Mexico violent crime decline continues

Mexico’s homicide rate kept falling through mid‑2026, with President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighting a historic low of 21 intentional homicides on 21 July 2026 – the fewest in a decade. The daily average has slipped from about 87 cases in September 2024 to roughly 39 by July 2026, a 46 % national drop. The State of Mexico saw a 58 % reduction, falling from 6.6 to 2.8 daily homicides, its lowest level in 19 years. Sonora recorded a 63 % cut and posted a zero‑homicide day on 21 July. Jalisco fell out of the top‑ten list, while Morelos remains the highest‑rate state. High‑impact crimes also declined sharply: vehicle thefts fell by more than half and over 3 300 arrests for major offenses were reported nationwide. The government attributes these gains to Sheinbaum’s four‑axis National Security Strategy – addressing root causes, bolstering the National Guard, improving intelligence and investigations, and coordinating through a Unified Command – and to security operations tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.