The renowned immigration attorney María Herrera Mellado offered a forceful reading of the political and social climate currently unfolding in Mexico during an interview for the program “Sánchez Grass en América.” Her remarks came as part of her visit to the country to cover the protests of the so-called Generation Z and the demonstrations expected from the military sector, which she anticipates will intensify in the coming days.
“The atmosphere is very heated,” Mellado stated from the Mexican capital, noting that various sectors of the population feel deceived by the current administration and by the lack of transparency on issues as sensitive as presidential approval ratings and allegations of collusion with drug trafficking.
Distrust, violence, and social desperation
The attorney highlighted the profound uncertainty spreading throughout Mexico as extortion increases, disappearances rise, and evidence of an escalation in organized crime becomes more apparent. She recalled the national and international impact of the human remains found next to the stadium in Jalisco—one of the venues scheduled for the 2026 World Cup—a situation she described as “heartbreaking.”
“Many people feel abandoned by the government,” Mellado said, emphasizing that in broad sectors of society there is even a favorable view toward the possibility of U.S. involvement through intelligence or police support—an unthinkable scenario just a few years ago.
“A president chosen to continue a shadow mandate”
When asked about perceptions of Mexico’s new president, María Herrera Mellado explained that many citizens view her as a figure handpicked to ensure continuity for former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, whom they consider “a president in the shadows.” She drew a direct parallel to the former “Biden–Obama” dynamic and how critics described that period in the United States.
Sheinbaum, she said, is described as “less prepared, colder, and disconnected from what people are suffering,” a perception deepened by insecurity and the ongoing breakdown of the social fabric.
A Mexico watching Venezuela, Cuba, and a tense Caribbean
In a geopolitical context marked by the active presence of President Donald Trump in the White House and growing tensions in the Caribbean Sea, Mellado warned that many Mexicans are paying close attention to developments in Venezuela and Cuba.
According to her, “the fall of Maduro’s regime or a change in Havana would leave Sheinbaum without strategic allies,” a shift that could dramatically reshape the balance of power in the region.
Given Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis, migratory flows to Mexico and the United States, and increasing irregular activity across Caribbean routes, the situation has taken on a continental dimension.
Is López Obrador still governing? An ambiguous perception
Toward the end of the conversation, Mellado addressed a question increasingly heard in both media and public opinion: the perception that López Obrador continues to govern behind the new president.
The attorney affirmed that this belief has taken deep root among the population and is fueling much of the unrest now expressed in the streets.
