Mexico’s political and security landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation, fueled by organized crime, presidential strategy, and international influence. Here’s a breakdown of the key developments, decoded for our readers.
1. Sheinbaum Clears the Deck for Her Security Playbook
Mexico’s attorney general, Alejandro Gertz Manero, has resigned, paving the way for Ernestina Godoy to take the helm. President Sheinbaum’s appointment—Godoy was her former Mexico City attorney general, current presidential legal advisor, and a trusted member of her inner circle—significantly removes a major obstacle to replicating Sheinbaum’s successful security model in Mexico City. That model, built on tight coordination between police and prosecutors, drove a 38% drop in homicide rates in the capital, and Godoy is expected to deliver similar results nationally.
2. Cartel War Sparks Forest Fires in Northwest Mexico
A concerning escalation in the ongoing cartel wars is manifesting in the form of wildfires. Approximately 281 hectares of forest in northwest Mexico have burned in the first half of 2025 – not due to drought or heat, but from explosives dropped by rival Sinaloa Cartel factions utilizing small planes and drones. The conflict over illegal lumber has become a crucial revenue stream, with cartels burning forests and facilities to cut off competitors’ cash flow.
3. Trump Pardons Convicted Drug Trafficker to Influence Honduras Election
Just days before endorsing Nasry Asfura — Hernández’s party ally — ahead of Honduras’s presidential election, President Trump issued a full pardon to Juan Orlando Hernández, Honduras’s former president, who was serving a 45-year sentence in the U.S. for aiding the Sinaloa Cartel. This move highlights a striking hypocrisy in Trump’s drug-war rhetoric – he claims to be fighting cartels while simultaneously pardoning a convicted trafficker for electoral purposes.
4. Wealthy Mexicans Turn to Miami
Mexican buyers ranked fourth among foreign purchasers of Miami real estate in the third quarter of 2025, cementing the city’s status as a favored destination for affluent Mexicans seeking property abroad. For wealthy Mexicans, the appeal is a compelling combination: geographical proximity to Mexico and significant tax advantages, often structured through LLCs. The city’s openness to these benefits makes it a natural fit for a demographic already known for strategically minimizing taxes at home.
5. Mexico’s Massive Book Fair Kicks Off
The Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), held in Mexico’s third-largest city, opened on Saturday. As Latin America’s largest book fair and one of the world’s most influential literary events – hosting thousands of publishers and more than 3,000 activities each year – it’s a significant cultural phenomenon. The fair’s location in Guadalajara, largely due to the University of Guadalajara’s management and state government funding, allows it to flourish, a model not sustainable for most state universities reliant on federal funding.
Fuente: https://www.mexicodecoded.com/p/forest-wars-trumps-druglord-pardon