TULA, Mexico (AP) — In the wake of a terrorizing assault, 74-year-old María Cabrera and her family were forced to flee into the shadowy mountains of central Mexico, having taken only the clothes on their backs.
Days later, Cabrera scavenged through the ashes of her former life, collecting fragments of pots, woven textiles, and a small wooden cross. This was her last visit to the home she cherished for over 60 years.
“Oh God, why have you abandoned me?” she cried, her voice thick with sorrow as she stepped through the charred remains of her mattress in a collapsed room, the refrigerator warped beyond recognition at the door. “How will we rebuild? We lack money, we lack everything.”
Soon, she would join countless others displaced across conflict-stricken areas in Mexico, a situation that experts are labeling an invisible crisis with lasting humanitarian implications. Official statistics on the number of displaced individuals are rarely comprehensive, leaving many without necessary resources after violent upheavals.
‘We can’t live here anymore’
Cabrera fled her quaint town on Friday after enduring years of escalating cartel violence in Tula, a community comprised of about 200 native Náhuatl people. This region in Guerrero has been devastated by years of territorial wars among conflicting criminal organizations.
Recently, an outfit known as Los Ardillos launched an attack on her town and several others, employing drone-dropped explosives, opening fire on local community police, slaughtering livestock, and reducing homes like Cabrera’s to ashes.
Cabrera carefully entrusted her belongings to soldiers as they assisted a small group of families returning home to gather essentials one last time. She made a heartfelt plea as armed men in camouflage placed her items into a truck. While taking a final walk through her garden, she sought forgiveness from the pets she had to abandon.
“We don’t want to leave them,” she lamented. “But we endured far too much. We simply cannot stay here any longer.”
Scattering across Mexico
The Indigenous and People’s Council of Guerrero-Emiliano Zapata (CIPOG-EZ), a local human rights organization, estimates that at least 800 individuals, including children and seniors, were forcibly displaced alongside Cabrera. Furthermore, three officers from community police forces, established for self-protection amidst a lack of state presence, lost their lives in the chaos.
In stark contrast, the Mexican government reported that only 120 people were forced to leave, denying any casualties. A local community leader, sleeping on a basketball court, informed a government official that around 280 people had been displaced from their own town alone.
Many families bolted into the mountains, refusing to look back. Hundreds took cover beneath a local basketball court, hoping their homes would soon be safe to return to. Others—some bearing gunshot wounds—climbed aboard cars, buses, and trucks, scattering across various regions of Mexico.
Footage circulating on social media showcases distraught women and children pleading for assistance.
This prompted the government to dispatch 1,200 military and police personnel to the area. Officials have claimed that assistance has been extended to those displaced, while also maintaining control of the violence, creating a “safe corridor” for humanitarian relief, and working towards resolving the complex regional conflict.
“What we aim to avoid is any confrontation that might affect civilians. Our main priority is safeguarding lives,” stated Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in a recent news conference.
An invisible crisis
Critics argue this exemplifies ongoing government negligence and attempts to downplay the seriousness of the displacement crisis in Mexico. Unlike Colombia, Mexico lacks a comprehensive registry of displaced individuals. Entities such as the U.N. refugee agency and human rights organizations often condemn government figures as inadequate.
A 2025 government National Survey on Victimization and Public Security Perception reported that nearly 250,000 households fled their homes in 2024, seeking refuge from crime.
Between 2024 and 2025, Ibero-American University documented over 44,695 individuals who had to leave their homes for other areas within Mexico. An even greater number have migrated to the U.S.
A May report from the university indicated that forced displacements in Mexico are on the rise, amidst the claims of Sheinbaum’s administration highlighting improvements in security — such as significant reductions in homicides — intended to combat threats from the Trump administration regarding military actions against Mexican cartels.
“There’s no longer any life in these communities,” said Prisco Rodríguez, a local representative for CIPOG-EZ. “The government asserts that residents have returned, but no one is here. People are afraid to reveal their movements … and many never return.”
Cabrera and her husband, 75-year-old Alejandro Venancio Bruno, were anxiously contemplating their next steps. Cabrera mentioned that their children were urging them to relocate to Mexico City, approximately 350 kilometers (220 miles) from their home, or to the state of Queretaro, to rebuild their lives.
However, Venancio felt a deep connection to their land and lamented that without money, a home, or their treasured goats, starting anew elsewhere seemed impossible.
“It’s like beginning from scratch,” he remarked.
Key Takeaways
- 74-year-old María Cabrera fled her home near Tula, Mexico, due to violent cartel clashes.
- Experts describe the ongoing displacement crisis in Mexico as largely unrecorded and underreported.
- Official estimates contrast sharply with human rights groups, which report thousands more displaced than the government acknowledges.
- Many families have scattered across various regions, while reports of suffering are prevalent on social media.
- The Mexican government is under criticism for its response and efforts to address the crisis.
FAQ
What is the current displacement situation in Mexico?
The crisis includes hundreds of thousands fleeing cartel violence, with many groups reporting higher figures than the government acknowledges.
How is the Mexican government addressing this issue?
The government has dispatched military and police forces to conflict areas and claimed to provide humanitarian aid, yet many criticize their limited efforts.
What challenges do displaced individuals face?
Displaced individuals often lack basic resources, housing, and security, making it difficult for them to rebuild their lives.
Are there any support systems for displaced families?
While some humanitarian aid has been provided, many families remain unsupported and struggle to find safety and resources.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Mexico highlights the urgent need for comprehensive support and resettlement options for those displaced by violence. Until effective measures are put in place, many like Cabrera and her family are left to navigate a precarious existence.
