🔗 Share this article Daily Murders in the nation Drop Over a Third In President Sheinbaum, Per Government Figures The typical number of daily killings monthly in Mexico has dropped by more than a third since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office, as stated by fresh administrative figures. But, security specialists have advised that homicide data might not signal better national security. Notable Decline in Daily Figures There was an mean of nearly 55 murders a day in the month of November as opposed to roughly 87 when the President began the presidential office in the previous September. This information was shared by the director of the country’s federal public security system, Marcela Figueroa Franco, during the leader's regular press briefing on Tuesday. “The result in killings that we’ve had during these months is remarkably important,” the President stated, adding that in November the smallest number of homicides were recorded for any single November in the last decade. Recent Background and Official Plan Violent organized crime infighting, coupled with the administration's highly militarised efforts to combat the drug gangs, have led to Mexico’s homicide rate rise sharply in the past few years. The figure reached a peak of 36,773 killings in 2020, as reported by the country’s official data office. That meant Mexico a murder figure over four times greater than the United States. However, killings have been on the decrease, falling to 33,550 in the last calendar year. Claudia Sheinbaum has linked her national security approach for an apparently steeper drop in killings in the current year. At a press conference in the summer, the head of state declared: “There is a strategy, we have oversight of the plan, and there is detailed monitoring town by town in some cases. The strategy works. And we have to persist at it every day.” The main components of Sheinbaum’s security strategy encompass: Reinforcing Mexico’s federal guard. Enhancing information gathering and investigation efforts. Greater coordination between various agencies. Expert Skepticism and Statistical Limitations But, security analysts urged caution that relying on murder data to assess the situation of peace was misleading. This is notably true in light of the increase in different criminal activities such as abductions. “It would be positive information if this was a reduction, but I think we can’t just focus on the murder numbers and say: ‘Well then, good,’” stated Cecilia Farfán-Méndez, an authority on Mexico's organised crime. “I would be guardedly hopeful.” As reported by the public policy analysis organization Mexico Evalúa, homicides in total declined by more than 20% in the initial 10 months of this year relative to the same timeframe the previous year. However, disappearances have risen by 15% and in some states have risen by as much as 200%. “Numbers on homicides is no longer valid for gauging the reality of insecurity,” argued Armando Vargas, a security expert at Mexico Evalúa. “First, we have law enforcement and prosecutors who do not have the capacity or the will to properly recognize and categorize remains. Second, organized [criminals] … have the capability to hide violent acts through abductions.” Vargas added that relying on month-to-month means of daily killings was also an issue because it could mask days when there were notably elevated numbers of murders. “Relying on the per-day average renders high peaks of violence invisible,” he concluded. Arrests and Seizures as Measures of Progress Where the government can highlight the success of its safety plan is on detentions and confiscations. Almost 40,000 individuals were detained between last October and November 2025 for serious offenses, per official data. More than 20,000 firearms were taken and 311 tonnes of drugs confiscated. “The former US president cannot accuse President Sheinbaum of inaction, because in reality she is accomplishing a lot with these many thousands of arrests, thousands of confiscations, and all the tactical degrading of organised crime. It’s extremely in political terms profitable,” commented Vargas. Ongoing Violence and Societal Anger But despite these efforts, Mexico remains beset by high bloodshed, with several regions in the grip of cartel-related bloodshed. Recently there was a prominent murder of a well-liked mayor in the state of Michoacan, among 10 local leaders killed in the last 12 months. A short time later, thousands of protesters protested in Mexico City and across the country to express their anger at graft and drug violence. “The federal government presents [data] in a manner to create a picture of improvement. From a political standpoint it’s highly potent, socially it’s extremely problematic,” Vargas concluded.
The typical number of daily killings monthly in Mexico has dropped by more than a third since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office, as stated by fresh administrative figures. But, security specialists have advised that homicide data might not signal better national security. Notable Decline in Daily Figures There was an mean of nearly 55 murders a day in the month of November as opposed to roughly 87 when the President began the presidential office in the previous September. This information was shared by the director of the country’s federal public security system, Marcela Figueroa Franco, during the leader's regular press briefing on Tuesday. “The result in killings that we’ve had during these months is remarkably important,” the President stated, adding that in November the smallest number of homicides were recorded for any single November in the last decade. Recent Background and Official Plan Violent organized crime infighting, coupled with the administration's highly militarised efforts to combat the drug gangs, have led to Mexico’s homicide rate rise sharply in the past few years. The figure reached a peak of 36,773 killings in 2020, as reported by the country’s official data office. That meant Mexico a murder figure over four times greater than the United States. However, killings have been on the decrease, falling to 33,550 in the last calendar year. Claudia Sheinbaum has linked her national security approach for an apparently steeper drop in killings in the current year. At a press conference in the summer, the head of state declared: “There is a strategy, we have oversight of the plan, and there is detailed monitoring town by town in some cases. The strategy works. And we have to persist at it every day.” The main components of Sheinbaum’s security strategy encompass: Reinforcing Mexico’s federal guard. Enhancing information gathering and investigation efforts. Greater coordination between various agencies. Expert Skepticism and Statistical Limitations But, security analysts urged caution that relying on murder data to assess the situation of peace was misleading. This is notably true in light of the increase in different criminal activities such as abductions. “It would be positive information if this was a reduction, but I think we can’t just focus on the murder numbers and say: ‘Well then, good,’” stated Cecilia Farfán-Méndez, an authority on Mexico's organised crime. “I would be guardedly hopeful.” As reported by the public policy analysis organization Mexico Evalúa, homicides in total declined by more than 20% in the initial 10 months of this year relative to the same timeframe the previous year. However, disappearances have risen by 15% and in some states have risen by as much as 200%. “Numbers on homicides is no longer valid for gauging the reality of insecurity,” argued Armando Vargas, a security expert at Mexico Evalúa. “First, we have law enforcement and prosecutors who do not have the capacity or the will to properly recognize and categorize remains. Second, organized [criminals] … have the capability to hide violent acts through abductions.” Vargas added that relying on month-to-month means of daily killings was also an issue because it could mask days when there were notably elevated numbers of murders. “Relying on the per-day average renders high peaks of violence invisible,” he concluded. Arrests and Seizures as Measures of Progress Where the government can highlight the success of its safety plan is on detentions and confiscations. Almost 40,000 individuals were detained between last October and November 2025 for serious offenses, per official data. More than 20,000 firearms were taken and 311 tonnes of drugs confiscated. “The former US president cannot accuse President Sheinbaum of inaction, because in reality she is accomplishing a lot with these many thousands of arrests, thousands of confiscations, and all the tactical degrading of organised crime. It’s extremely in political terms profitable,” commented Vargas. Ongoing Violence and Societal Anger But despite these efforts, Mexico remains beset by high bloodshed, with several regions in the grip of cartel-related bloodshed. Recently there was a prominent murder of a well-liked mayor in the state of Michoacan, among 10 local leaders killed in the last 12 months. A short time later, thousands of protesters protested in Mexico City and across the country to express their anger at graft and drug violence. “The federal government presents [data] in a manner to create a picture of improvement. From a political standpoint it’s highly potent, socially it’s extremely problematic,” Vargas concluded.