Midnight in Mexico

1. Mexico's Democratic Hope Collides with Escalating Cartel Violence.

Midnight in Mexico is about searching for a flickering light during the darkest night and believing in the promise of a new day.

A nation's descent. The author's return to Mexico in 1994 coincided with a period of immense hope, marked by the signing of NAFTA and the impending end of the PRI's 71-year rule. This era promised economic prosperity and democratic opening, a stark contrast to the country's history of authoritarianism and economic crises. The election of Vicente Fox in 2000 solidified this hope, signaling a potential shift towards accountability and rule of law.

Darkness descends. However, the democratic transition proved fragile. Instead of ushering in an era of peace, the early 2000s saw drug cartels exploit the power vacuum and weak institutions, leading to unprecedented violence. President Felipe Calderón's declaration of war on the cartels in 2006, while seemingly determined, coincided with a dramatic surge in killings, disappearances, and barbarity, symbolized by gruesome acts like severed heads left in public.

Hope tested. The author, who had long believed in Mexico's potential for positive change, witnessed this descent firsthand. The initial optimism of a new democratic dawn was increasingly challenged by the reality of a country grappling with a brutal, pervasive conflict. The narrative becomes a personal quest to understand how the promise of a new day could be so quickly engulfed by the midnight of violence and fear.

2. The Drug War Unmasks Deep Government Corruption and Collusion.

In other words, who were members of the government and who belonged to organized crime?

Blurred lines. The escalating drug war revealed the deep, historical ties between Mexican government officials and criminal organizations. The author's reporting, particularly on alleged peace pacts between cartels and authorities, highlighted a system where corruption wasn't an anomaly but an integral part of how things functioned. This collusion ensured smooth drug flow north in exchange for massive kickbacks.

Systemic rot. The narrative provides examples suggesting corruption permeated various levels of government and law enforcement.

• Allegations against high-level officials like drug czar José Luis Santiago Vasconcelos.
• The police corruption witnessed firsthand (e.g., Samuel's car confiscation).
• The difficulty of trusting Mexican counterparts for U.S. officials.
• The historical accommodation between the PRI regime and cartels.

Impunity reigns. This pervasive corruption created a culture of impunity, where criminals operated with little fear of consequence. Investigations were often sabotaged, witnesses disappeared, and justice was a luxury. The author's sources, including U.S. investigators and former cartel insiders, consistently pointed to the government's complicity as a key factor enabling the cartels' power and the unchecked violence.

3. Reporting the Truth in Mexico Comes at a Deadly Cost for Journalists.

In Mexico, they kill you twice: First, with a bullet, an ax to your head or a bath full of acid. Then they spread rumors about you.

Targeted for truth. The author and his colleagues faced direct threats and intimidation for reporting on the drug war and government corruption. These threats were not abstract; they were specific, personal, and often delivered with chilling detail, highlighting the extreme danger journalists face in Mexico. The Laredo incident, where the author was physically intimidated and warned, exemplifies this peril.

Silencing the press. The cartels actively sought to control the narrative, forcing self-censorship on local media outlets like El Mañana in Nuevo Laredo after attacks and kidnappings. Journalists were caught between warring factions and corrupt officials, making objective reporting a life-threatening endeavor. The murder of lawyer Sergio Dante Almaraz, who spoke out about cartel-police links and the Juárez femicides, underscores the fatal consequences of challenging the established order.

Vulnerability exposed. While foreign correspondents initially felt a degree of protection, the increasing boldness of cartels and the blurring lines between criminals and authorities eroded this shield. The threats against the author, a Mexican-American, highlighted that his identity offered little immunity. The danger extended beyond the journalist to their families and associates, creating a climate of pervasive fear that impacted personal lives and professional work.

4. The U.S.-Mexico Border: A Scar Where Two Worlds Intersect Violently.

The border, Carlos Fuentes once wrote, is a 'scar.' We are the wound.

A forced divide. The U.S.-Mexico border is portrayed not just as a geographical line but as a complex, often brutal, intersection of two nations' histories, economies, and problems. The author's personal history, rooted in his family's migration via the bracero program and his childhood in border towns, provides an intimate perspective on this divide. The border is a place of both opportunity and immense hardship.

Intertwined problems. The narrative illustrates how issues on one side of the border directly impact the other.

• U.S. demand for drugs fuels Mexican cartels.
• U.S. arms flow south, arming the cartels.
• Mexican economic hardship and violence drive migration north.
• U.S. border enforcement (like Operation Hold the Line) changes migration patterns and increases risks.

Illusion of separation. Despite physical barriers like the border fence, the two countries remain deeply connected by family ties, trade, and shared challenges. The violence in Juárez spills into El Paso, and cartel operations extend into U.S. cities. The border becomes a symbol of the failure to address shared problems effectively, a wound that continues to fester due to mutual demand, supply, and insufficient cooperation.

5. Bicultural Identity: Navigating Belonging Amidst Chaos and Betrayal.

I had spent years trying to shake the feeling that I was hopelessly American in Mexico and Mexican in America—never fully American, never fully Mexican, often feeling less than one, sometimes more than two, depending on the moment.

Caught between worlds. The author's experience as a Mexican-American journalist in Mexico is central to the narrative. Having grown up in the U.S. after his family migrated from Durango, he returned to Mexico seeking to reconnect with his roots and cover his homeland. However, he often felt like an outsider, perceived as too Americanized ("pocho") by some Mexicans, particularly the elite and traditionalists.

Internal conflict. This bicultural identity created an internal struggle, particularly when confronting Mexico's harsh realities. His American idealism clashed with the pragmatic, often cynical, nature of Mexican society and politics. This tension was exacerbated by the drug war, which challenged his deeply held hopes for Mexico and forced him to question everything he thought he knew about his homeland.

Personal stakes. The author's family history, marked by migration and the search for opportunity, added another layer of complexity. His parents' sacrifice in leaving Mexico and his father's warnings about the dangers of the drug world underscored the personal risks involved in his reporting. Navigating these two identities became increasingly difficult as the violence escalated, forcing him to confront questions of loyalty, safety, and where he truly belonged.

6. The Drug Trade: A Pervasive Force Embedded in Mexico's Economy and Society.

The drug trade creates at least half a million jobs.

Economic engine. The narrative highlights the immense scale and economic significance of the drug trade in Mexico. Far from being a fringe activity, it is portrayed as a deeply embedded force, providing employment and generating billions of dollars that permeate the formal and informal economies through money laundering and illicit businesses. This economic power gives cartels significant leverage and influence.

Historical roots. The drug trade has deep historical roots, evolving from small-scale smuggling to sophisticated global conglomerates.

• Origins in areas like the Golden Triangle, initially focused on opium and marijuana.
• The shift to cocaine trafficking in the 1980s, facilitated by Mexican cartels acting as a land bridge for Colombian supply.
• The franchising model adopted by leaders like Félix Gallardo, creating powerful regional cartels.

Social impact. The trade exploits existing social and economic inequalities, recruiting youth from impoverished backgrounds who see few other opportunities. The promise of money and power offered by cartels stands in stark contrast to the limited prospects in the formal economy. This integration into the social fabric makes the cartels incredibly resilient and difficult to dismantle, as they are intertwined with communities and livelihoods.

7. Hope and Resilience Endure Amidst Overwhelming Despair.

We’re building community with the blood of our children.

Finding light. Despite the pervasive violence and systemic failures, the narrative reveals pockets of hope and remarkable human resilience. Ordinary Mexicans, particularly those most affected by the violence, demonstrate courage and determination in the face of unimaginable loss. The families of the Villas de Salvárcar massacre victims, like José Luis and Adrián, exemplify this spirit.

Acts of defiance. Instead of succumbing to despair or fleeing, these families chose to stay and actively work for change.

• Lobbying the government for resources.
• Creating community projects to keep youth away from cartels.
• Finding strength in shared grief and collective action.

Enduring faith. The author's mother's unwavering faith and belief in divine protection, even amidst tragedy, represents another form of resilience deeply ingrained in Mexican culture. This faith, whether religious or simply a stubborn refusal to give up, provides a source of strength when institutions fail and the future seems bleak. The narrative suggests that while the system may be broken, the spirit of the people endures.

8. Trust is Fragile in a World Defined by Fear and Self-Preservation.

Don’t trust anyone.

A necessary caution. The constant threat of violence and corruption creates an environment where trust is a rare and precious commodity. Sources, colleagues, officials, and even acquaintances must be viewed with suspicion, as loyalties are often fluid and self-preservation is paramount. The author receives repeated warnings from various sources about the dangers of trusting others.

Betrayal's many faces. The narrative illustrates how trust can be broken in unexpected ways.

• The U.S. investigator using the author as a mouthpiece for his own agenda.
• Mexican journalist colleagues potentially acting as informants for cartels.
• Police officers extorting money (Samuel's experience).
• Officials like Vasconcelos being accused of corruption despite their public roles.

Personal cost. This climate of mistrust takes a personal toll, impacting relationships and creating a sense of isolation. The author's difficulty being fully open with his own family about the dangers he faced highlights how fear can erode even the strongest bonds. In a world where everyone might have a price or be compromised, navigating relationships requires constant vigilance and a degree of emotional detachment.

9. The U.S. Role: Demand, Arms, and Complex Cooperation Fuel the Conflict.

The United States continued to fight the powerful flow of drugs from the south, but it was rarely able to punish the cartels without wounding legitimate Mexican businesses.

Unintended consequences. The U.S. approach to the drug war is portrayed as complex and often counterproductive. Efforts to stop the flow of drugs, while well-intentioned, have historically empowered Mexican cartels by disrupting rival routes and creating new opportunities. Operations like Intercept and Condor, while targeting drug production, also caused economic harm and fueled resentment.

Demand and supply. The insatiable U.S. demand for drugs remains a primary driver of the conflict, providing the market that makes the trade so lucrative. Simultaneously, the flow of U.S. arms south provides the cartels with the firepower needed to challenge the state and enforce their will. The story of Paisana, the informant involved in a U.S. sting operation selling weapons to cartels, highlights the disturbing reality of this arms pipeline.

Conditional cooperation. While the Mérida Initiative represents a significant U.S. commitment to aid Mexico, cooperation is hampered by deep-seated mistrust and U.S. requirements for accountability and human rights. Mexican officials are sometimes wary of U.S. involvement due to historical interventions and concerns about sovereignty. The narrative suggests that effective partnership is challenging when both sides harbor suspicions and operate with different priorities and levels of transparency.

10. Ordinary Mexicans: Bearing the Brunt and Finding Ways to Cope.

In Mexico, you do what you can, not what you want. There are always limitations. Faith is all we have.

Daily struggle. The narrative emphasizes that the primary victims of the drug war and systemic corruption are ordinary Mexicans. Beyond the direct violence, they face economic hardship, lack of opportunity, and a pervasive sense of vulnerability. The author's family history, from his parents' labor migration to his relatives' struggles in Durango and Juárez, grounds this reality in personal experience.

Coping mechanisms. In the absence of reliable state protection or economic stability, Mexicans develop various strategies to survive and cope.

• Relying on family and community networks.
• Participating in the informal economy (like the taco woman).
• Using politeness and humor to navigate difficult situations (Samuel).
• Seeking refuge in faith and tradition.
• Fleeing to safer areas within Mexico or across the border.

Disposable lives. The narrative repeatedly shows how the lives of ordinary Mexicans are devalued in the context of the drug war. From the murdered women of Juárez, often dismissed or blamed, to the victims of random violence and extortion, their vulnerability is stark. The difficulty of even burying a loved one with dignity, as seen at Tío Delfino's funeral, underscores the breakdown of basic social order and the profound impact on daily life.

Last updated: May 12, 2025