The Mexican government is reportedly using selective statistics to perpetuate the misleading idea that the nation is safe from crime. In a recent announcement, officials stated that approximately one-third of the over 130,000 individuals reported missing are thought to still be alive.
In a press conference led by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, her administration released a report addressing the alarming figure of missing persons. This issue has been a significant concern for Sheinbaum, especially as the public voices increasing dissatisfaction over government effectiveness in addressing threats from criminal organizations.
Activist groups allege that the actual toll of people abducted by cartel groups is substantially higher, arguing that the government is downplaying the violence in an effort to project a false sense of safety.
A core issue lies in the government’s reliance on vague definitions and incomplete data concerning crime, which obscures the reality of violence in the country. People taken by armed groups are often classified simply as missing, but this broad category also covers numerous situations, such as runaways or individuals escaping abusive circumstances.
This classification tactic allows the government to sidestep accurate reporting in crime statistics—either by noting the cases as missing instead of kidnapped or placing them in a distinct group associated with armed groups.
When individuals are abducted by cartel members, murdered, and their remains disposed of, their status can be classified as missing, thereby preventing them from being counted in homicide statistics.
The government’s claim that a third of the missing persons may still be alive is based on various records, including tax documents and vaccination data, suggesting these individuals were active after their reported disappearance. Moreover, those reported as “found” are often categorized as runaways or people exiting abusive relationships, rather than victims of cartel violence.
