Mexico faces rising disappearance crisis in Jalisco and Nayarit

Mexico is facing a growing crisis regarding missing persons, particularly in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit. In Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, authorities and families are searching for 21-year-old Greco Demian Arias Valle, who disappeared on August 2. The municipality has recorded 117 missing persons, the majority of whom are men, reflecting a broader trend in Jalisco where the most affected demographic is between 15 and 39 years old.

In Nayarit, disappearance rates have shown a significant increase, rising from 47 cases between January and June 2022 to 154 during the same period in 2026. Searching collectives, such as Guerreras en Búsqueda de Nuestros Tesoros, have reported institutional failures, including a lack of protection and the withholding of investigation logs. Family members have also alleged death threats and expressed concerns regarding the potential involvement of security forces in disappearance cases.