Mexicali News, 1185 Oak Road, El Centro, CA (2026)

10/06/2026

Family and friends demand justice outside Mexicali Military Base following sergeant’s femicide

MEXICALI, Mexico — Family members and friends of Second Sgt. Bertha Mireya González gathered outside the Mexicali military barracks on Wednesday, demanding answers and accountability three months after the 42-year-old soldier was murdered inside her base housing unit.

González, a 19-year military veteran originally from the State of Mexico who had lived in Mexicali for two decades, was found dead in her apartment on June 18. According to her friend María, González had returned to her residence to shower after exercising. Hours later, colleagues went to check on her and discovered her body, La Voz newspaper reported.

Military authorities initially informed the family that González died from a head injury sustained during an accidental fall in the bathroom. However, subsequent forensic investigations determined the actual cause of death was asphyxiation, prompting officials to open a femicide investigation.

Loved ones suspect González’s former romantic partner—a corporal in the Mexican Army known to have had an aggressive history—is responsible for her death.

Despite the shift in the investigation, relatives say progress has stalled.

"Three months after her femicide, there are still no arrests and no official statements taken," demonstrators said, noting that local commanders at the base told them to travel to Mexico City if they wanted updates on the case.

The investigation is currently handled by the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes of Violence Against Women and Human Trafficking (FEVIMTRA), a unit within Mexico's federal Attorney General’s Office.

During Wednesday’s demonstration, which assembled at the entrance of the military residential complex, a sergeant came outside to invite the protesters inside to speak. Victim support personnel also arrived to mediate discussions between the demonstrators and military representatives.

No arrests have been announced, and federal authorities have not publicly commented on the status of the suspect.

10/06/2026

Baja California ranks fourth in Mexico for job quality, IMCO study shows

MEXICALI, Mexico — Driven by strong working conditions, high rates of formal employment, and rising worker incomes, Baja California has maintained its spot as the fourth-best state in Mexico for labor market competitiveness, according to a new report by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO).

The ranking, published in IMCO’s 2026 State Competitiveness Index (ICE), places Baja California in an elite tier of top-performing Mexican states alongside neighboring Baja California Sur, Mexico City, and Jalisco.

The report's labor market index specifically evaluates job quality, formal employment rates, educational attainment, and average wage levels. IMCO highlighted that Baja California’s sustained high ranking stems from its focus on creating well-compensated, stable positions rather than relying on short-term employment spikes.

Kurt Honold Morales, the state’s Secretary of Economy and Innovation, noted that these labor metrics underline the region's capacity to cultivate skilled talent and integrate workers into formal, secure industries. The border state continues to position itself as a key destination for cross-border manufacturing, innovation, and long-term business development.

10/06/2026

Baja California bar association demands governor’s resignation amid governance crisis

TIJUANA, Mexico — The “Emilio Rabasa” Bar Association of Tijuana issued a stinging rebuke of Baja California’s state government Friday, calling on Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda to step down from her post following allegations of corruption, organized crime links, and systemic institutional failure.

In an official statement dated Oct. 2, 2026, signed by association president Francisco Castro Trenti, the legal group declared that the Mexican border state is suffering an unprecedented crisis of governability.

The statement specifically pointed to the executive branch, highlighting alleged ties between state leadership and organized crime, citing reports from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The bar association also criticized the state legislature for turn a blind eye to widespread impunity and accused the judiciary of imposing gag rules on its members to conceal operational shortcomings.

“It is evident that the governor of Baja California is focused on addressing her personal responsibilities,” the statement read, urging her to request a leave of absence.

The group called on civic organizations, business groups, professional associations, and local citizens to unite in restoring rule of law, government transparency, and public safety across the state.

“Baja California must return to being a powerful arm in service of the nation, and not just a few,” Castro Trenti wrote.

The demand highlights growing friction between civil legal groups and state leaders across the U.S.–Mexico border region over rising security concerns and institutional transparency.

10/02/2026

Mexicali Weightlifters Target 2027 Pan Am Games Ahead of Key Regional, World Competitions

MEXICALI, Mexico — The road to the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima begins this month for Mexicali weightlifters Vanessa Hernández and Antonio Govea, who are set to represent Mexico at the Senior Pan American Weightlifting Championship.

From Oct. 4 to Oct. 8, more than 50 weightlifters will gather in Tepic, Nayarit, competing for spots on Mexico's national roster, which will be capped at eight women and eight men, La Crónica newspaper reported.

Hernández is aiming for her first Pan American Games appearance, competing in the 86-kilogram division, while Govea will take the platform in the 95-kilogram weight class.

Both athletes have spent the past two weeks training at the National Youth Sports Development and High Performance Center (CNAR) in Mexico City. Following the regional tournament, they are scheduled to depart for China on Oct. 8 to compete in the World Weightlifting Championships, taking place Oct. 27 through Nov. 8.

The 2027 Pan American Games are set to take place in Lima, Peru, from July 23 to Aug. 8, 2027.

10/01/2026

Baja California Governor orders review of state contracts following U.S. OFAC sanctions list

MEXICALI, Mexico — Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda has directed the state’s Major Official’s Office (Oficialía Mayor) to perform a comprehensive audit of government contracts after the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) released a new list of sanctioned individuals and entities.

As part of the directive, all relevant files have been submitted directly to the state's Anti-Corruption and Good Governance Department (Secretaría Anticorrupción y Buen Gobierno) for formal legal review. Additionally, state officials confirmed via an official memorandum sent by Major Official David Ramsés Cervantes Aguilar to Víctor Manuel Cortés Rodríguez, Director of Fiscalization and Evaluation of Public Investment, that contracting records and data on USB drives were handed over on September 30, 2026.

Governor Marina del Pilar emphasized that past contracts awarded to any newly sanctioned vendors were executed in full compliance with state and federal procurement laws applicable at the time.

“The principle is very clear: when these contracts were signed, it was done according to the information and legal status available at that time. There were no disbarments, prior sanctions, or legal impediments to entering into those agreements. Today, new information exists, and based on it, we are acting accordingly: conducting a thorough review, eliminating any risks, and notifying control bodies. What cannot be done is automatically apply a circumstance known in 2026 to administrative decisions made years earlier,” Governor Marina del Pilar stated.

Immediate ban on listed vendors

As an immediate executive measure, the Baja California government has barred any individual or company flagged by domestic or foreign authorities for alleged illicit activities from participating in state public tenders until their legal status is fully clarified and resolved before the appropriate authorities.

Addressing concerns regarding public security procurement, state officials clarified that past contracts involving flagged entities were strictly limited to operational equipment, supplies, and technical infrastructure.

The state government reaffirmed that the custody, management, and security of institutional databases and systems remain exclusively under the control of authorized state security personnel, ensuring that citizens' private information was never compromised.

Furthermore, the administration noted that autonomous institutions, such as the State Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía General del Estado), maintain independent constitutional, budgetary, and administrative jurisdiction over their own purchasing and record-keeping procedures.

“The responsible approach is to review, document, and act. If any irregularity arises from this review, we will proceed strictly according to the law. We will not cover up for anyone or prejudge; we will clarify the facts with documentation and with complete transparency before the competent authorities,” the governor concluded.

10/01/2026

Mexican opposition leader demands answers over Baja California Governor’s links to sanctioned firm

MEXICO CITY — The head of Mexico’s main opposition party called on Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda on Wednesday to publicly clarify her past business ties to a firm recently targeted by U.S. sanctions over alleged links to the Sinaloa Cartel.

Jorge Romero Herrera, national president of the National Action Party (PAN), urged the governor to provide a full and documented explanation regarding her historic role in Vida Orgánica Tijuana, a company designated this week by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

According to OFAC, the firm is currently owned or controlled by Luis Alfonso Torres Torres. On Sept. 29, U.S. authorities sanctioned Luis Torres and his brother, Carlos Alberto Torres Torres — the governor’s ex-husband — alleging Carlos used political influence to facilitate Sinaloa Cartel activities and shield them from law enforcement in Baja California.

While corporate records released Wednesday indicate Ávila was a founding partner of Vida Orgánica Tijuana, she transferred her ownership stake in April 2023, two years before the U.S. action. The governor herself was not named in the OFAC sanctions.

“We are talking about extremely serious allegations from a foreign authority against individuals who were in the governor's immediate inner circle,” Romero said in a statement released by his party. “No one can prejudge liability, but nor can anyone pretend nothing happened here. Baja California deserves full and transparent explanations.”

Romero noted that the scrutiny comes after U.S. authorities revoked the visas of both Ávila and her then-husband in May 2025 without publicly disclosing the grounds for the cancellations.

Calling on Mexican authorities to investigate whether state officials enabled criminal operations, Romero emphasized that political figures cannot hide behind personal ties.

“We are not asking for political condemnations or premature judgments,” Romero said. “We are demanding something fundamental: that this be investigated, that there be transparency, and that things be explained. When a foreign authority points to a structure of alleged political protection for organized crime in a border state, the Mexican government cannot simply remain silent.”

Ávila has the right to distance herself from her ex-husband's alleged actions, Romero added, noting that business or personal relationships alone do not imply guilt. However, he insisted the public interest requires a complete accounting.

“The families of Baja California deserve to know what happened, who was involved, and how far these networks reached,” Romero concluded.

10/01/2026

Head of Baja California Technical School System Resigns Amid Family Sanctions Controversy

MEXICALI, Mexico — The director general of Baja California’s high school technical system has resigned from his post, stepping down to safeguard the institution after U.S. sanctions were levied against a relative.

Luis Miguel Buenrostro Martín, head of the College of Scientific and Technological Studies of the State of Baja California (CECyTE BC), announced his resignation in an official public statement. He framed his departure as a responsible measure aimed at preserving administrative stability and ensuring uninterrupted educational services.

“In light of personal circumstances involving a family member, I believe that the interests of the College and its educational community must supersede any individual situation,” Buenrostro wrote.

The announcement comes after the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated several individuals linked to regional illicit networks. In his statement, Buenrostro explicitly clarified that his own name does not appear on any OFAC sanctions list.

“My decision aims to ensure that CECyTE Baja California continues its work with certainty, stability, and full focus on its primary mission: the education and future of thousands of young people in our state,” Buenrostro stated.

CECyTE BC operates dozens of vocational high schools and educational centers across the border state, serving thousands of students. Buenrostro concluded his message by thanking teachers, administrators, staff, students, and families for their trust during his tenure, emphasizing that he departs with peace of mind knowing he acted in the best interest of the school system.

10/01/2026

State Police seize armored vehicle, stolen fleet after gunmen set up fake checkpoint in Mexicali Valley

MEXICALI, Mexico — Mexican state security forces seized six stolen vehicles — including an armored pickup modified to mount heavy weaponry — after armed men linked to a cartel faction set up a fake police checkpoint in the southern Mexicali Valley.

Officers with the Fuerza Estatal de Seguridad Ciudadana (FESC) responded to citizen reports of armed individuals masquerading as law enforcement officers at Kilometer 57 in the community of Ejido Ciudad Coahuila. Witnesses reported the men were wearing tactical vests featuring Russian flag patches, a symbol associated with “Los Rusos,” an armed wing of the Sinaloa Cartel operating in the region, La Crónica newspaper reported.

By the time state agents arrived at the scene, the gunmen had fled, leaving behind a fleet of abandoned vehicles.

A subsequent inspection revealed all six vehicles had active theft reports across Baja California, Sonora, and the United States.

Among the recovered vehicles, authorities highlighted a heavily modified Ford Lobo featuring aftermarket armor and a reinforced metal frame in the truck bed designed to mount high-caliber fi****ms, such as .50-caliber Barrett sniper ri**es.

The remaining seized vehicles included:

A Toyota Supra bearing California license plates

A Chevrolet Silverado 2500 with California plates

A Jeep Grand Cherokee reported stolen in Sonora

A second Ford Lobo reported stolen in Sonora

A Chevrolet Silverado reported stolen in Sonora

All six vehicles were towed and handed over to the Baja California State Attorney General's Office (FGE) for further investigation and ballistics forensics. No arrests were reported at the scene.

10/01/2026

Police, firefighters rescue toddler found alone in unsanitary Mexicali home

MEXICALI, Mexico — Authorities rescued a toddler left alone inside a home with unsanitary living conditions and no basic utilities in eastern Mexicali on Thursday, local officials said.

Municipal police officers responded to a 911 call reporting a child alone inside a house on Clorita Avenue in the Valle del Pedregal neighborhood. When officers arrived, they saw a girl, estimated to be between 2 and 3 years old, peering through a window.

After neighbors said they did not know where the girl’s parents or guardians were, police called in firefighters and state prosecutors from the Fiscalía General del Estado to help gain entry to the home.

Once inside, responders discovered extreme dirtiness, a complete lack of basic services, and no food. Authorities immediately removed the toddler from the premises and placed her under protective custody.

A medical examination later confirmed the child showed no signs of physical abuse or malnutrition, according to officials. The investigation remains ongoing.

10/01/2026

From Mexicali to Champion: How dancer Ana Lucía Castillo made her childhood dream a reality

LOS ANGELES — When San Diego-based dance crew Choreo Cookies was announced as the first-place winner at the International Dance League competition, tears broke out among the teammates. For Ana Lucía Castillo, it was a full-circle moment.

“I feel like I'm fulfilling the dream of my younger self,” Castillo said.

As a girl growing up in Mexicali, Mexico, Castillo watched Choreo Cookies on YouTube, dreaming of one day joining them. Her dance journey began with ballet at age 2, though she briefly pivoted to track and field at 9, eventually winning a national bronze medal. At 15, she rediscovered dance through free classes with Tequila Movement in Mexicali, falling in love with urban dance and its warm local community, La Crónica newspaper reported.

Castillo spent nine years training and competing with Tequila Movement before earning a spot to practice with Choreo Cookies in San Diego. Soon after, she was invited to join the 28-member team full-time.

Integrating into the crew meant adapting to a higher level of demand and a new dance culture. Balancing five to six hours of weekly practice—which surged closer to competitions—alongside a full-time, 10-hour workday tested her mental and physical endurance.

Their winning routine in Los Angeles, set to instrumental music, explored the concept of focus. Opening with chaotic sounds and disjointed movements to represent a saturated mind, the performance gradually aligned the dancers in unified motion. Castillo said she used the piece mentally to refocus on herself and her craft.

Beyond performance, Castillo has embraced the crew's core philosophy: “Family first, dancers second.” She believes personal growth must come before technical mastery—a message she hopes to pass on to young dancers in Mexicali.

“It’s definitely about loving what you do, learning from everything and everyone, and never closing yourself off to a path,” she said.

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