Religious leaders warn of rising crime and state absence in Mexico and Argentina

In Mexico, activist and priest Filiberto Velázquez Florencio, leader of the ‘Minerva Bello’ Center for the Rights of Victims of Violence, has provided authorities with information regarding the possible locations of seven individuals abducted on September 24 in Ajuchitlán del Progreso, Guerrero. Velázquez Florencio requested federal judicial oversight to ensure search protocols are followed, citing distrust in state authorities and concerns that efforts may lack real coordination.

In Argentina, Bishop Eduardo García of San Justo warned that the retreat of state presence in vulnerable neighborhoods is allowing drug trafficking organizations to expand. Speaking at a justice access forum, García argued that the lack of basic services, education, and infrastructure creates a vacuum filled by criminal groups. He emphasized the need to replace ‘street, prison, and cemetery’ with ‘school, chapel, and club’ to prevent crime through community support rather than solely through late-stage judicial intervention.