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Chihuahua displacement rises due to organized crime territorial disputes
Civil organizations have released a report detailing a surge in forced internal displacement in Chihuahua, Mexico, driven by territorial disputes among organized crime groups. The report, based on findings from a Civil Observation Mission (MCO) conducted in May 2026, highlights that in 2025, at least 4,492 people were displaced in the state, with 1,335 coming from the municipality of Guadalupe y Calvo.
Violence in the Sierra Tarahumara and the Golden Triangle region—where Chihuahua borders Durango and Sinaloa—often follows a specific pattern. It begins with targeted attacks, such as threats, murders, and forced disappearances of community leaders, and escalates to indiscriminate violence against the general population. Experts noted the use of high-caliber weapons and explosive drones, comparing these tactics to ‘scorched earth’ methods used in international conflicts.
The MCO interviewed approximately 200 displaced individuals from communities including Uruachi, Guazapares, and Guadalupe y Calvo. Displaced residents have largely relocated to Chihuahua City, Delicias, and Parral. The report identifies several drivers of the crisis, including territorial control, natural resource looting, forced recruitment, and institutional abandonment. It also notes a lack of effective security strategies and potential collusion between authorities and criminal groups.
Entities
Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña Tlachinollan · Chihuahua · Golden Triangle · Guadalupe y Calvo · Misión Civil de Observación
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Displacement is driven by territorial disputes in the Golden Triangle area. www.calibre800.com · diario.mx
- [● 2 SOURCES] 1,335 displaced persons originated from the municipality of Guadalupe y Calvo. www.calibre800.com · diario.mx
- [● 2 SOURCES] At least 4,492 people were displaced in Chihuahua in 2025. www.calibre800.com · diario.mx
- [● 3 SOURCES] Criminal groups are using explosive drones in attacks against the population. xeu.mx · www.calibre800.com · diario.mx
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Civil Observation Mission (MCO) interviewed approximately 200 displaced persons. pausa.mx
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Institutional response to the displacement crisis has been insufficient. pausa.mx