Sheinbaum emphasises communication with Trump ‘very good’ after rejecting offer to send US troops into Mexico A sharp exchange of statements over the weekend has heightened concerns in Mexico that Donald Trump may push for a US military presence in its territory to fight drug trafficking The Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum sought to defuse the situation in her daily press conference on Monday emphasising that communication between the two leaders had been “very good” so far But the episode underlined the fraught path that Sheinbaum is navigating as she attempts to placate Trump and protect the US-Mexico trade relationship while also defending Mexican sovereignty On Saturday, Sheinbaum revealed she had rejected an offer from Trump during a call last week to send US troops into Mexico to help fight drug trafficking. “I told him, ‘No, President Trump, our territory is inviolable, our sovereignty is inviolable,’” said Sheinbaum, adding that while the two countries can collaborate, “we will never accept the presence of the US army in our territory”. Read moreTrump on Sunday confirmed he had made the offer to Sheinbaum because the cartels “are horrible people that have been killing people left and right and have been – they’ve made a fortune on selling drugs and destroying our people” “The president of Mexico is a lovely woman but she is so afraid of the cartels that she can’t even think straight,” added Trump Despite the exchange over the weekend, the public relationship between Trump and Sheinbaum has been largely cordial, with many comparing Sheinbaum’s performance favourably against other world leaders who have clashed with the US president The US-Mexico relationship is complex and vastly important for both countries Trump has imposed various tariff schemes that have jeopardised the free trade agreement between the two countries and the near trillion dollars of trade a year that passes between them Trump directly linked some of those tariffs to reducing the movement of undocumented migrants and fentanyl across the border into the US and Sheinbaum’s cabinet has been engaged in intense diplomatic efforts to persuade him to withdraw them Sheinbaum first sent 10,000 additional troops to the border, then Mexico sent 29 high-level organised crime operatives to face justice in the US the drug lord who was convicted of the murder of an undercover US Drug Enforcement Administration agent in 1985 Meanwhile Sheinbaum has abandoned the hands-off security strategy of her predecessor and ally, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and ramped up direct confrontation of organised crime groups, with soaring arrests and seizures of drugs and guns “Trump has created a real pressure that’s forced Mexico to act,” said Will Freeman from the Council on Foreign Relations but it’s made her job easier by putting this pressure behind her “I think Trump’s vision is that this is almost like an insurgency in Mexico,” added Freeman “And if the Mexican military is not willing to fight it – and they do often seem to be less than willing to use their full force against the cartels – then the US should do it.” But experts say it is unclear that greater military action would fundamentally address the problem of organised crime in Mexico “I think to really change the balance of power between organised crime and the state in Mexico you need accountability through the justice system Trump has said that the US could use unilateral military action if Mexico does not do enough to dismantle the cartels Sheinbaum has warned that her country would not tolerate an “invasion” of its national sovereignty by US forces “But the Mexican government should not just assume that [unilateral military action] couldn’t happen regardless of how bad an idea it would be on many levels,” said Cecilia Farfán-Méndez from the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Saturday that U.S President Donald Trump proposed sending American troops into Mexico to help her administration fight drug trafficking but that she rejected it Her remarks to supporters in eastern Mexico came in response to a Wall Street Journal article published the day before describing a tense phone call last month in which Trump reportedly pressured her to accept a bigger role for the U.S military in combating drug cartels in Mexico 'How can we help you fight drug trafficking I propose that the United States military come in and help you.' And you know what I said to him White House National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt said in a statement later Saturday that Trump has worked closely with Mexico's president "to achieve the most secure southwest border in history." "Dangerous Foreign Terrorist Organizations continue to threaten our shared security and the drugs and crime they spread threaten American communities across the country," the statement said "The President has been crystal clear that Mexico must do more do combat these gangs and cartels and the United States stands ready to assist and expand the already close cooperation between our two countries." military presence has increased steadily along its southern border with Mexico in recent months following Trump's order in January to increase the army's role in stemming the flow of migrants Northern Command has surged troops and equipment to the border increased manned surveillance flights to monitor fentanyl trafficking along the border and sought expanded authority for U.S Special Forces to work closely with Mexican forces conducting operations against cartels Trump designated many of the gangs and cartels smuggling drugs into the U.S restricting their movements and lending law enforcement more resources to act against them But Sheinbaum's hardline stance Saturday signaled that U.S pressure for unilateral military intervention would put her and Trump on a collision course after months of cooperation on immigration and trade but you in your territory and us in ours," Sheinbaum said Become an NPR sponsor Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Reporting by Diego Ore in Mexico City; Editing by Leslie Adler Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Senior Correspondent based in Mexico. Reports on politics, corruption, security, migration and economy in Mexico and Central America. A Peruvian journalist with more than 20 years of experience in Latin America and the Caribbean covering elections, coups d'etat, uprisings, summits, economic crisis, natural disasters and sports. Previously based in Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela, he's fluent in Spanish and English. , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Bidenomics’ boosters spoke in lofty terms about how the last administration heralded an end to neoliberalism If anyone can claim the mantle of “post-neoliberalism,” however Amid endless postmortems about where Democrats went wrong it might be worth looking beyond our borders for inspiration What is Morena doing that Democrats couldn’t and what can we learn from Sheinbaum’s approach and “with a lower carbon footprint that respects the environment and increases our self-sufficiency and sovereignty.” That’s a tall order. The U.S. is Mexico’s largest trading partner, and exports to the U.S. account for some 30 percent of Mexico’s gross domestic product Since the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994 manufacturers have structured supply chains across the continent around the expectation of free trade within its borders Foreign manufacturers have also seen the country as an attractive entry point into the U.S. offering both exemptions from import tariffs and a skilled Chinese investment in Mexico in particular began to surge The Biden administration’s subsequent decision to prioritize sourcing in key sectors from Mexico and other free trade partners promised dividends not just for Mexican exporters but for other countries to boost investment in production there too could demand strict limits on Chinese investment ahead of a scheduled review and potential renegotiation next year have forced economic policymakers there “to move from the passenger seat to the driver seat—they realized they have to be in control of where they want their economy to go Like the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act Plan Mexico involves considerable tax incentives for private companies to invest in research and development and advanced manufacturing rather than relying almost exclusively on incentives for the private companies to invest in core sectors Plan Mexico puts the government in charge of a wide array of decisions as to where and how new building happens That allows officials to coordinate across sectors so that developments in different fields can complement one another Take the Olinia project: While the ultimate aim is for those cars to run on batteries made in Mexico using lithium extracted and processed in Mexico those batteries will also provide backup power for solar and wind power added to Mexico’s electrical grid by the state-owned electricity provider which is in turn working with LitioMx—a state-owned lithium firm—to establish battery production Recent changes under Sheinbaum have made more of that type of planning possible former President Enrique Peña Nieto liberalized the country’s grid and guaranteed private companies a segment of the market for power generation and retailing ensuring that more than 60 percent of power generation be state-owned Morena successfully championed a suite of bills reclassifying both CFE and Pemex—Mexico’s long-embattled state-owned oil company—as fully public entities eliminating subsidiaries and granting the Energy Ministry legal authority for energy planning including fully private generation capacity recent energy reforms stipulate that CFE hold a 54 percent ownership stake in any public-private partnerships Alonso Romero, an adviser to the Sheinbaum campaign, told me that the ability to do more holistic planning is especially important for wind and solar. The government can craft and implement its energy plans more easily, and private developers can know exactly how much transmission capacity is available for them to connect to the grid—an ongoing problem for renewables in the U.S “They are going to know exactly how much generation capacity can be built and how much can be integrated into the transmission lines that are nearby Because that planning goes hand-in-hand with Plan Mexico they’ll know there’s going to be demand,” he said “They’re not going to have to wait to see if a line is going to be built.” (Romero is the vice president of commercial strategy for CFE but he spoke to me in a personal capacity.) using Pemex-produced hydrocarbons as feedstock “There will be gender equity and an effort to take care of the southern states The discourse is about equality.” Mexico is committed to investing in E.V.s and renewables because they can be engines of strategic growth for a country with ample experience making cars and electronics Kate is also a fellow at the Roosevelt Institute His focus is on covering news and politics in Texas as well as other general news across the United States James joined Newsweek in July 2022 from LBC and previously worked for the Daily Express You can get in touch with James by emailing j.bickerton@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Newsweek contacted the Mexican Foreign Ministry for comment on Monday via email outside of regular office hours Between 2015 and 2021, the number of murders in Mexico per year linked to organized crime increased from around 8,000 to 23,500 per year, according to figures from the Mexican Peace Index. Major cartels operate on a transnational basis and are heavily involved with smuggling fentanyl and illegal migrants into the U.S Speaking to journalists on Sunday onboard Air Force One Trump said it was "true" that Sheinbaum had turned down his offer to send American soldiers into Mexico to help combat the cartels He said: "Well she's so afraid of the cartels she can't walk but she is so afraid of the cartels that she can't even think straight." In April, Trump issued a presidential memorandum instructing the U.S. military to take a more direct role in securing the southern border including repelling attempts at illegal entry the United States recorded more than 74,000 deaths that were attributed to fentanyl overdoses according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention If Mexico wanted help with the cartels we would be honored to go in and do it The cartels are trying to destroy our country." Sheinbaum said she had turned down Trump's offer of military assistance inside Mexico commenting: "He said President Donald Trump.' Sovereignty is not for sale but you in your territory and us in ours." military to operate in Mexico could increase tensions with the Trump administration which is already in a dispute with the Mexican state over trade and tariffs Any unilateral deployment would be highly contentious and could see American forces become involved in a protracted conflict Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Newsletters in your inbox See all Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Jasper Ward; Editing by Kim Coghill and Lincoln Feast as a war rages between two factions of the infamous Sinaloa Cartel Civilians are often the victims of that lawlessness CNN’s Isobel Yeung went to the funeral of a young woman US President Donald Trump has labelled Mexican cartels as terrorists and is pressuring the Mexican government to crack down on the groups CNN’s Isobel Yeung saw soldiers tear down a drug lab CNN’s Isobel Yeung travelled to a secret location in Sinaloa to speak with a member of the infamous Sinaloa Cartel That criminal network is responsible for a huge amount of the drugs flowing into the US – including the deadly drug fentanyl '+n.escapeExpression("function"==typeof(o=null!=(o=r(e,"eyebrowText")||(null!=l?r(l,"eyebrowText"):l))?o:n.hooks.helperMissing)?o.call(null!=l?l:n.nullContext||{},{name:"eyebrowText",hash:{},data:t,loc:{start:{line:28,column:63},end:{line:28,column:78}}}):o)+" \n '+(null!=(o=c(e,"if").call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2PreText"):l,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(32,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:63,column:20},end:{line:63,column:61}}}))?o:"")+"\n"+(null!=(o=(c(e,"ifAll")||l&&c(l,"ifAll")||n.hooks.helperMissing).call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Text"):l,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Link"):l,{name:"ifAll",hash:{},fn:n.program(34,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:64,column:20},end:{line:70,column:30}}}))?o:"")+" two hours into my four-hour watch aboard our 1979 Cheoy Lee 41 when I checked the chart and saw that we had crossed the imaginary line that separates California from Mexico All the stress I’d been carrying melted into the sea as the years months and days leading up to this moment vanished into an overwhelming sense of gratitude popped her head out of the companionway and let out a single meow before hopping onto my blanketed lap and settling into a deep sleep—a good sign since she used to get seasick and avoid anything to do with the outside world he discovered me looking all too comfortable I was sure to point out a few constellations in addition to my watch debrief Chris then got to experience the magic of true offshore cruising: It was just him who had also just taken her first watch aboard our buddy boat while my watch had been uneventful with time to search the stars for Orion Mexico when Avocet came upon a fishing fleet I was still asleep below as Chris encountered 12 boats that he had to navigate through all trawling in various directions with 300-foot leads behind them a problem that added another level of intrigue to their course Avocet,” Olivia called out on the VHF radio and then she said there was a partially submerged 200-foot barge lighted by a singular red flashing light on the outskirts of the fishing fleet That was when I truly felt like we had made it over the border to a new place with new challenges Lesson learned: Always keep your eyes peeled and have friends out on the water who are keeping watch and sharing information a 48-hour deadline we didn’t expect to encounter upon our landfall at Ensenada Here’s how to experience both.From Guadalajara to Amatitán Jalisco’s tequila producers don’t just make great spirits—they preserve its rich cultural heritage Tequila is the fastest growing spirits category in the United States, and a truly artisanal agricultural spirit with a unique Mexican terroir and a culture all its own. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States' (DISCUS) 2025 Annual Economic Briefing sales of the popular agave-based spirit grew by 2 percent from 2023 to 2024 leaving the rest of the bottles in the dust Yet few of us know how tequila is produced and the rich heritage behind it where tequila is made (and mariachi-style music was born) provides an excellent peek into the centuries of tradition behind the process Although tequila’s official denomination of origin commenced in 1974 Jalisco records hundreds of years of production the fermented juice of the maguey (agave) plant was consumed by Aztecs and Nahuas as early as 250 A.D Start learning in Guadalajara the capital of the Western state of Jalisco “Tequila is the number one ambassador of Mexico,” says Daniela Villasuso of Mijenta Tequila a popular brand from the highlands of Jalisco “It embodies everything that has to do with how we live.” Here Ease into things with a cantarito—a juicy mix of citrus and tequila topped with soda and served in a natural clay jar rimmed with chili salt is the fastest-growing spirits category in the United States.Photograph by Ernst Haas Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesCantaritos are made with citrus and tequila topped with soda and served in a natural clay jar rimmed with chili salt.Photograph by Simon McGill Getty ImagesAgronomy and terroirSoon after exiting the traffic of Guadalajara proper you’ll start to see mesmerizing rows of blue agave plants stretching in every direction This distinct profile starts in the agave fields The minerality of the valley terroir comes not just from the volcanic soil but also the volcanic water source from their own deep well “We only use agave and water,” says Pérez Ontiveros (Bats and agaves make tequila possible—and they're both at risk) “in the spring between the second and third year of the plant’s life then wait six years to have the best quality agaves.” live at the foot of the dormant Volcán de Tequila the soil contains lots of ash packed with minerals like iodine the warm climate makes the agaves grow and sweeten quicker and the tequila tends to show earthy peppery notes with a lot of pyrazine—the aroma compound that brings grassy Agave is cooked in ovens at low temperatures to best bring out the flavors.Photograph by Mario Martinez Getty ImagesKeep driving west towards Tequila where the highland elevations climb to over 6,000 feet iron-rich soil with its higher acidity work with cooler temperatures to stress the agave viscous vanilla notes typical of the Los Altos terroir Sergio Mendoza, Co-Founder of Don Fulano Tequila agrees that the most critical element in the terroir and artisanship in traditional tequila productions comes from the soil Through crop rotation and minimal agrochemical use we nurture our land and handpick only selected mature agave plants for harvest Maturity is paramount to quality.” Like the folks at Laelia testing brix (sucrose) level and “selecting plant by plant for optimum maturity.” The timing for cutting each agave piña directly impacts the end result. Steffin Oghene, a vice president at El Tequileño explains that “if you taste a green banana [versus] a banana with black spots one is very green and fresh in flavor and lacks complexity The banana with black spots represents mature agave You need mature agave not only for its natural sugar content but more for the complex flavor profile that it will provide to artisanal tequila.” A Jose Cuervo tequila shop in the center of Tequila Mexico.Photograph by Anne-Emmanuelle Thion Figarophoto/ReduxAncestral methodsThe last task in the field is the work of the jimador who harvests and trims the agaves using the same hand-sharpened tool created for the job three centuries ago according to the specifications of the maestro says the jimador’s job is critical to the flavors and aromas in the final product We need to remove the most possible green parts of the penca our jima height is smaller than normal." After roasting low and slow for up to 36 hours in brick ovens Laelia’s cooked agaves get crushed with two-ton mechanized tahona wheels made from volcanic stone the “bagasse" (fibers) get separated by hand so that when they transfer the juice to the open-top stainless and wooden tanks the bubbly natural fermentation process begins without any additional yeast necessary it’s on to Laelia’s traditional copper stills for double distillation then rectification to bring the spirit to the proper proof Laelia Blanco then rests for at least 14 days in American oak barrels while Laelia Reposado vacations for four-to-six months in toasty French barrels before bottling has been named one of "North America's 50 Best Bars."Photograph by CESAR RODRIGUEZ The New York Times/ReduxWhere to try itIn Guadalajara: attracts tourists and locals for an iconic agave-fueled experience El Gallo Altanero offers a more modern, cocktail bar cantina style. Stop into this “North America’s 50 Best Bars” for a sexy Nerd out on a selection of over 400 agave spirits at Axno while you relax on the terrace Don’t miss the sprawling Mercado San Juan de Dios where local talabarteros (leather artisans) sell traditional belts adorned with agave fiber designs and worn by cowboys Have a drink at La Capilla where everyone downs the traditional Batanga cocktail of cola and tequila with a squeeze of lime in a salted glass stirred with the knife they cut the lime with In El Arenal, on the way to Tequila, visit Tequila Cascahuín for a lowland example of artisanal production techniques like the tahona (wheel grinder) method In Tequila town, visit Tequila Arette Distillery for an intimate boutique distillery tour. The Tequila Fortaleza tour shows off the ancestral method step by step Don Fulano offers the viewpoint of a fifth-generation agave farming family and El Tequileño emphasizes heritage and traditional process for some pre-Hispanic historical perspective grass-covered example of the Teuchitlan circular step pyramids (An intro to mezcal, the centuries-old Mexican spirit that's having a moment) WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday he offered to send the U.S military into Mexico to address matters with cartels that Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum was correct when she said the U.S asked whether American troops were needed to deal with cartels Mexico’s saying that I offered to send U.S troops into Mexico to take care of the cartels,” Trump told the pool echoing a question from one of the reporters ‘Is that true?’ Do you think I’m gonna answer that question?” “That’s why I’m asking,” the reporter replied Abso–” Trump said while a member of the pool interrupted to ask why president noted that cartel members are horrible and have been killing people left and right They’ve also made a fortune selling drugs and destroying Americans “We’ve lost 300,000 people last year to fentanyl and drugs The Drug Enforcement Administration reported this past December that the U.S had experienced a 14.5% decrease in drug overdose deaths between June 2023 and June 2024 More than 107,000 people died from an overdose in all of 2023 with nearly 70% of those deaths attributed to opioids like fentanyl would be honored to help Mexico address cartel issues if the country wanted assistance The cartels are trying to destroy our country They’re evil,” the president said before repeating his statistic on fentanyl deaths “We had hundreds – we had millions of people brought into this country that shouldn’t be here Sheinbaum told the crowd at a rally on Saturday that Mexico will never accept the U.S. army’s presence in her country and that she rejected Trump’s offer because Mexican territory and sovereignty are sacrosanct, according to a translation by Reuters We can do it in ours,” Sheinbaum reportedly said but we will never accept the presence of the U.S Trump claimed the Mexican president refused his offer out of fear of the cartels but she is so afraid of the cartels she can’t even think straight,” Trump said Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com Mexico top weekly export inspections destination grain and oilseed export inspections during the week ending May 1st Inspections of corn and soybeans were above what’s needed weekly to meet projections for the current marketing year The 2024/25 marketing year began June 1st for wheat and September 1st for beans The USDA’s next round of supply and demand estimates is out May 12th.Wheat came out at 310,326 tons down 338,874 from the week ending April 24th and 28,748 from the week ending May 2nd The main destinations were Mexico and the Philippines With about a month left in the 2024/25 marketing year compared to 17,282,325 in 2023/24.Corn was reported at 1,608,350 tons The top destinations were Mexico and Japan At this stage of the final quarter of the marketing year compared to 33,005,911 this time last year.Soybeans were pegged at 324,101 tons 133,743 less than the week before and 34,078 under last year The primary destinations were Mexico and China compared to 39,099,787 a year ago.Sorghum inspections totaled 11,177 tons a decline of 11,300 on the week and 125,917 on the year 2024/25 sorghum inspections are 1,655,325 tons Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Subscribe for our newsletter today and receive relevant news straight to your inbox 2025 8:00 AMHow Mexico’s Fishing Refuges Are Fighting Back Against PoachingFollowing inaction from the government fishing communities and conservationists are taking it upon themselves to set up and monitor no-catch zones to combat species depletion caused by overfishing.Community divers and monitors enter the Celestún Fishing Refuge Zone.Photograph: Geraldine CastroSave this storySaveSave this storySaveIt has been two hours since the divers left the coast behind As they reach their designated GPS points in the Gulf of Mexico their boats’ engines go from roaring to whispering they enter the Celestún Fishing Refuge Zone their lives depend on having carefully prepared their dives to this place of hope covers 324 square kilometers and is monitored by the Yucatán Coast Submarine Monitoring Community Group who are supported by personnel from the Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (IMIPAS) and the civil association the Community and Biodiversity (COBI) Their methodology mixes local knowledge with scientific rigor marine populations worldwide have declined in size by 56 percent Over a third of current marine populations are overfished 62 percent are being exploited at their maximum sustainable level and 15 percent have no information on their state When the conservation nonprofit Oceana analyzed the same data it found that 34 percent of Mexico’s fisheries are in "poor condition,” says to Esteban García Peña Oceana’s coordinator of research and public policy no one is obligated to look after the health of the country’s fisheries; Mexico’s General Fisheries Law doesn’t obligate the government to take on this responsibility and in the face of legislative disinterest even filed an injunction in 2021 against the Congress of the Union such as access to a healthy environment and food This inspired a proposal to revive Mexico’s deteriorated fishing zones only for it not to be analyzed or approved by Congress the world has lost 56 percent of its marine populations communities have taken things into their own hands Although the government isn’t obliged to protect and revive the country’s fisheries people can request for it set up refuge zones to conserve and repopulate marine ecosystems totaling more than 2 million hectares and benefiting an IMIPAS researcher and head of the Regional Center for Aquaculture and Fisheries Research in Yucalpetén It is working an area in a sustainable way the Celestún team gathers under a large palapa using coconuts to show how to measure sea cucumbers and sea snails although it is not part of Mexican gastronomy its fishing has brought a lot of profit to this coast In the Chinese market these creatures can fetch more than $150 per plate The hype over the echinoderm has driven practices that are harmful to the ecosystem and to the fishermen’s health a makeshift diving machine that runs on gasoline and pumps oxygen down a tube to divers below the surface Sanitary towels sometimes stand in as an oil filter while mint tablets are taken to mitigate the taste of gas nobody denies the risk of diving with this machine Many know someone who has had an accident or died from decompression but violation of its closed seasons brought the species to the brink of extinction Divers started going deeper and deeper to hunt them a group of fishermen asked IMIPAS researchers for help to establish an area where the sea could have a chance to recover Overfishing has depleted other species here too founder of the refuge and captain of one of the boats during the monitoring trip has been accompanying IMIPAS researchers for years to evaluate the state of marine species scallops were fished until they were spent The fishermen knew they had to let the species recover the same thing happened with the Moorish crab It was spent.” Then fishing of grouper began Now it’s gone down and the juvenile is this size,” Pech says The collapse of fisheries doesn’t just result in fewer animals and smaller sizes It also pushes fishermen to go further and further out into the ocean sea and spend more days at sea They even make unregulated adjustments to their fleet “They raise their boats in search of more stability in deeper places Keeping profits higher than their operating costs is a necessity even if this puts fishermen’s lives at risk—for instance when getting caught in storms in in homemade boats They are also victims of forces outside of their control "Fishing communities receive the first impact of the inclemencies aggravated by climate change,” she says Before applying for the refuge in Celestún local fishermen and researchers had many conversations When they saw the fisheries information compiled by the Regional Center for Aquaculture and Fisheries Research they realized that it was not only the cucumber that needed protection Species such as red grouper (Epinephelus morio) and red octopus (Octopus maya) were also listed as overexploited or in decline So the community agreed to try replenish populations of red grouper artisanal octopus fishing and the capture of king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) Atlantic Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) and great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) is allowed between October and February using “trolling”—pulling a baited hook behind a boat; diving and domestic consumption of other species is prohibited Josué Canul is one of the people under the palapa I have been one of the biggest predators,” he says “I was their hater,” he says of conservationists—now he the refuge’s president That day he understood his mistake: it was not a forbidden site but the idea captivated him for two reasons: the loss of marine abundance for the community to say: we don’t fish in this area so that it will reproduce and leave some here for us.” it was said “that in Celestún they burned your boats that the most terrible and furtive fishermen lived there,” says Mariana Suasnávar To think that this community would be the first in the state to take such measures to recover the fisheries was far-fetched Canul says that fishermen justify being poachers because it feeds their families we have the culture that the more you catch We were never taught to take care,” he says a marine biologist and environmental economist at the Colegio de la Frontera Sur calls this phenomenon “the race for fish,” in which “whoever gets there fastest gets the treasure.” In her view this extractivist approach to the sea occurs because there is open access which leads to thinking: “If I don’t take it out Poot points out that fishing refuge zones are a management tool so that the communities return little by little to good practices to teach the new generations how fishing should be because today it has been distorted,” she says the fishermen watch the monitoring group leave It’s expected that a well-kept fishing refuge will result in larger organisms for these benefits to be seen beyond the borders of the protection site it is crucial to establish a baseline of how the site is at the beginning and implement a constant monitoring program “If five years go by and you don’t notice results “Experiments to evaluate that the cost of not fishing is offset by larval dispersal are scarce,” she says She collaborated with COBI on a study on Isla Natividad where they collected data over ten years and found that lobster fishing was good at the boundaries of the reserve set up there the divers are dropped on their backs into the sea and descend Some describe the type of seabed and its contents every 50 centimeters for 50 meters; others identify The invertebrate biometry team collects snails and cucumbers to measure them on the boat and Everyone notes whether the sampling site is inside or outside the refuge “It’s like taking a picture of the sea,” says Suasnávar returns soaking wet to the boat with a smile: “It's like entering another world,” she says She joined the project after seeing the decline of the octopus and today is treasurer of the refuge and a member of the Yucatán Coast Submarine Monitoring Community Group where 14 women and 12 men from different Yucatecan communities participate She learned to dive to see with her own eyes if the effort was worth it and to make her voice heard in the decision-making process The monitoring group is made up of people involved in the fishing chain with the support of organizations such as COBI the Secretariat of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture of Yucatán and the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas Members have received certifications in open water scuba diving and species identification methodologies designed by IMIPAS and COBI Their work helps to expose the results of sustainable management and to recognize if there is anything to adjust in the management of the area one of the divers who cares for the Celestún fishing refuge Data capture takes place in a small room with air conditioning From the log sheets jump the marine characters: mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus) rehearsing the name out loud with laughter A copy of Paul Humann’s Reef Creature Identification with team members pointing out the species they have already found and those they would like to see soon and participatory science with local fishermen reduce the gender gap in the local economy diversify voices in decision making (in Celestún there is a committee of women and another of young people) and strengthen community pride and the defense of the territory Some groups are organizing against predatory tourism or the care of other coastal ecosystems an experienced diver from Punta Allen in neighboring Quintana Roo there were pending issues that could not be put off: surveillance and monitoring Canul is a restless person—his colleagues say that even underwater he keeps talking It was only a few months after joining the refuge team that he assumed the presidency the youngest of the Yucatán monitoring group but now they have won a grant from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) they are about to integrate electric motors into their work UNDP Mexico Small Grants Programme associate in charge of the energy projects portfolio using electric mobility will help reduce the environmental impact of surveillance there has been no federal budget allocated to fisheries management in Mexico Many of the things that have happened are thanks to the management and organization of civil society,” stresses Saénz Gocher of Oceana points out that many of the obstacles faced in marine conservation are due to the lack of social fabric It’s known locally who is fishing illegally “That they have to ask them not to do it implies a community conflict but it also opens the opportunity to restore the social fabric When the community sees results—that there are more resources that are more sustainable and at their pace—they begin to take care,” Gocher says “There are many fishing refuge zones and protected marine areas in which fishermen and fisherwomen make vigilance committees to make sure that fishing is done legally; they take care of everyone’s resources,” says Gocher 75 percent of the fisheries are exploited without management plans which puts the sustainable development and wellbeing of the communities at risk.” Many vigilance groups begin by financing activities out of their own pockets and the refuge team knows that they are swimming against the current that they must deal with the frustration of taking care of a resource that others steal at night They know they are at risk for pointing out those who break the rules “Many times we look like clowns when we do surveillance catch people who do something illegal and the law does nothing to them,” says Canul one of the captains notices a boat on the horizon and deduces that they are coming from illegal fishing He picks up the radio and asks the others what to do; they decide not to interrupt the monitoring 332 maritime patrols and 99 land patrols were recorded “There is no information on what happens when someone is caught or a vessel or product is seized There is opacity in the data and a high level of impunity,” Gocher says financed by the World Bank and the French Development Agency in coordination with the Mexican government Suggestions include incorporating fishing goals as part of the National Development Plan and providing legal security for coastal communities to manage their territory The vision for recovering the productivity of the sea work with those who access a maritime territory then see how they connect with their neighbors “You need a complete understanding of these phenomena.” What is impossible is to try to recover a species without listening to the fishermen Juan Pech has seen marine beauty and also a damaged sea The diver explains his commitment with an anecdote the man who taught him commercial diving told him where to go to find fish but came to a dead site; nothing his teacher described was still there he says he doesn’t want to tell them about a sea they can’t see This story originally appeared on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish In your inbox: Upgrade your life with WIRED-tested gear “Wi-Fi keeps going down”: Trump’s RTO mandate is going terribly Big Story: The worm that no computer scientist can crack Yuval Noah Harari: “Prepare to share the planet with AI superintelligence” Uncanny Valley: An insider look at the influence of Silicon Valley It is the essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our lives—from culture to business The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking With exports to China largely off the table new numbers show Mexico is set to become the top destination for U.S New numbers from CoBank show that with China out of the picture Mexico is set to become the largest buyer of U.S farm goods to our southern neighbor have grown by around 65 percent over the last four years making it the fastest-growing export market for U.S Dairy export values have grown more than 75 percent since 2020 driven mostly by Mexican demand for cheese All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and Ad Choices. Do Not Sell My Personal Information Reporting by Kylie Madry and Ana Isabel Martinez; Editing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Bill Berkrot Kylie Madry is a headline news reporter covering business, politics and breaking news for all of Latin America. She's based out of the Reuters office in Mexico City, where she was previously a freelance journalist and translator working on award-winning podcasts, books about Mexico's drug lords and stories ranging from the fight for clean water to the millions spent on the city's surveillance system. Kylie is originally from Dallas, Texas. grill is aiming to introduce the ‘Chipotle fever’ to Mexico Scheduled for early 2026, the first store is thought to be opening in Mexico City. The company, however, has not yet revealed the official location. And yes, the announcement has created high expectations in Mexico. Even El Universal newspaper recently described the brand as “[the restaurant] that reinvented Mexican food.” Given that our cuisine is the product of thousands of years of Prehispanic heritage merged with the Spanish influence in the Colonial era this might come as a little bit of a stretch We love our freshly prepared salsa and recently handmade tortillas When we think of having tacos — or burritos in the northern states — we certainly do not think of dining at a grill On the contrary, we think of more accessible alternatives. Even before the UNESCO included our cuisine in the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010 we already held carnes asadas in the north and continued to visit our maestros parrilleros Why, then, does a fast food company from the U.S. create such expectations in the Mexican market? My guess is that we are curious: as curious as we were about the opening of the first Shake Shack, back in 2019. People were eager to see what they had to offer. When we realized a burger was over 250 pesos the idea of dining at Shake Shack became a lot less interesting A similar phenomenon was seen with Wendy’s and Tim Hortons that simply went out of fashion — and business in the case of Wendy’s — when the novelty wore off “Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone,” the company announced in a recent press release will the Chipotle’s prices be comparable to those of local market stalls or trusted street puestos Will they offer the freshness of the meat of the day which we appreciate in Mexico from our maestros parrilleros Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC Migrant Children Fleeing Violence Face New Dangers and Uncertainty at Mexico’s Northern Border 5 May 2025 — Children migrating through Mexico in search of safety are being met with alarming levels of violence and uncertainty at the country’s northern border according to a new study by Plan International and Save the Children in Mexico based on 155 interviews with migrant children and their caregivers across three of Mexico’s major border cities—Ciudad Juárez and Tijuana—reveals that after fleeing violence many children found themselves in overcrowded shelters out of school and in unsafe neighbourhoods alone where they faced further dangers and continued to be denied their rights While many of the children surveyed initially travelled with family or a loved one the journey often resulted in painful separation nearly two in three children (63.5%) left home with a parent or guardian but only about a third arrived in Mexico with someone by their side This separation leaves children—especially girls—more vulnerable to violence “Organized crime has many ways of finding and grabbing you There are many areas where it’s hard to run away if you’re trying to escape,” said José* a 16-year-old unaccompanied boy interviewed in Ciudad Juárez The number of unaccompanied children making the journey to Mexico has surged in recent years, jumping from nearly 69,500[1] in 2019 to more than 137,000 in 2023 are subjected to sexual and gender-based violence and other dangers as they travel alone in search of safety their journey does not end in safety once they reach Mexico’s northern border Interviews with the children reveal that they are often forced to live in unsafe conditions for months at a time one in three girls interviewed had been living in displacement shelters for over six months often confined to unsafe areas in high-risk areas where even basic freedoms—like stepping outside—are restricted by fear of kidnapping children interviewed also described being forced to leave their homes to escape violence only to encounter new forms of danger in overcrowded shelters and unsafe neighborhoods “When someone was watching us or making us uncomfortable we’d say we were going to get water or to the bathroom—just so we could step away or find a way not to come back,” said Estrella* describing how she and other girls learned to protect themselves during their journey The education among migrants at Mexico's northern border has also been severely disrupted Nearly three-quarters (70.3%) of the children interviewed previously attended school but now more than half (58.1%) are now no longer learning inside a classroom and a lack of formal education in shelters are major factors discrimination and xenophobia in schools is worsening the situation fathers and caregivers of the Mexican population do not want their children to live with children on the move." The research also found that the emotional toll on migrant children in these cities is immense especially among those separated from their parents Many struggle to understand why their parents are no longer with them or why they've been living in shelters for extended periods with little to no contact Despite this and the distressing condition many face access to mental health support for migrant children in these three cities was reported to be almost non-existent Chief Executive Officer of Plan International "This study has found that migrant children are not finding safety when they cross the border into Mexico —they’re finding more fear “No child should find themselves in this situation especially after enduring such a perilous journey to find safety They need support now – including protection We are seeing families so desperate that children are being forced to consider returning to the very places they fled from Programmes and Humanitarian Director in Save the Children in Mexico “Migrant and internally displaced girls face severe risks and are systematically denied their fundamental rights — including access to education and protection Our joint study sheds light on the challenges these girls endure and presents actionable solutions to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis affecting migrant children in Mexico the collective commitment of society is more important than ever we must ensure that every girl has the opportunity to thrive — no matter where she comes from or where she’s going.” Plan International and Save the Children in Mexico are calling for an immediate and coordinated response This includes strengthening child protection systems in border cities across Mexico ensuring inclusive and safe access to education and mental health care and providing dignified shelter arrangements that prioritise the needs of children and adolescents—especially girls—fleeing violence and instability Save the Children has been working in Mexico since 1973 with health and nutrition and protection programmes for children on the move in the country ******************************************************************************************************************* Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409 Please also check our X account @Save_GlobalNews for news alerts 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DrEO Clinic has been recognized as the best hair transplant clinic in Mexico for 2025 reinforcing its position at the forefront of hair restoration excellence The announcement follows endorsements from major Mexican news publications both of which highlighted the clinic’s leadership in offering innovative procedures DrEO Clinic - Best hair transplat surgery in Mexico Mexico’s only diplomate of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS) living and practicing in the country DrEO Clinic has emerged as a cornerstone of hair restoration in Mexico and Latin America the clinic is well-regarded not only for its medical expertise but also for its commitment to transparency making it a top choice among domestic and international patients alike Medical Tourism Meets Expertise: Why Mexico is an Ideal Hair Transplant Destination With an increasing number of patients traveling internationally for medical procedures hair transplant in Mexico has become one of the leading treatments attracting patients from North America and beyond combined with significantly lower costs and high-quality care has positioned Mexico as a global hub for cosmetic procedures DrEO Clinic stands out by integrating leading-edge techniques such as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Direct Hair Implantation (DHI) delivering minimally invasive treatments with natural-looking results in conjunction with a holistic consultation and recovery process help ensure that each patient receives personalized care designed for long-term satisfaction At the heart of DrEO Clinic’s reputation is Dr an ABHRS-certified specialist whose name has become synonymous with high standards in hair restoration With a background rooted in dermatology and a focus on trichology including celebrities and professionals seeking confidential effective treatment in a comfortable and reputable environment “Our mission at DrEO Clinic has always been to bring world-class hair restoration services to Mexico We believe that patients should have access to certified medical expertise without having to overextend themselves financially,” said Dr “Being named the best hair transplant clinic in Mexico is a reflection of our entire team’s commitment to excellence.” Choosing the Best Hair Transplant Clinic: What to Look For Patients researching their options for a hair transplant in Mexico are encouraged to consider several important factors: DrEO Clinic not only meets but exceeds these benchmarks and ethical practices have helped the clinic gain international attention and trust both El Universal and Mediotiempo recognized DrEO Clinic in their editorial coverage listing it among the top hair restoration centers in Mexico and glowing patient reviews have contributed to its rising status as the go-to destination for hair transplant in Mexico City DrEO Clinic offers initial online consultations allowing them to understand their options before committing to travel This model of care ensures patients are fully informed and confident in their decision-making process DrEO Clinic is a leading facility specializing in surgical and non-surgical hair transplant procedures in Mexico City the clinic is grounded in the principles of ethical medical practice Utilizing globally recognized techniques and tools DrEO Clinic caters to a diverse clientele including local residents and public figures seeking effective and discreet solutions for hair loss Patients interested in learning more about the clinic or scheduling a free evaluation are encouraged to visit the clinic’s official website at https://en.dreoclinic.com making it easier than ever to begin the journey toward renewed confidence We’d like to share more about how we work and what drives our day-to-day business How we use your information depends on the product and service that you use and your relationship with us To learn more about how we handle and protect your data, visit our privacy center Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday that she doesn’t want her communication with U.S President Donald Trump to become an exchange of statements in the press in response to questions on Trump’s offer to send U.S President Donald Trump talks with reporters on Air Force One as he heads back to Washington President Donald Trump walks to talk with reporters on Air Force One as he heads back to Washington Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum attends her morning press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City Trump said it was “true” that he proposed sending the troops to Mexico and lashed into Sheinbaum for dismissing the idea “Well she’s so afraid of the cartels she can’t walk so you know that’s the reason,” Trump said in comments to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday but she is so afraid of the cartels that she can’t even think straight.” military presence along the southern border with Mexico has increased steadily in recent months following Trump’s order in January to increase the army’s role in stemming the flow of migrants troops operating inside Mexico was going too far ‘How can we help you fight drug trafficking I propose that the United States military come in and help you.’ And you know what I said to him She added that she told Trump their two countries “can work together but you in your territory and us in ours.” military is needed to stem the scourge of fentanyl in the United States “They are bad news,” Trump said of the cartels “If Mexico wanted help with the cartels we would be honored to go in and do it The cartels are trying to destroy our country.” 2025 6:08PMKhai Tran and his wife Trinh Nguyen opened the space with chef Fernando Cristobol Fernando brought the flavors of Mexico City.South Street (WPVI) -- Saigon Grace Café is a new spot on South Street blending the flavors of the restaurant's owners Khai Tran and his wife Trinh Nguyen opened the space with chef Fernando Cristobol Fernando brought the flavors of Mexico City where he was born for the food menu Khai and Trinh specialize in the Vietnamese coffee and add Asian influences on the food Together they have created an all-day café for the neighborhood The coffee is supplied from Trinh's family farm in Vietnam where the beans are harvested and roasted then shipped directly to the restaurant It's carefully dripped and provides the base for a variety of specialty drinks including the uber popular iced coffee with salted foam Fernando is using his grandmother's recipe to make birria tacos and serving it with a side of ramen cooked in the birria broth It's an inspired experience bringing the coffee culture of Saigon and a taste of Mexico to Philadelphia US President Donald Trump blasted his Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum after she rejected his offer to send American troops to fight drug cartels The public row threatens to derail what had been — by Trump’s standards — a relatively stable relationship with Sheinbaum winning plaudits for her handling of the US leader’s pressure over trade and security while the number of migrants crossing the border has plummeted Sign up for Semafor .css-w8sqnb{text-transform:capitalize;}flagship With this series of weekly updates, WOLA seeks to cover the most important developments at the U.S.-Mexico border. See past weekly updates here Your donation to WOLA is crucial to keeping these paywall-free and ad-free Updates going. Please contribute now and support our work. There’s a phone on this desk.PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I could.TERRY MORAN: You could pick it up you could call up the president of El Salvador and say “Send him back,” right now.PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: And if he were the gentleman that you say he is I would do that.TERRY MORAN: But the court has ordered you —PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: But he’s not.TERRY MORAN: — to facilitate that — his release–PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I’m not the one making this decision We have lawyers that don’t want —TERRY MORAN: You’re the president.PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: — to do this but the — but the buck stops in this office —PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I — no If I were the president that just wanted to do anything I’d probably keep him right where he is — Subscribe to get the latest on analysis and policy Washington Office on Latin America1666 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 400Washington, DC 20009(202) 797 2171info@wola.org Subscribe with your email to receive exclusive reports and expert research directly to your inbox every week. (Your privacy is important to us; your information will be kept confidential and secure.) Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday that she doesn’t want her communication with U.S. President Donald Trump to become an exchange of statements in the press in response to questions on Trump’s offer to send U.S. troops to Mexico to fight the cartels. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum attends her morning press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File) Her remarks to supporters in eastern Mexico came in response to a Wall Street Journal article published the day before, describing a tense phone call last month in which Trump reportedly pressured her to accept a bigger role for the U.S. military in combating drug cartels in Mexico. “He said, ‘How can we help you fight drug trafficking? I propose that the United States military come in and help you.’ And you know what I said to him? ‘No, President Trump.’” She added: “Sovereignty is not for sale. Sovereignty is loved and defended.” White House National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt said in a statement later Saturday that Trump has worked closely with Mexico’s president “to achieve the most secure southwest border in history.” “Dangerous Foreign Terrorist Organizations, however, continue to threaten our shared security and the drugs and crime they spread threaten American communities across the country,” the statement said. “The President has been crystal clear that Mexico must do more do combat these gangs and cartels and the United States stands ready to assist and expand the already close cooperation between our two countries.” The U.S. military presence has increased steadily along its southern border with Mexico in recent months, following Trump’s order in January to increase the army’s role in stemming the flow of migrants. “We can work together, but you in your territory and us in ours,” Sheinbaum said. designated the Sinaloa Cartel and other Mexican drug cartels as global terrorist organizations which some analysts have warned could be a stepping stone to such military action.Airborne surveillance of Mexican drug cartels by the U.S as part of efforts to collect intelligence to determine how to best counter their activities.Sheinbaum has since proposed a constitutional reform aimed at adding protections to Mexico's national sovereignty.Reporting by Lucinda Elliott; Editing by Diane Craft and Daniel Wallis To purchase photos visit http://photos.newtownbee.com When stepping into Hacienda Don Manuel in Brookfield Owner Edgar Romero opened Hacienda Don Manuel after the previous operators closed Romero decided to take it over and upgrade everything The changes proved to be just what the restaurant needed to thrive a sunny yellow paint coats the walls of the dining area that seats 110 The textured design is authentic to how homes are built in Mexico This attention to detail took a month to complete and was all done by hand The Mexican flag hangs on the wall with pride along with multiple brilliantly colored serapes shaped into bows Serapes are traditional shawls that people in Mexico usually wear when it gets cold Numerous sombreros also hang from the walls some plain tan and others in a variety of colors Romero said when people enter his restaurant especially when we have the Mariachi band playing music.” Mariachi music fills the room as the performers go table-to-table entertaining guests The vibrant music can be enjoyed by all and offers a family-friendly environment happy atmosphere extends to every part of the restaurant including the bar area that features beers on tap and an extensive collection of liquors for personalized drinks The room has table and booth seating and is perfect for large groups of up to 75 people Happy Hour takes place in the bar area Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 pm Customers can enjoy appetizer and drink specials at low prices Two popular drink choices are the sangrias and giant margaritas up to 60 people are able to dine outdoors on the extended patio all are able to enjoy the authentic Mexican food at Hacienda Don Manuel that is always fresh and homemade Appetizers: A top-selling item that customers crave is the fresh guacamole and jalapeño peppers and prepared tableside Soup: The Sopa Negra is Hacienda Don Manuel’s delicious black bean soup Salad: A standout dish is the Ensalada Bandera Vegetarian: With a specific portion of the menu catering to vegetarian options the Grande Burrito is a popular item for all to enjoy The mixed vegetable burrito is made up of bell peppers Kids’ Menu: Hacienda Don Manuel offers a menu for children that includes a variety of meals Entrees: All “Traditionales” dishes are served with Mexican rice and beans Among the different options are the chimichangas consisting of deep-fried flour tortillas stuffed with beef or chicken and garnished with guacamole and sour cream Steak: One of the items on the menu is Tampiquena which is a grilled New York strip steak topped with onion Seafood: The Acapulco is jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon and stuffed with white cheese Dessert: Some dessert highlights include crunchy churros Specials: The food and drink specials change every other week Hacienda Don Manuel, 265 Federal Road in Brookfield, near Costco, is open Sunday through Thursday, from 11 am to 10 pm, and Friday and Saturday, 11 am to 11:30 pm. Takeout, catering, and seating reservations are accepted by calling 203-740-0666. For more information, visit haciendadonmanuel.com or its Facebook page, facebook.com/haciendact You must be logged in to post a comment Mandy Taheri is a Newsweek reporter based in Brooklyn You can get in touch with Mandy via email: m.taheri@newsweek.com Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she drew a red line to protect the nation's sovereignty during a recent phone call with President Donald Trump firmly rejecting his proposition to deploy U.S our sovereignty is not for sale,'" Sheinbaum said Newsweek has reached out to the White House and State Department for comment via email on Saturday The United States and Mexico have engaged in a series of negotiations in recent months on key issues including immigration Sheinbaum has signaled she will cooperate with the U.S. but has drawn firm boundaries around Mexican sovereignty making clear that any collaboration must respect the nation's autonomy Trump largely campaigned on economic and immigration policies pledging to levy numerous tariffs and cracking down on illegal immigration he imposed a 25 percent tariff on Mexico in order to hold the country "accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country." The tariffs were paused for 30-days After months of negotiations, the neighbors reached a deal ensuring that Mexico will deliver its overdue water obligations under a longstanding 1944 treaty providing relief to Texas farmers and ranchers who have faced shortages the Mexican president addressed a recent Wall Street Journal report detailing Trump's pressure on Mexico to combat drug cartels saying the report was "true...but not as described." Sheinbaum recounted a recent phone call with Trump While she expressed openness to increased intelligence sharing she said she rejected his suggestion of deploying U.S Mexico had agreed to deploy some 10,000 troops along the border "We will never accept the presence of the United States Army in our territory," she told the audience He comments drew applause and supportive cheers from the crowd in an April 10 Truth Social post: "My Agriculture Secretary Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said on April 22: "We don't accept invasions or interference We are not a protectorate or colony of any foreign country." said on Thursday: "The establishment of a second National Defense Area increases our operational reach and effectiveness in denying illegal activity along the southern border This is the second area in which Joint Task Force – Southern Border service members who are already detecting and monitoring through stationary positions and mobile patrols nearby can now temporarily detain trespassers until they are transferred to an appropriate law enforcement entity." The water agreement solidified a plan for immediate and short-term water relief for this growing season The department said it also welcomes further collaboration with Mexico on treaty agreements related to the outstanding water debts The Trump administration continues to carry out its hardline immigration policy which has resulted in detention and deportation of some Mexican nationals Department of Defense has designated two stretches on the border with Mexico as military zones ET: This article has been updated with additional information Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article Speaking at a public event, President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed a report published Friday in the Wall Street Journal that said that Trump had pressured Mexico to allow more U.S. military involvement in the drug war. “It’s true,” Sheinbaum said. She said that on some private calls with the American leader in recent months, Trump said: “How can we help you fight drug trafficking? I propose that the United States Army enter to help you.” Sheinbaum said she rebuffed his proposal, saying: “No, President Trump, our territory is inalienable, sovereignty is inalienable. ... We can collaborate, we can work together, but with you in your territory and us in ours. We can share information, but we will never accept the presence of the United States Army on our territory.” This remains an extremely sensitive topic for Mexicans, given previous military occupations by the U.S. and the strong sense of nationalism that resulted — Gustavo A. Flores-Macías, Cornell University professor A statement released by the White House on Saturday said that Sheinbaum and Trump had worked closely “to achieve the most secure southwest border in history,” but it did not directly address her comments on U.S. forces in Mexico. “The President has been crystal clear that Mexico must do more do combat these gangs and cartels and the United States stands ready to assist and expand the already close cooperation between our two countries,” the statement said. Since Trump returned to the White House in January, his administration has ramped up CIA surveillance drone flights over Mexico, formally designated drug cartels as “foreign terrorist” groups and has repeatedly floated the possibility of deploying troops there to fight organized crime. He has massed U.S. troops on the northern side of the U.S. border with Mexico to crack down on unauthorized immigration and drug smuggling. Mexico is “essentially run by the cartels,” Trump said earlier this year, insisting that the United States should “wage war” against them. Sheinbaum has rejected Trump’s characterization that Mexico is under cartel domination, and has vowed to defend her nation’s sovereignty against violations “by land, sea or air.” World & Nation The Trump administration wants to use the military to fight Mexican drug cartels But the Mexican president’s latest comments confirm that Mexico remains under intense pressure from Washington to accept greater U.S professor of government at Cornell University “This remains an extremely sensitive topic for Mexicans, given previous military occupations by the U.S. and the strong sense of nationalism that resulted,” Flores-Macías wrote via email. That gives Sheinbaum “little room to maneuver” as Trump continues to insist on dispatching U.S. troops south of the border. “The Mexican government would be wise to take the threat of unilateral U.S. strikes against the cartels very seriously, while making it clear to the White House that the costs in terms of the economy, security and migration would be steep,” Flores-Macias wrote. Unilateral U.S. strikes, experts say, could result in Mexico being obliged to take retaliatory measures, such as cutting back on bilateral cooperation on key issues such as security and immigration. U.S. attacks that result in civilian casualties could even force Mexico to cut diplomatic ties with its major trading partner. hurling insults and threatening devastating tariffs and U.S Mexico has been seized by a nationalistic fervor No administration in modern times has taken such a militaristic approach to Mexico, a U.S. ally that Trump blames for producing the fentanyl that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans which emphasized beefing up the rule of law in Mexico and stands at odds with Mexico’s security strategy which has veered away from the sort of fierce cartel confrontations that drove record levels of bloodshed Trump’s fixation on organized crime in Mexico has put Sheinbaum in a difficult position She has tried to appease him to try to avert the potentially catastrophic tariffs that he has threatened unless Mexico cracks down on fentanyl trafficking She sent thousands of National Guard troops to fortify the northern border and is transferring dozens of suspected cartel members to the U.S But she has also had to show fellow Mexicans that she is defending national sovereignty. Since Trump took office in January, nationalism has surged here users have demanded a boycott of American products filming themselves pouring Coca Cola down the drain green and white of the Mexican flag in ad campaigns could return Mexican politics to the gringo-bashing tendency that was once prevalent among Mexican politicians But official dumping on the United States has generally diminished in recent years as economic cultural and other U.S.-Mexico ties have strengthened and millions of Mexicans have emigrated to the United States Remittances to Mexico from people of Mexican ancestry in the United States now top more than $60 billion annually, comprising a key pillar of the Mexican economy. Cecilia Sánchez Vidal in Mexico City and Michael Wilner in Washington contributed to this report. Kate Linthicum is a foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times based in Mexico City. Foreign correspondent Patrick J. McDonnell is the Los Angeles Times Mexico City bureau chief and previously headed Times bureaus in Beirut, Buenos Aires and Baghdad. A native of the Bronx, McDonnell is a graduate of Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism and was a Nieman fellow at Harvard. California Subscribe for unlimited access Site Map See what today's weather forecast looks like in Tucson An undocumented Mexican man who has lived in Tucson for almost 15 years was arrested by immigration agents outside St after his wife says hospital staff extensively questioned a relative whom he was accompanying about his legal status whom the Star is only identifying by his first name Joseph’s Hospital with a cousin who had sought emergency care there non-uniformed agents emerged from an unmarked Chevy Tahoe and called out the cousin’s name While his cousin broke into a run and avoided the agents Francisco was detained and is now in the Florence Correctional Center Francisco’s cousin was repeatedly questioned about whether he had a Social Security number or legal status The manner of questioning made the family suspect the hospital employee contacted U.S who said she was present at the hospital on Tuesday during the questioning before she left to pick up her daughter from school The separation is shocking to them,” said Rosa who an undocumented Mexican national who has lived in Tucson for 15 years was detained by immigration authorities outside St after hospital staff questioned a relative he was accompanying about his legal status is pictured with Rosa’s two daughters during a recent trip to Phoenix The Star emailed questions Friday about the circumstances of Francisco’s arrest to Patti Tanner the media-relations contact listed on the website of Carondelet Health Network The Star also left multiple messages at St Joseph’s Hospital on Friday with no response ICE spokeswoman Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe did not respond to the Star’s Friday request for comment on the ICE operation outside St Rosa is adamant that her husband has no criminal record President Donald Trump and his supporters previously said their mass deportation campaign would focus on dangerous criminals and those who had already been ordered deported the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security reversed its long-standing guidance that restricted ICE and U.S Customs and Border Protection enforcement at “sensitive locations,” including hospitals which was still in effect in Trump’s first term immigration officers generally had to get approval for enforcement operations at those locations Heightened ICE enforcement at hospitals will result in needless suffering and delayed medical care an immigrant-rights advocate who volunteers with Tucson’s Coalición de Derechos Humanos Roberts is a retired registered nurse and worked at St and that means they are not going to go to the hospital when they need it,” she said “It’s going to result in people being sick and possibly dying from illness or injury because they’re scared to go to the hospital.” Rosa said her daughter has a medical appointment scheduled for a fingernail that has turned black but Rosa is now fearful of attending the appointment On April 11, a federal judge rejected a legal challenge from 27 faith-based groups who sought protection from immigration enforcement in their houses of worship. The judge ruled the plaintiffs hadn’t proved an imminent threat of enforcement Campos said hospitals should be resisting Trump’s aggressive pursuit of immigrants “It’s another institution that’s capitulating,” he said should be making a public display of pushing back against the government.” Joseph’s happened during the same week that a pregnant Guatemalan woman was apprehended by border agents in the Southern Arizona desert days before being transferred to Tucson Medical Center to give birth on Wednesday Department of Homeland Security officers posted outside the woman’s hospital room were preventing anyone other than hospital staff from seeing her Initially, the woman faced expedited removal a rapid deportation without a hearing before a judge A CBP spokesman told the Star on Thursday that the new mother would have the choice whether to take her U.S DHS agents posted outside the woman’s TMC hospital room refused to let Campos talk to her Thursday But on Friday, after a public outcry and widespread media attention, CBP appeared to reverse course: In a new statement the agency said the woman would be given a notice-to-appear in court and the opportunity to contact a lawyer signifying she has been put into normal deportation proceedings That should give her an opportunity to pursue asylum or other humanitarian protections who is now formally representing the woman Campos got word Saturday afternoon that the woman said she fled death threats in Sonora in 2019 and requested asylum for herself and her two daughters at the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales They eventually received asylum protection and are currently in the process of obtaining lawful permanent residency Rosa met Francisco as he was searching for work opportunities at a Tucson church near where she lived After offering lunch to Francisco and some of the other workers and the care with which he treated her daughters holding the little one’s hand to cross the street,” she said Francisco was also gentle with Rosa and sensitive to the post-traumatic stress she experiences “When I started the relationship with Francisco the family was making plans for that worst-case scenario ‘Our life is in God’s hands; it’s not in the government’s hands but God is the one who guides our steps.’” They downloaded an app to share each other’s locations which is how Rosa first knew something was wrong on Tuesday when she saw his location was the Tucson Border Patrol station before she got the call from a relative of his cousin telling her Francisco had been arrested outside St called Rosa to apologize and to say he would not contact her again for a while “I will find resources to help my husband.” although some think President Trump’s rhetoric is full of empty threats to scare people she wants people in her community to know the risk is real “Many people say it’s just psychological terror Our children feel like they’re not safe in their schools I want people to know that what’s happening is real.” Rosa said she’s finding support in her community but she advises everyone to remain vigilant “I think the important thing is to take care of each other that they take care of themselves and that they don’t trust anyone,” she said “The hospitals aren’t trustworthy either.” Contact reporter Emily Bregel at ebregel@tucson.com Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. See what today's weather forecast looks like in Tucson. The Guatemalan woman arrested in the Arizona desert will be given the choice taking her newborn — a US citizen born Wednesday at Tucson Medica… For Star subscribers: The Trump administration has moved to revoke parole protections issued under Biden and deport migrants who followed all … After five federal agents showed up unexpectedly at their home south of West Ajo Highway last week, Venezuelan nationals Yoleidy and her husba… Three federal agents visited long-time Tucson restaurant La Indita this week, seeking to verify the legal status of its employees, which the o… The woman is still subject to removal proceedings, but no longer faces an immediate deportation, after immigration officials reversed course a… PHOENIX — State lawmakers voted Monday to require hospitals to inquire whether patients are here illegally despite concerns it would deter som… Francisco, an undocumented Mexican national who has lived in Tucson for 15 years, was detained by immigration authorities outside St. Joseph's Hospital on Tuesday, after hospital staff questioned a relative he was accompanying about his legal status, his wife Rosa said. Francisco, left, is pictured with Rosa’s two daughters during a recent trip to Phoenix. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Phil Stewart and Andrew Hay; editing by Diane Craft and Rosalba O'Brien News & Reviews News Wire Grupo Mexico’s rail operations post quarterly earnings decline as volume drops Automotive and minerals traffic were off by more than 20% MEXICO CITY — Grupo Mexico’s transportation division — which includes Ferromex and Texas Pacifico — reported sharply lower first-quarter revenue and profits as a plunge in automotive and minerals traffic drove an overall volume decline Volume fell 6.1% when measured by carloads or 14.2% on the basis of tons per kilometer A 21% decline in automotive traffic and a 20% drop in minerals traffic led the volume decline as cross-border traffic rose and demand recovered on the FEC GMXT’s key operational metrics all improved for the quarter and train length and weight both increasing Members enjoy 15% off any purchase in our store. Join Today Get updates and special offers via email from Trains.com brands MISSION — Mexico has agreed to deliver more water to the U.S in an effort to pay off its increasing water debt the water deliveries would still fall short of the total amount owed under a 1944 treaty Mexico will send up to 420,000 acre feet of water to the Rio Grande Valley by October State Department first announced the agreement Monday U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz laid out additional details of the agreement at a news conference Tuesday big step in the right direction," De La Cruz said praising President Donald Trump and his administration for pressuring Mexico on water This fight affects every South Texas family because every one of us needs water." This week’s announcement is the latest development in a years-long push by Texas farmers and elected leaders to force Mexico to deliver water to their parched land Producers all over the region have had to scale back dramatically Mexican officials cited their own issues with water scarcity for their inability to meet their treaty obligations Mexico must deliver 1,750,000 acre-feet of water to the U.S That averages to 350,000 acre-feet every year With more than four years into the current cycle Mexico has delivered less than 600,000 acre-feet If Mexico is able to deliver the proposed maximum of 420,000 acre-feet under the new agreement its total deliveries for the current five-year cycle would reach 950,000 acre-feet To address the more than 800,000 acre-feet that would still be owed Mexico agreed to an immediate transfer of 56,750 acre-feet of water at the Amistad Reservoir They also agreed to make monthly transfers at both Amistad and the Falcon reservoirs Mexico also agreed to increase the share of water that the U.S gets from the six tributaries managed by the treaty gets a third of water from six tributaries Mexico will deliver more water from the Río San Juan a flow not managed by the treaty and which cannot be stored at the reservoirs The two countries plan to meet in July to assess the hydrology conditions and evaluate the actions taken thus far They also intend to hold ongoing meetings to formulate a plan for Mexico to make dependable deliveries during the next five-year cycle the federal agency tasked with overseeing the treaty reached an agreement with Mexico to amend the treaty the treaty amendment allows Mexico to transfer water stored at the two reservoirs to the U.S and allows Mexico to deliver water it doesn’t need from the San Juan and Alamo rivers both of which were not included in the original treaty as acceptable sources of water deliveries will come with consequences and that the next step will be to make it part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement U.S. Sen. John Cornyn who has also led efforts to pressure Mexico to make more water deliveries thanked the Trump administration for obtaining a commitment from Mexico and accused the Biden administration of "sitting on its hands and letting Texans suffer.” “South Texas has been devastated by Mexico’s repeated refusal to deliver the water it has owed the United States for far too long and I commend the Trump administration for securing this critical deal for Mexico to finally send water to the region,” Cornyn said in a news release Cornyn led a letter to Senate and House appropriations committees asking them to withhold funds from Mexico until they agreed to provide more water “I will continue working alongside President Trump and his administration to push Mexico for consistent annual deliveries to live up to its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty and ensure our South Texas agriculture community has the resources needed to thrive,” Cornyn added U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez a Democrat from McAllen joined Cornyn’s letter welcomed the new agreement but insisted that any water from Mexico must be met with increased federal funding to improve the local infrastructure “We lose 40% of the Mexican water payments to evaporation and seepage,” Gonzalez said “If we don’t get our infrastructure in order Aiming to invest in other solutions for water De La Cruz formed the South Texas Water Working Group in August which focuses on developing water infrastructure to enable the region to be self-sustaining when it comes to water Cortez noted the agreement would only provide short-term stability and lamented the irreversible losses experienced by the region due to a shortage of water Last year, Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, the last sugar mill in the state, announced their closure after 51 years in operation due to the lack of water. As drought conditions persisted, limiting the amount of water that could be used to irrigate crops, the agriculture community grew concerned that the citrus industry could be next The Texas Farm Bureau expressed appreciation for the deal and for the critical relief it will bring to farmers over the next six months “The recovery of Rio Grande Valley agriculture will take time after years of hardship,” said Russell Boening “Mexico must make good on its new promise to deliver water.” To provide some financial relief to the farmers who have been unable to plant their crops along with the Texas’ congressional delegation secured $280 million in disaster assistance "I've been working on this problem for over 25 years," said Dale Murden "We have never had this taken to a level this high where we've finally seen some action." "This is going to help citrus get through the summer and it's going to help produce have a fall." Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas Disclosure: Texas Citrus Mutual and Texas Farm Bureau have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival Texas’ breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase Choose an amount or learn more about membership Cast your votes for the 2025 DefenseScoop 50 — voting is open through April 18 The Pentagon is preparing to deploy counter-drone capabilities around the U.S.-Mexico border as part of its ongoing support of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and security mandates there two senior defense officials told lawmakers Tuesday. “[President Donald Trump] has issued several executive orders directing the Department of Defense to take all appropriate and lawful measures to ensure the complete operational control of the border is responding by preparing the path for employment of [counter-small uncrewed aerial system or CsUAS] activities along the border — both in support of DOD interests and in support of [the Department of Homeland Security] as the lead federal agency,” said Mark Ditlevson acting assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs Ditlevson and Rear Adm. Paul Spedero Jr., Joint Chiefs of Staff vice director for operations, J3, revealed those plans in written and oral testimony during a House Military and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing about recent reports of unauthorized drone activity that threaten U.S “We know that cartels have used [uncrewed aerial systems or UAS] for unauthorized surveillance to assess our troop size to solicit and enable attacks from other vectors We know that they have used drones for kinetic attacks,” Spedero said The rapid emergence, proliferation and application of drones are fundamentally shifting the way that militarized groups and other adversarial organizations conduct warfare Ditlevson and Spedero confirmed that the Pentagon is moving to buy hardware and software assets designed to help combatant commanders better understand their operating environments and their commands’ capacity to conduct non-kinetic and kinetic defense against UAS threats. they also said DOD officials have identified and are pursuing a range of policy process and technology improvements to govern and streamline DOD’s execution of counter-UAS activities However, several lawmakers warned that on some U.S. defense installations — and now, particularly at the southern border, where Trump recently authorized the military to take control — service members have suggested that they’re still not confident in gauging when and if they are permitted to respond to incursions from unidentified drones and you need to understand that if there is something that is assessed as a threat to your forces and your installation I would counter that they have authority right now on the southwest border to engage UAS,” Spedero noted he and Ditlevson further stated that “transnational criminal organizations are adapting to our operations by using drones to track the movements of U.S Customs and Border Patrol agents and DOD forces near the border” and that the department is puzzling out an associated initiative to defend against small UAS in the near term. They did not share implementation details or comment on possible policy changes and capabilities updates that need to be completed for the CsUAS “path to employment” to come into fruition “It’s critical — the cartels are using drones to surveil our military and law enforcement at the border and they’re going to use everything they can to find holes that will then dictate their behavior we need to have counter-drone technology there,” subcommittee Chair Rep “If the border patrol is saying it’s a problem it’s a problem.” The Florida tomato industry is stepping into uncharted territory following the termination of a decades old trade agreement with Mexico marking what growers hope will be a turning point in their fight for fair competition The U.S. Department of Commerce's decision to end the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement has been met with optimism from domestic producers but the path forward remains uncertain as the market adjusts to new trade realities executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange framed the move as a necessary reset for protection from unfair competition "This decision has been affirmed multiple times now in multiple administrations during the time period of this agreement that dumping has occurred," Guenther explained there need to be penalties applied to the Mexican industry to ensure that the American tomato farmers can have a just and fair playing field." If it stays the course, on July 14, most Mexican tomatoes will face a 20.91 percent tariff. U.S. growers lost half their market share since 1994, with imports surging 400 percent under the agreement. Mexico plans to renegotiate while maintaining antidumping tariffs on pork and chicken The transition unfolds as Florida's agricultural sector faces parallel challenges particularly with labor costs Guenther identified as the industry's "highest input cost" which depends heavily on the H-2A visa program which brings workers into the country to work temporarily "That's been a very successful program for the tomato industry and a lot of specialty crops and fruit and vegetables in Florida," Guenther noted the cost of that program it continues to rise the bureaucracy of that program continues to rise." will determine whether Florida's tomato fields see a renaissance or continued struggle in the post-agreement era The Commerce Department's 90-day implementation clock continues ticking toward a July deadline which could redefine fresh produce aisles across North America new video loaded: Trump Offers to Send U.S transcriptBackbars0:00/1:12-1:12transcript sir.” “So Mexico is saying that I offered to send U.S troops into Mexico to take care of the cartels Do you think I’m going to answer that question?” “That’s why I’m asking They are horrible people that have been killing people left and right that have been — they’ve made a fortune on selling drugs and destroying our people I told her that I would be honored to go in and do it But the president of Mexico is a lovely woman meat and dairy position Mexico to surpass Canada as leading ag export market in 2025 food and agricultural exports to Mexico have surged 65% over the past four years making it the fastest growing export market for a host of American agricultural commodities and products exports has been spurred by the country’s booming post COVID-19 economy and a rapidly growing manufacturing sector The economic upswing has allowed Mexican consumers to expand their traditional diet food and agricultural producers are helping meet the country’s growing demand for meat food and ag exports to Mexico climbed to $31.4 billion Mexico will likely surpass Canada to claim the top spot for the first time in 2025 despite some emerging headwinds. “But a few risk factors are developing that could slow the pace of additional growth and the unusually strong peso over the last couple of years has weakened by about 15% since early 2024 Mexican consumers’ purchasing power will be more challenged in 2025.” agricultural exports rose from 11.2% to 16.4% soybeans and poultry products make up the top five U.S according to USDA Foreign Agricultural Service data oilseeds and related products comprise the largest category of U.S Strong recent growth is largely attributable to rising feed demand for the country’s expanding animal protein industry and severe drought which is limiting domestic crop yields and grazing conditions Given the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S Mexico will almost certainly overtake China as the largest export market for U.S dairy exports to Mexico continue to follow a pattern of rapid growth dairy export value to Mexico has risen by 76% since 2020 driven mostly by Mexico’s steadily increasing appetite for cheese Mexico is the largest export destination for U.S dairy products and almost twice the size of the second largest And while Mexico’s domestic meat and poultry production continues to climb consumption is expanding so quickly that imports from the U.S Mexico is also a sizeable importer of a wide array of U.S packaged food and related processed agricultural products bakery and confectionery items represent most of those products Other categories include fresh and processed fruit and vegetables cross border trade of food and agricultural products between the U.S and Mexico has doubled to reach $80 billion While free trade agreements have fallen out of favor in recent years Fox said it’s hard to see the interconnectedness in food systems between U.S and Mexico as anything but a “win-win” for both countries “Consumers on both sides of the border benefit from a wider array of food choices at lower prices than they would otherwise.” CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power water and communications providers in all 50 states The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 78,000 farmers ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S rural infrastructure and rural communities CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore Contestants Gear Up for iba’s Gold Medal Contest for Bakers Celebrates Grand Opening of New State-of-the-Art Manufacturing Plant