced Mexico’s appointment-based system for selecting judges with one where judges, pre-selected by Congress, are elected by popular vote, reduced the number of Supreme Court justices from 11 to 9 and limited their terms to 12 years, while establishing a new tribunal for judicial oversight and accountability.
Based on lifelong experience supporting the rule of law, U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar believes popular direct election of judges is a major risk to the functioning of Mexico’s democracy, warning that direct elections would make it easier for cartels and other bad actors to take advantage of politically motivated and inexperienced judges.
Economic Costs Mirror Social Devastation
In 2024, the economic impact of violence in Mexico reached an estimated 4.5 trillion pesos (USD 245 billion), equivalent to 18% of GDP, with the per capita cost at 33,905 pesos, higher than the average monthly salary of a Mexican worker. These figures demonstrate how violence cripples the entire economy.
Costs were highest in Colima, for example, where violence wiped an estimated 89,916 pesos ($4,670) from average income per person, equivalent to 40.8% of the region’s GDP. Such massive economic losses affect everyone from business owners to families trying to make ends meet.
Mexico remains a country I deeply love, with its incredible people deserving so much better than the violence and institutional breakdown they currently endure. Until meaningful changes address the security crisis, strengthen democratic institutions, and restore the rule of law, I cannot in good conscience return to a place where danger lurks behind every corner and justice feels increasingly elusive. What would you do in my situation?
