The mayor of San Mateo Piñas in southern Mexico’s Oaxaca state was shot dead in her office on Sunday. According to local authorities, four armed individuals stormed the office, killing Mayor Lilia García and another municipal official. Two police officers were injured in the attack. Prosecutors have launched an investigation, and federal agents and military forces have been deployed in the area. Mexican officials suspect powerful drug cartels may be behind the escalating violence targeting public officials.

A passenger bus overturned in Oaxaca, Mexico, killing at least 11 people and injuring 12 others. Governor Salomon Jara expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, assuring that necessary assistance would be provided. The bus, carrying over 40 passengers, was en route to Tehuantepec in southern Mexico. It is believed that the passengers were returning home after attending a rally organized by President Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico City on Sunday.

Eight people were killed in a shooting carried out by gunmen in Mexico’s Guanajuato state, one of the country’s most violent regions, according to an AFP report. The prosecutor’s office confirmed that the victims included five women and three men, though their identities have not yet been disclosed. Guanajuato, a major industrial hub and home to several popular tourist destinations, has witnessed multiple violent incidents in recent years. No arrests have been made in connection with the attack. In 2023, a similar attack in the region left seven people dead, including a child. Since the Mexican government deployed the military against drug cartels in 2006, more than 480,000 people have been killed due to drug-related violence, according to official data.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened Mexico with mass deportations, increased trade tariffs, and military action against drug cartels, according to reports on Thursday. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has dismissed these threats, asserting that her government is fully capable of handling such challenges.

Sheinbaum reassured that ongoing diplomatic discussions between the U.S. and Mexico are addressing these concerns. Trump recently labeled Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations and criticized Mexico’s handling of illegal immigration. In response, Sheinbaum accused the U.S. of engaging in espionage under the guise of intelligence operations.

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been conducting secret drone operations over Mexico. According to CNN, MQ-9 Reaper drones are being used to monitor drug cartels and their hideouts, potentially as a precursor to targeted strikes. These drones have previously been deployed for attacks in Somalia, Iraq, and Syria. However, Mexico’s president has denied any violation of the country’s airspace, claiming the drones remained within U.S. international airspace. Meanwhile, the Mexican defense minister has suggested that these operations could involve espionage. Earlier, the U.S. president had directed the designation of several Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations.

In response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of imposing tariffs, Mexico has deployed 10,000 National Guard and military personnel along its border. Troops have been seen patrolling areas near Tijuana and Juarez. Despite a decline in drug trafficking and illegal migration over the past year, Trump has declared a border emergency. The U.S. administration aims to curb arms smuggling and violence, as criminal groups compete to control the lucrative migrant smuggling industry.