The recent reports about escalating cartel violence in Mexico have sparked global attention and concern. The death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes- better known as “El Mencho,” leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has brought up serious discussions about security in Mexico.
Kael Cortes and Tyrese Siguenza are TRU students who stepped forward to share their different perspectives on how cartel violence affects people both directly and indirectly. Cortes shared his perspective as a Mexican international student, and Siguenza shared his through a Canadian perspective.
Cortes, a 19-year-old Computer Science student, grew up in Colima, Mexico, where cartel violence is nothing new. Cortes says the presence of cartel activity has had a noticeable impact on life in the region, particularly since 2020.
When asked about the recent surge in cartel violence, he explained that the effects have been widespread throughout the country.
“I think it impacted half of Mexico,” Cortes said. “My city has been badly impacted by that cartel since 2020.”
He shared a story from a friend who had been stuck at school during a violent incident. According to Cortes, the shootings in the area continued for hours, preventing students from leaving safely. In another instance, one of his cousins had traveled to Guadalajara for a graduation ceremony when she witnessed significant unrest.
“She got stuck there for a couple of days,” Cortes said. “There were burned buses and blockades, and my aunt and another cousin had to drive through roadblocks to try to get there.”
Cortes says living in Canada now offers a sense of security and safety that he rarely experienced growing up.
“I feel really safe here,” he said. “I can walk around and hang out with friends. In Mexico, during the 14 years I lived there, I think I hung out with friends maybe two times.”
Cortes recalled an incident where a politician was killed only a few blocks away from his home when he was younger. Experiences like that led his parents to impose strict rules, including not allowing him to go to other houses with his friends or be out late at night.
Eventually, Cortes recalled, the concerns led his parents to enroll him in private school, believing it would provide a safer learning environment without negative influences.
When asked what TRU students should understand before visiting Mexico, Cortes emphasized the importance of cultural awareness and exercising caution.
“Learn at least a little bit of Spanish,” he said. “As immigrants in Canada, we’re expected to learn English, so visitors should try to learn our language too.”
Cortes also suggested tourists avoid exploring unfamiliar areas alone and stay in well-lit or populated places. In some cases, he recommends sticking to the resort if tourists are unsure about the surrounding regions.
Although he still visits Mexico occasionally to see family, Cortes says those trips have decreased in frequency. When he returned during the past holiday season, he noticed changes in Colima’s atmosphere.
“There’s a lot more people from out of town now,” he said. “Traffic is messier, and sometimes you see people you don’t want to cross paths with.”
While Cortes’ perspectives come from someone who grew up in Mexico, Canadian TRU student Tyrese Siguenza offers a different viewpoint as a frequent traveller.
Siguenza says his family typically travels to Mexico every winter. Over the years, he has visited destinations such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Puerto Vallarta.
Despite the concerning headlines that often appear in Canadian news, Siguenza says he has not personally noticed dramatic safety issues during his visits with family.
“When we go, it’s mostly just casual tourist areas,” he said. “You see regular citizens and sometimes military on the beaches, but usually everything is fine as long as you stay in tourist zones.”
However, he acknowledges that media coverage often focuses on violence occurring in regions that tourists rarely visit.
“A lot of the news covers cartel activity in cities that Canadian tourists don’t normally go to,” he said. “When places I’ve mentioned are mentioned in the news, it’s usually for something like a hurricane.”
Even so, Siguenza believes travelers should still exercise caution and research specific destinations before visiting. His family typically relies on his father’s experience travelling in developing countries to identify safer areas.
Siguenza noted that tourists can sometimes be more vulnerable than locals, especially if they lack Spanish and social awareness.
Siguenza shared a story about his parents’ first trip to Puerto Vallarta before their honeymoon. At a party, his father briefly left to use the restroom and accidentally walked into a situation involving cartel members exchanging drugs.
“If he didn’t know how to speak Spanish, it could have gone really badly,” he said.
Siguenza believes that tourists have a responsibility to educate themselves before travelling to any country.
“If you go somewhere thinking everything is sunshine and rainbows, and you don’t research anything, that’s on you,” he said.
Although his family will be traveling to El Salvador this year instead of Mexico, Siguenza says he expects to visit Mexico again within the next few years.
Together, the perspectives of Cortes and Siguenza highlight how experiences with cartel violence can vary depending on whether someone lives in affected regions or visits popular tourist destinations.
While the death of El Mencho and the ongoing conflicts between cartels continue to dominate headlines, these interviews revealed the complex reality behind the news media, where safety, perception, and personal experience intersect.