Thousands Protest Nationwide Enforced Disappearances in Mexico

Thousands of people across Mexico have protested to demand justice and government action regarding over 130,000 enforced disappearances, most occurring since 2007 amid the "war on drugs" initiated by then-President Felipe Calderón. Relatives, friends, and human rights activists marched in cities such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Córdoba, calling on President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration to intensify efforts to find the missing. Drug cartels and organized crime are primarily responsible for these disappearances, often involving forced recruitment or murder, though security forces have also been implicated. The protests spanned the entire country, highlighting the widespread impact on families and communities from southern states like Oaxaca to northern ones like Sonora and Durango. Many families have formed search teams known as "buscadores" who risk their lives investigating mass graves and cartel-related sites, such as a recently discovered narco-ranch in Jalisco. These activists face significant danger, with some buscadores disappearing after their searches, underscoring the perilous environment surrounding enforced disappearances in Mexico.