Why Sheinbaum is Popular

No matter the source of the polls on Claudia Sheinbaum’s governance, even the traditionally opposition-leaning newspaper El Financiero revealed in a national survey that, seven months into her presidency, 81% of Mexicans approve of her administration. The most highly rated aspects are social welfare programs (83% approval), the economy (74%), and public security (57%).

Combating organized crime and corruption remain challenging and unfinished tasks, but the president has made her stance clear: sovereignty does not tolerate foreign interference, and transparency and honesty must begin at home.

The survey was conducted amid uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs. For the first time this year, a majority of respondents rated the relationship between the two leaders as favorable.

Meanwhile, opposition-controlled Mexican television began airing ads promoting Trump’s immigration policies during prime time. In response, Sheinbaum launched the “México te Abraza” (Mexico Embraces You) strategy, assuring Mexican migrants that “you are not alone.”

Under this initiative, returning migrants will have access to all welfare programs, employment opportunities, transportation, enrollment in the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), and a 2,000-peso financial aid through the Tarjeta Bienestar Paisano.

“Mexicans are vital to the U.S. economy, and the Trump administration knows it,” she emphasized.

Fewer Illegal Crossings

The Human Mobility Humanitarian Model, implemented along the Mexico-U.S. border, has reduced illegal crossings by 78%.

Additionally, returning migrants will receive access to social housing programs through the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial, and Urban Development (Sedatu) and the National Workers’ Housing Fund Institute (Infonavit). The Ministry of the Interior will also coordinate efforts to issue identification documents and CURP (Unique Population Registry Code) as needed.

To implement the México te Abraza strategy, the government has:

• Trained public servants across all federal agencies.
• Established agreements with border states (Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas) and states with large migrant populations (Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, Michoacán, Guanajuato, State of Mexico, Sinaloa, Jalisco).
• Coordinated with national and international organizations, the Human Rights Commission, and the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) for migrant reception and job placement.

Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente also announced the launch of ConsulApp, a mobile application designed to provide security and emergency support to migrants. This complements the digitization of consular services at Mexico’s 53 U.S. consulates, along with a legal team of 21,610 professionals and an additional 1,700 staff to assist migrants—regardless of their immigration status or location.

De la Fuente clarified that the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) were a unilateral decision by the Trump administration and differ from a Safe Third Country Agreement (TPS), which Mexico does not support.

“We don’t agree with it; we have a different approach, but we are finding adjustment mechanisms,” he added.

Engagement with the Pope

President Sheinbaum congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election as successor to Pope Francis, praising his commitment to the poor and global peace.

“We believe he will continue Pope Francis’s legacy, which gives us great hope,” she said during her May 9 morning press conference.

She also highlighted Mexico’s large Catholic population and extended an invitation for the new pope to visit the country. Additionally, she acknowledged the government’s strong relationship with the Vatican, particularly through the “Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace” program, where churches facilitate the voluntary surrender of firearms in exchange for cash and recreational toys.

“The Catholic Church has been instrumental in this effort, and we are grateful,” she said.

A Clean Government is Essential

Sheinbaum recently reaffirmed her warnings to the ruling Morena party to avoid dishonest practices.

“Power means humility. We must always act with integrity, simplicity, and honesty—without the excesses of past governments,” she stated, referencing a letter she sent to Morena’s national congress.

In the letter, she urged party members to reject sectarianism, corruption, privilege, and extravagance—including private jet travel, luxury brand obsession, and bodyguards. She also stressed that Morena must have no ties to organized crime or white-collar corruption and must reject machismo, classism, racism, and discrimination.

When questioned about the letter’s intent, Sheinbaum explained that she sought to reinforce the ethics of a government that prioritizes public service over personal enrichment, contrasting Morena with the PRI, which ruled Mexico from 1939 to 2000 amid widespread corruption.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff