Laura Itzel Castillo confirms that the former director of Pemex was her advisor

Key figures

The Government of Mexico reported a 53% drop in the daily average of high-impact crimes since 2018. The figure went from 969.4 to 455.8 cases per day, according to the Seventh Semiannual Report of the Permanent Armed Forces in Tasks to Support Public Security.

The document, delivered to the Permanent Commission, highlights the intervention of the Army, the Air Force and the Navy as a central factor. The data also shows a 40% reduction in victims of intentional homicide between September 2024 and April 2026: from almost 83 to 49 per day.

During the first four months of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, feminicide, extortion, kidnapping for ransom, intentional injuries with a firearm, robberies with violence and robbery of a carrier decreased. Vehicle theft fell 56.5% compared to 2018.

Military deployment

The Secretariat of National Defense deployed 45,247 troops between November 2025 and May 2026 in entities with a high incidence of homicides and violence. More than two thousand soldiers were sent to Jalisco after the arrest and death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho.” Operations were also reinforced on the northern border and in Michoacán.

The Mexican Navy expanded its presence with 3,742 elements in 18 states for surveillance and crime prevention. In addition, it allocated more than 2,000 troops to protect 218 strategic facilities in the energy and financial sectors.

In 2026, National Defense had a budget of 170,753 million pesos; 28,867 million were allocated to public security. The Secretary of the Navy received more than 3,477 million pesos for support tasks.

The federal government assured that military action is maintained under constitutional principles: extraordinary, regulated, supervised, subordinate and complementary to civil authorities, with respect for human rights. The report concludes that the participation of the Armed Forces will continue as the central axis of the national security strategy.

Tribute in Congress

The Permanent Commission of the Congress of the Union dedicated a minute of silence to the four people who lost their lives during the celebrations for the victory of the Mexican men’s soccer team in Mexico City.

Laura Itzel Castillo, president of the Board of Directors, informed the plenary session that the capital’s Health Secretariat confirmed the death of two women, ages 19 and 48, as well as two men, ages 30 and 44. The events occurred in the surroundings of Paseo de la Reforma.

During the session, it was recalled that the Government of Mexico City, headed by Clara Brugada Molina, offered institutional support to the families of the victims and accompaniment in the corresponding processes.

The legislator asked the members to stand up for the posthumous tribute. He expressed condolences to the bereaved and wished them quick resignation in the face of the loss.

At the end, Castillo also congratulated the Mexican team for its performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and wished them success in the upcoming matches of the tournament.

T-MEC: validity and annual reviews

The Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, confirmed that the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC) will remain in force until 2036. This was agreed upon by the three countries during a virtual meeting on July 1, as reported in the morning conference of President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Ebrard explained that annual reviews of the agreement will be carried out. The first formal stage will begin on July 20, when a delegation from the United States visits Mexico. The official stressed that the validity of the treaty is not under discussion, only the way to evaluate its operation.

The positions of each country

Mexico and Canada proposed extending the validity until 2042, with reviews every six years. However, the US government rejected that option. He preferred to maintain the current calendar accompanied by annual evaluations, due to his concern about the trade deficit with both nations.

“The treaty remains in force between now and 2036, as scheduled, and we will conduct an annual review,” said Ebrard.

Priority issues and Mexico’s position

During the meeting, Donald Trump’s administration expressed concern about the trade deficit. Therefore, it will seek to review specific issues of the agreement periodically. Ebrard pointed out that the Mexican government’s priority is to preserve current competitive advantages. He highlighted that more than 80% of Mexican exports to the United States do not pay tariffs.

“Mexico’s position with respect to the group of countries that trade with the United States is the best,” he stressed.

Among the issues to be addressed in the reviews are the tariffs imposed by Washington under provisions other than the T-MEC. In addition, regional production will be strengthened in strategic sectors such as the pharmaceutical industry and semiconductors. The objective is to reduce imports from other regions and contribute to reducing North America’s trade deficit.

Ebrard described the meeting as “very cordial” and trusted that the revisions will allow the agreement to be strengthened without modifying its essence or its validity until 2036.