BajaNomad

This will go over well

ligui - 1-9-2026 at 10:04 AM

The American president today said he is going to have the us military attack the cartels in Mexico on the ground.

If this happens I believe the cartels will then target Americans in Mexico !

There goes the Viva Baja feeling

Could become very dangerous for tourists and permanent residents

If he starts anything I'm considering selling all of my property in Mexico.

Actions without thought of consequences. :P

Let's hear your opinions

Tioloco - 1-9-2026 at 10:41 AM

Something needs to be done to stop the cartels. They are no longer limiting their business to the shipment of drugs. They are full scale in the business of extortion and kidnapping. Mexican citizens are no longer able to live free and operate businesses without the imminent fear of being victimized by the cartel thugs. This has grown like a cancer.

Your local tour boat operator, hotel owner, restaurant owner, etc are likely already or will be soon paying a fee to the cartels for "protection".

I don't foresee the cartel leadership being shortsighted enough to target American tourists in retaliation to an American operation. That would only serve to ramp up American military involvement.

The "Hugs not Bullets" strategy has only assisted with the growth of the cartels and there seems to be no other strategy in play by the Mexican government.

Abductions, murders, extortion, etc need to be stopped.

Tommy A - 1-9-2026 at 11:14 AM

Let the fireworks begin!

Plata, or Plumo?

AKgringo - 1-9-2026 at 11:15 AM

Accept their silver, or fear their lead!

I agree that US agents should not be conducting strikes in Mexico without working directly with Mexican authority. Unfortunately, I also believe that Cartel influence through bribery or, extorsion, is present at all levels of their society!

I can visualize corrupt government agencies using US troops to wipe out a cartel that is a rival to the one that owns them.


As I have stated before, I am more concerned about some Cartel 'want to be' that does not meet their standards. I don't see that thug going to work in a Walmart or Pemex after washing out of the mob!

Even if use of US troops in Mexico did not result in retaliation, widespread resentment would lead to a low level of enjoyment of my road trips!

[Edited on 1-9-2026 by AKgringo]

Tioloco - 1-9-2026 at 12:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
Accept their silver, or fear their lead!



Even if use of US troops in Mexico did not result in retaliation, widespread resentment would lead to a low level of enjoyment of my road trips!

[Edited on 1-9-2026 by AKgringo]


I can tell you that highway pirates can lead to a very low level of road trip enjoyment. Way too many recent cases of highway robberies with zero government intervention. Something has to change and it doesn't appear the Mexican officials are capable of fixing it. Sheinbaum, like most other politicians is controlled by the cartels. Sad but true.

David K - 1-9-2026 at 01:01 PM

I think we have given Mexico plenty of time to stop the cartels and what they have done hasn't worked. Do you have another, better idea?

chippy - 1-9-2026 at 01:55 PM

More saber rattling from the "peace president" or should I say POS president.

Tioloco - 1-9-2026 at 01:58 PM

Quote: Originally posted by chippy  
More saber rattling from the "peace president" or should I say POS president.


Yeah, that peaceful policy of Sheinbaum's is working GREAT!
for the criminals.

mtgoat666 - 1-9-2026 at 03:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
I think we have given Mexico plenty of time to stop the cartels and what they have done hasn't worked. Do you have another, better idea?


Better idea is to Respect the sovereignty of mexico. If trump has an issue with drug deaths, then maybe he should police the American citizen drug users and domestic American citizen dealers. ICE agents should be converted into DEA agents, and should chase drug users and dealers instead of chasing restaurant workers and construction workers.

surabi - 1-9-2026 at 04:26 PM

Saber rattling about invading other countries is a designed to distract people from the disastrous state of domestic affairs. Upset about the economy, govt. cover-ups of criminal acts, quid pro quo pardoning of convicted criminals, gutting of environmental protections, law enforcement terrorizing your own citizenry?

Oh, look over here- we're gonna invade other countries and take whatever we want! Isn't that exciting!

JZ - 1-9-2026 at 09:38 PM

It's funny to watch some people care more about their ability to take vacations in MX or live cheaply in MX.

Than they care about the incredible violence the cartels are inflicting on the Mexican population.

The same people tell us every day how we should help people in need. But it's always with someone else's money. :light:



mtgoat666 - 1-10-2026 at 12:03 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
It's funny to watch some people care more about their ability to take vacations in MX or live cheaply in MX.

Than they care about the incredible violence the cartels are inflicting on the Mexican population.

The same people tell us every day how we should help people in need. But it's always with someone else's money. :light:


Pee wee,
Forgive us for our sins. None of us will ever be able to live up to your moral superiority.

JDCanuck - 1-10-2026 at 12:36 AM

Sheinbaum is not the same as previous Presidents and should be judged on her own record. There has been increased anti Cartel raids (one major one just last week )since she has been elected, violent crime is down, tho not as much in Mexico YET as it was in Mexico city when she presided there as Mayor. Best action is to work with her as she has done up til now and is more than willing to do as her recent actions have shown.
Our Prime Minister recently confirmed the Cartels have spread right through our 3 countries and has confirmed we are increasing our efforts through additional forces and cooperation in the past year, and several well publicized news items confirm that with multiple recent busts and drug/property/cash weapons seizures.

JDCanuck - 1-10-2026 at 12:48 AM

It might come as a surprise to some that far more drugs and illegal weapons are being shipped north to Canada than are being shipped south across the same border. This is certainly not what you are being fed. Fortunately, both Canadian and US authorities have cooperated and fed each other intelligence that protects both our countries and the resulting busts are the consequence. The same is now confirmed between Canada and Mexico since their meeting this past fall as Carney and Sheinbaum made this a major issue when they met.
There are two ways to fight powerful Cartels, you can increase international cooperation and throw combined resources at them, or invade another country and stop all cooperation. Which one do you think works the best?

[Edited on 1-10-2026 by JDCanuck]

Tioloco - 1-10-2026 at 08:15 AM

JD-
Sheinbaum is the hand picked successor of AMLO. She has shown the only progress against cartels is when Trump has given her an ultimatum... and that progress of turning over cartel members is not sufficient to stop the problem.

You speak of changing travel plans to the USA because of the fear of American police yet you travel in Mexico? Give us all a break, dude. The chances of having a negative police interaction in USA is on par with that same situation in Canada.

Mexico has an out of control violence problem that affects EVERYONE. If you don't want to acknowledge it, fine. But your opinion is obviously slanted toward your political agenda.

I am hopeful Trump takes action and it has the effect of stomping out organized crime in Mexico. As it currently stands, Mexico is much more dangerous to the traveler/ camper here on Bajanomad than it ever has been.

JDCanuck - 1-10-2026 at 08:37 AM

Sheinbaum's history in Mexico City was to drop the violent deaths by about 50% when she was Mayor, which was one of the reasons why she was elected with such a large majority and continues to have the popularity she enjoys. Trump wasn't involved when she accomplished that feat.
As I said, she has worked with other Countries(Canada didn't have to do any threatening to get that response) to set up a cooperative attack on Organized crime since she was elected through shared resources. This is the best way to reduce Organized crime, not bomb and strafe a few areas where they exist and let God sort them all out.
And my political agenda is to improve a bad situation and make it better so we can enjoy it even more through thoughtful application of minimal force, not sweep the country with more poorly targeted indiscriminate violence.


[Edited on 1-10-2026 by JDCanuck]

JDCanuck - 1-10-2026 at 09:09 AM

As for why Canadians and Europeans are avoiding US for visits and instead increasingly travelling to other countries like Mexico, they do indeed find it less safe and more problematic. This is not some Government decision but people voting with their feet. Can you truly say you personally feel safer and have more individual freedom today than you did 2 years ago?
I'd hate to see Mexico create the same levels of animosity and conflict among the common citizens where we travel to as we see growing in the US recently. We do enjoy engaging with the other locals and find them exceptionally warm to deal with. In fact, every dealing we have had with Mexican police has been polite, respectful and helpful, even when we were the ones at fault. It's what we have come to rely on and we are never reluctant to approach them for help or directions. We gladly thank them at Christmas by contributing to their party funds at their checkpoints. Your experiences might be different, but that's what we have experienced in hundreds of contacts with them.

[Edited on 1-10-2026 by JDCanuck]

[Edited on 1-10-2026 by JDCanuck]

Tioloco - 1-10-2026 at 09:18 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck  
Can you truly say you personally feel safer and have more individual freedom today than you did 2 years ago?


[Edited on 1-10-2026 by JDCanuck]


In USA, YES

In Mexico, NO

JDCanuck - 1-10-2026 at 09:41 AM

Sounds to me like you had best stay in the areas where you feel secure then as we continue to do. In fact, I'm surprised you follow Baja forums at all if you find the area so distasteful and dangerous.

Tioloco - 1-10-2026 at 10:20 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck  
Sounds to me like you had best stay in the areas where you feel secure then as we continue to do. In fact, I'm surprised you follow Baja forums at all if you find the area so distasteful and dangerous.


You are mistaken, baja amigo. I am in Mexico regularly and can see the situation first hand having 2 houses in separate Mexican states. Also have the advantage of Mexican family members giving their first hand accounts of what is happening. Every Mexican I speak to is hopeful the security situation improves soon and some speak highly of the American president being able to help fix it.

Sorry if this runs against your perceptions or if it rattles your feelings of security. Cold cerveza, good tacos and sunny days!

ligui - 1-10-2026 at 11:25 AM

JD. I just wanted to say thank you for your adult input on this subject :thumbup:

Thanks also to the rest of you . it's interesting to see the points of view on this subject.

I believe in coordinated cooperation between all countries.

This is a criminal issue lets work to solve it together with increased cooperation and increase in resources.

JZ - 1-10-2026 at 01:38 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck  
Can you truly say you personally feel safer and have more individual freedom today than you did 2 years ago?


Hell yes. 2025 saw the largest one-year drop in murder ever recorded.

CA has even cracked down on homeless encampments and smash and grab robberies. Both of these things were happening within 2-3 miles of our house in LA. One store in an outdoor mall where we regularly shop got hit 5 times.

We do a couple events in DC every year. If feel much better now with my wife walking around the city.

2025 Year in Review: A Remarkable Drop In Crime
https://jasher.substack.com/p/2025-year-in-review-a-remarkab...



[Edited on 1-10-2026 by JZ]

Ateo - 1-10-2026 at 02:35 PM

We will never win. There is great power, influence and MONEY in soothing the souls of Americans. It's a waste of time. It's a pointless fight against ourselves. Ya think your're gonna actually win a war like that?