Week of September 13–19, 2026
Independence celebrations, trade negotiations and practical travel developments shaped the week in Mexico. Here are eight stories to catch up on, with brief summaries and direct links to the original reporting.
Independence celebrations put sovereignty and community in the spotlight
September 15–16
President Claudia Sheinbaum led the Grito de Independencia from the National Palace as Mexico marked 216 years since the beginning of its independence movement. Her address recognised Indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities and Mexicans living abroad, alongside a renewed emphasis on national sovereignty.
Read the report: El País (Spanish)
Mexico–U.S. trade talks advance, but no final agreement is announced
September 18
Sheinbaum said negotiations with the United States were progressing following another call with President Donald Trump. She stressed that a final agreement had not yet been reached. The discussions come ahead of further trade negotiations involving tariffs on Mexican vehicles, steel and aluminium.
Read the report: El País (Spanish)
The peso ends the week weaker against the U.S. dollar
September 18
The peso finished Friday at approximately 17.23 per U.S. dollar, according to El Economista, recording a weekly decline of 1.55%. For travellers budgeting in dollars, the figure offers a snapshot of the market—not the rate a bank, ATM or exchange counter will necessarily provide.
Read the report: El Economista (Spanish)
Mexico prepares for its September 19 earthquake drill
Reported September 17; scheduled for September 19
Mexico’s second national emergency drill of 2026 is scheduled for noon, Mexico City time, on September 19. The exercise includes regional earthquake scenarios and alerts through loudspeakers and compatible mobile phones. Visitors should ask their accommodation about its evacuation procedure and designated meeting point.
Read the report: El País (Spanish)
Education authorities announce plans to restrict phones in schools
September 19
Mexico’s education authorities reached an agreement to restrict cellphone use throughout the school day in primary and secondary schools, with implementation planned for October. La Jornada reported that the full document had not yet been published. Upper-secondary and higher-education communities would develop their own rules.
Read the report: La Jornada (Spanish)
Culiacán residents march for peace
September 13
Residents marched in Culiacán, Sinaloa, calling for an end to violence and justice for missing relatives. Reuters footage showed families carrying photographs and banners after a mass. Their appeals placed the impact on children, parents and everyday community life at the centre of the demonstration.
Read the report: Reuters video report (English description; Spanish interviews)
Border-wall construction begins in part of Texas’s Big Bend region
September 18
U.S. authorities began installing border-wall panels in Hudspeth County, according to the Associated Press. The work has faced opposition from landowners and environmental groups. AP distinguished this project from construction inside nearby Big Bend National Park, which had been temporarily suspended.
Read the report: Associated Press (English)
Road reports underline the need to check conditions before departure
September 18
N+ reported accident-related closures on the México–Querétaro highway and Querétaro’s northeastern bypass, alongside disruptions elsewhere. These were time-specific reports, not a list of continuing closures. Before a driving day, check fresh notices for your exact road, direction and departure time.
Read the report: N+ (Spanish)
Prepared on the morning of September 19, 2026. This roundup covers reports published September 13–19. Scheduled events and developing stories may change; source links include English and Spanish coverage.
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