Daily Homicides in the nation Drop Thirty-Seven Percent During President Sheinbaum, As per Official Figures

The average figure of per-day killings monthly in the country has fallen by 37% since President Claudia Sheinbaum assumed power, as stated by new administrative statistics. Nevertheless, public safety analysts have cautioned that homicide data may not point to improved countrywide safety.

Significant Decline in Daily Figures

Officials reported an mean of almost 55 killings a day in November as opposed to almost 87 when the President began the presidency in September of last year. This announcement was provided by the director of the nation's federal safety agency, Marcela Figueroa Franco, during the leader's daily press briefing on a recent Tuesday.

“The result in murders that have been recorded during these months is extremely notable,” the President remarked, adding that last month the least figure of homicides were recorded for any single November in the last decade.

Historical Context and Government Strategy

Violent drug cartel infighting, combined with the administration's heavily military efforts to combat the trafficking organizations, have caused Mexico’s homicide numbers soar in recent times. The figure peaked at a maximum of 36,773 homicides in 2020, according to the country’s official data office.

That meant Mexico a murder rate more than 4x higher than that of the United States. Since then, killings have been on the decrease, dropping to 33,550 last year. Sheinbaum has linked her public safety strategy for an seemingly steeper decline in homicides this year.

At a media briefing in the summer, the Mexican leader said: “We have a strategy, there is tracking of the plan, and we have specific tracking town by town in some cases. The approach is effective. And we have to continue working at it every day.”

The main components of the President's safety plan encompass:

• Reinforcing Mexico’s domestic security force.
• Enhancing information gathering and investigation work.
• Greater collaboration between government agencies.

Expert Warnings and Statistical Limitations

However, security experts warned that using homicide data to paint a picture of peace was flawed. This is especially true considering the increase in different criminal activities such as people going missing.

“This would be excellent news if this was a reduction, but I think we can’t just focus on the homicide numbers and say: ‘Alright, good,’” stated Cecilia Farfán-Méndez, an authority on Mexico's cartels. “I would be guardedly positive.”

According to the policy analysis organization Mexico Evalúa, homicides in total declined by over 20% in the initial 10 months of the current year relative to the identical timeframe the previous year. Yet, missing persons cases have risen by 15% and in some states have risen by up to 200%.

“Data on murders is not valid for gauging the context of insecurity,” argued Armando Vargas, a safety analyst at Mexico Evalúa. “Firstly, we have law enforcement and prosecutors who lack the resources or the will to accurately recognize and categorize remains. Secondly, organized [criminals] … have the ability to mask violent acts through abductions.”

Vargas noted that relying on monthly averages of everyday homicides was similarly concerning because it may hide periods when there were especially elevated numbers of killings.

“Using the per-day average renders surges of violent crime invisible,” he concluded.

Detentions and Seizures as Measures of Progress

Where the government can cite the effectiveness of its security plan is on arrests and seizures. Almost 40,000 individuals were arrested between October 2024 and this past November for serious crimes, per official figures. Over 20,000 firearms were taken and 311 tons of drugs seized.

“Donald Trump can't claim President Sheinbaum of not acting, because the reality is she is accomplishing a lot with these thousands of arrests, many thousands of confiscations, and all the tactical degrading of organised crime. It’s very politically beneficial,” said Vargas.

Ongoing Unrest and Societal Frustration

But notwithstanding these measures, Mexico remains grappling with severe bloodshed, with a number of regions in the throes of cartel-related conflict. Last month there was a notable assassination of a well-liked local official in the region of Michoacan, one of 10 mayors murdered in the last year.

A short time later, thousands of young people took to the streets in Mexico City and throughout the nation to express their anger at corruption and cartel violence.

“The administration presents [data] in a way to construct a picture of improvement. Politically it’s highly effective, socially it’s highly questionable,” Vargas said.