The Mexican government is ramping up its response to the ongoing crisis of forced disappearances, following the shocking discovery of an alleged extermination camp in Jalisco. On March 11, 2025, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced reforms aimed at utilizing "the full force of the State" to address the alarming rate of missing persons, which currently exceeds 100,000.
The find at the ranch in Teuchitlán, said to be linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, has escalated national concern over the state of public safety and the efficacy of the current administration’s approach to organized crime. Sheinbaum stated, "In the past, the disappearance in Mexico was perpetrated by the State; now it is mainly linked to organized crime," according to El Universal. The urgency of her remarks aims to shift the narrative surrounding disappearances, underscoring the need for coordinated action among federal and state authorities.
As part of her administration's new measures, Sheinbaum announced the strengthening of the National Search Commission and the Executive Commission for Attention to Victims. These reforms will include modifications to the General Law on Forced Disappearance, establishing a "single base of forensic information" with data from all 32 state prosecutor's offices and the Federal Attorney General's Office. Additionally, the government intends to create a "federal human identification platform" to streamline processes and improve efficiency in ongoing investigations.
One crucial aspect of the reforms is the promise to implement immediate search alerts across all law enforcement entities without the prior waiting period of 72 hours, a move that advocates for families of the missing have long demanded. Sheinbaum has also insisted on equating the crime of disappearance with that of kidnapping, a necessary step for legal accountability in such cases. Furthermore, the government will begin monthly publications detailing investigation case files to promote transparency in their processes.
The emotional weight behind these announcements stems directly from the collective outrage following the revelations of the ranch, where investigators found hundreds of shoes, charred skulls, bullet casings, and farewell letters. Representatives from the Jalisco state prosecutor's office confirmed that on March 12, 2025, they located six common graves containing human remains as well as more than 500 additional indicators of human remains.
The ongoing mobilizations across Mexico underscore the community's demand for justice. Emotional placards proclaiming that "Mexico is not a country, it's a grave" have surfaced during protests in major cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Cancún. Human rights organizations and search groups, such as Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco, have come together to push for accountability amidst frustrations that the government has failed to act in a timely and effective manner.
Angélica, a member of Guerreros Buscadores, expressed the group's determination to uncover the truth and highlighted the seriousness of the situation: "It is delicate; it is a lot of indignation that they smear our name," she said, asking to withhold her full name due to fears of retaliation. Reports indicate that local authorities had visited the ranch previously, in September 2024, failing to uncover the atrocities being committed.
In a disturbing turn of events, masked, armed individuals linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel have attempted to intimidate families searching for their missing members. A video circulated on social media features a member of the cartel accusing these families of lying and criticizes their attempts to expose the actions of the organized crime group. "With what basis did the group of mothers searching enter a secured property? They should have reported to a competent authority instead of creating a horror movie," said the spokesperson in the video.
The federal prosecutor's office took over the investigation, although immediate reactions to the video have shown growing concerns regarding personal safety among the community members involved in the search. Despite the ongoing backlash against the cartels' propaganda, experts like David Saucedo argue that this form of intimidation serves as a double-edged sword—portraying the crime syndicates as just keepers of order while simultaneously trying to counter the detrimental images caused by the recent discoveries.
Reflecting on the perspectives surrounding this crisis, Saucedo noted that while some young individuals may voluntarily align themselves with these cartels, many are coerced into joining under duress. Moreover, he observed that the recent findings severely undermine narratives that depict cartels as benevolent protectors in various communities.
As the Mexican government positions itself to tackle this crisis, investigative cooperation between authorities and families is more essential than ever. Pablo Lemus, Governor of Jalisco, has stepped up to lead the investigation, denouncing the previous local government’s failures to manage these critical situations. During a recent federal security meeting, Lemus promised transparency, stating, "The strategy is very simple: tell the truth." Nevertheless, members of Guerreros Buscadores echo sentiments of fear, lamenting, "No one protects us. We fear every day because we want to know where our children are."
The complexities surrounding the crisis of forced disappearances in Mexico reflect a more profound societal challenge that demands immediate and decisive action. Families affected, local communities, and the federal government must unite to combat organized crime and restore trust in public institutions to prevent future tragedies.
