Chihuahua reports significant drop in homicides amid national judicial challenges

Chihuahua Governor Maru Campos reported a significant decrease in intentional homicides, noting that September 2026 saw the lowest incidence since March 2016. From January to September, the state recorded a 27 percent reduction in homicides compared to the same period in 2025, with the municipality of Juárez seeing a 44 percent drop. Authorities attributed these results to the Centinela security model and inter-institutional coordination involving the National Guard and the Secretariat of National Defense.

In contrast to these regional improvements, national data from INEGI reveals challenges in the broader judicial system. In 2025, Mexican prosecutor offices saw a 3.5 percent decrease in new investigation files and a 10.4 percent increase in pending criminal proceedings. The State of Mexico, Mexico City, and Guanajuato recorded the highest number of new investigations. Specifically, Mexico City has emerged as a leader in fraud cases, accounting for over 15,000 incidents out of 18,000 reported nationwide.

Additionally, the Ayotzinapa case remains a point of legal contention. Families of the 43 missing students are challenging a joint report by the FGR and the Ministry of the Interior, demanding the release of 853 military intelligence files that they claim are essential to the investigation.