Security crisis in Uruapan, Michoacán

The municipality of Uruapan is facing a significant security crisis characterized by rising violence and a depleted police force. Local officials reported a wave of violence, including a targeted attack on October 24, 2026, that resulted in the death of a local worker. In response, Grecia Quiroz, the substitute president of Uruapan, has requested federal security reinforcement and met with Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Protection of Citizens, Omar García Harfuch, to coordinate strategies.

Compounding the violence is a critical shortage of law enforcement personnel. Following a mass dismissal of officers by the local city council approximately one month ago, the municipal police force is operating at less than 20% of its required capacity. While the municipality requires between 780 and 800 officers, official records show only about 389 elements, with uncertainty regarding how many are actively performing operational duties.

Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla attributed the insecurity to these dismissals. Consequently, the state government has ordered the State Public Security Secretariat to intervene through proximity policing operations. While federal authorities are constructing a special barracks for the municipal police, state officials have noted that infrastructure improvements must be accompanied by an increase in active officers to resolve the challenges.