Deported Mexicans are discovering that their home country has been transformed by widespread cartel violence after decades away in the United States.
Adrián RamĂrez, 45, returned to his hometown in western Mexico early last year after being deported from the U.S. He observed changes, including the disappearance of a discotheque and a bustling evening market that now empties early. After 10 p.m., cartel members reportedly control the streets with military-grade weapons.
RamĂrez noted that Mexico had changed significantly since his childhood, citing less joy and freedom. Many of the tens of thousands of individuals deported by the Trump administration, who spent decades in the U.S., are encountering similar profound changes.
Criminal groups now control approximately one-third of Mexican territory, according to a U.S. military analysis. These groups have expanded beyond drug trafficking into extortion of small businesses and dominance over entire industries, such as avocado and lime trade. In some regions, criminals reportedly charge taxes on various goods, including tortillas and chicken.
Parts of Michoacán, RamĂrez's home state, are described as resembling a battlefield, with criminal groups engaging in conflicts using grenade launchers, explosive-rigged drones, and improvised land mines.
Returning migrants are considered vulnerable to violence. Their appearance, including stylish haircuts and attire, and their use of Spanglish, can identify them as outsiders in rural communities. RamĂrez stated his mannerisms also identified him as an outsider.
Cartels reportedly target returning migrants for kidnapping or extortion due to the perception that they possess money. Israel Concha, who operates Nuevo Comienzos, a nonprofit supporting deportees, stated that returnees often lack knowledge of how to navigate cartel-run checkpoints or local rules established by criminal groups. Concha reported being abducted and tortured by cartel members in 2014 after his deportation. Sixteen migrants from his organization's support group have been assassinated or disappeared since the organization's founding, with ten of those cases occurring in the last year.
In May, a recently returned man reportedly disappeared after leaving his job at a hotel in Querétaro. His parents held a funeral and a Mass for him in October.
RamĂrez had left Michoacán for the U.S. at age 21 to save money. He later married and had three children, working as a car washer and Uber driver in Nashville before his deportation. Upon returning, he was interrogated by a cartel member and photographed by another while in the town plaza.
His town, once known for cheese production, now reportedly has fuel theft as its dominant industry. The Jalisco New Generation cartel reportedly burned down the town's two gas stations and killed the owner to assert control, subsequently establishing their own illegal stations. RamĂrez stated that authorities provided no assistance, noting that the mayor was reportedly chosen by the cartel and police were involved with criminals. RamĂrez began to fear for his life.
A growing number of Mexicans are being displaced from their communities due to violence, particularly in Michoacán, Chiapas, and Zacatecas. Migration expert Israel Ibarra noted that migrants returning to conflict-affected communities often experience