I’ve seen how complex the line is between survival, tradition, and legality can be here. Isn't it both interesting and shocking that policy decisions often overlook the deeper realities of rural and Indigenous life... Or maybe it's not shocking. Not any more...
It shows me how something is extended (land, concessions) but on both sides of the aisle assumptions have been made ahead of time of how the outcome will look. You’re absolutely right. It is complex when deals are made. What never fails to amaze me is how in all the policy making, the Maya always end up odd man out. Even with those they are working side by side with in the fields, but from foreign cultures.
This is so interesting, Jeanine! I had no idea of this connection between some of the Mennonite farmers and the cartel. While on the surface an unlikely partnership your article points out the why.
Terrific article. I can’t wait to see part two. I think the root of these problems you describe in the Yucatán are not limited to that area. In my view, it’s another enormous case of corporate-type hypocrisy and greed, using a mask as a Christian religious organization. I say this because of my other experiences and observations. I grew up on a farm in near a Mennonite colony in the Midwestern U.S. and had extensive interaction with the Church of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in a number of Western states. The Mormons have farm communities in northern Mexico, where they have taken over the local aquifer for irrigation. They had a number of members killed by alleged cartel members, local criminals, etc., although some have wondered whether these God-fearing folks had a “business” dispute with a cartel. They have been pressuring the Mexican federal government to change the laws to allow more firearms into the country for “protection.”
There are certain religious groups that believe that anyone outside of their group is fair game to rip off. They will make strange alliances to protect their culture and to make money, so I was not surprised to see the connections to drug smuggling for the cartels in your article. With their high population rate, and the lower need for farm labor due to enormous expensive machinery chemicals, there’s not enough land for all of them to farm, or money for land acquisition. The Mennonites have settled in places like eastern Oregon, where I had to professionally deal with them. My observation is that it is an extremely patriarchal and controlling sect, using women as child bearers, home schoolers and free laborers. Imagine living in an isolated area and raising 10 kids without electricity or modern appliances ! However, they can afford to more land and “develop” it, using pooled resources from their church, whereas most in the U.S. and especially Mexico can’t afford the high interest rates or capital.
Many Mennonites and other Christian sects also do not accept vaccination, posing problems to public health under the guise of religious freedom. In fact, a Mennonite community in West Texas recently had a measles outbreak, which spread to neighboring states and now is wreaking havoc in northern Mexico. I don’t know how many children have died or become disabled as a result. Some Christian fundamentalists in Idaho eschew vaccines so there is an ongoing and spreading problem with whooping cough in Idaho. When I travel north from our home in Mexico, I have to make sure I have the right vaccinations and boosters to protect myself!
Thanks Constance for your thoughtful response. There is so much to say here, I have just scratched the surface. What I'm finding is that everyone is pretty much amazed by it, kind of like a secret hiding in plain sight. Oddly in telling a friend about writing my post, her home town is in West Texas, and when she went to see her family several years ago, she saw Mennonites there and cartels. Then she also told me about the measles outbreak and her hometown was affected. That is so disturbing. I'm posting a part 2 soon, and may go for a part 3 to address the killing off of honeybees due to pesticides used and logging rights being maligned.
I researched for 2-1/2 yrs before writing my narco noir thriller, Wheels Up, and that was almost 7 years ago now. I won't write about the research here, but that NM town is not alone. Second gen bad boys have had the benefit, some, had ivy league US schooling and degrees in economics, engineering, computer tech. Brains upon brains, and into growth. From last I read, it's the largest industry in the world, and to get there one needs 1st world customers in a #of cities.
Wow! As the U.S.- Mexican Border has tightened up, I suspect the cartels are looking for new communities and opportunities to expand.
I had many observations and conversations while living on the border for nearly 6 years during the Obama-Biden administrations, which happened to be the beginning of the building of “The Wall” ;the massive check station on Interstate 10; new or expanded port of entry stations, just in New Mexico. There were, and are plenty of border patrol and ICE agents, bureaucrats, politicians and local law enforcement people, and private corporations, all of whom “benefit” from supposed enforcement and surveillance on the border. Some ways were surprisingly legal, for example, our over-sized county jail being paid by the federal government to keep border crossers in detention. The intrusion on civil rights, and graft and corruption with these projects and programs, went largely unnoticed by the rest of the country during the Obama-Biden years.
More on the measles situation and Mennonites in the Borderlands. “A resurgence of measles, a highly contagious disease once considered eliminated in Mexico, is challenging public health authorities as they navigate resistance to vaccination within isolated Mennonite communities in the northern state of Chihuahua.” https://disa.org/measles-outbreak-challenges-mexico-amidst-public-distrust-and-misinformation/
Jeanine, this was fascinating. I was born and raised in Alberta, Canada, and I was well acquainted with the local Mennonite colonies. I can't imagine the people I knew smuggling drugs with the Mexican cartels, but it sure would be the perfect cover to transport the goods across the border. I guess one never knows what their neighbors are really doing. Thanks for writing this piece, Jeanine.
It is amazing it’s not that well known— in spite of the Canadian TV series titled Pure. Alberta was the drop spot for drug runs. I guess they were successful bc no one heard about them ): perfect cover. How it got started I cover in Part 3. Part 2 comes out this week. Thanks for reading!
You are correct to call them Mennonites. I thought they were Amish but I was wrong. They are from a more conservative Mennonite Order. In Northwest Ohio and Northeast Indiana the Mennonites are quite liberal, driving cars and fully engaged in the community, while the Amish do with just the plain buggies and no-button clothing.
The ones in the Northwest US are religiously and socially conservative but use cars and modern farm equipment. The women wear long dresses, lace covers on their head and athletic shoes. Only the men seem to do business as necessary with the "outside."
What an eye-opening piece, Jeanine! I never saw Mennonites in QR or Yucatan, but we never spent time in Cancun. We might've seen their fields though... Somehow, I'm not surprised by any of this (well, maybe the cartel link, but I can see it, too); it just saddens me how they were allowed for too long to use the wrong agricultural practices. How contradictory, though, their pacifist beliefs and not caring about the forests and environment they are destroying. We saw a Mennonite farm in Belize, and felt bad about the way locals talked about them - they did not like having them there -, but understanding more of their practices from your post, it doesn't surprise me now. Amazing how people can hide behind religion, and get away with things they really shouldn't!
Thanks for restack @Tinashe D. Ndhlovu
I’ve seen how complex the line is between survival, tradition, and legality can be here. Isn't it both interesting and shocking that policy decisions often overlook the deeper realities of rural and Indigenous life... Or maybe it's not shocking. Not any more...
It shows me how something is extended (land, concessions) but on both sides of the aisle assumptions have been made ahead of time of how the outcome will look. You’re absolutely right. It is complex when deals are made. What never fails to amaze me is how in all the policy making, the Maya always end up odd man out. Even with those they are working side by side with in the fields, but from foreign cultures.
As humans, if we can step on someone, it does seem like we will...
Sigh.
This is so interesting, Jeanine! I had no idea of this connection between some of the Mennonite farmers and the cartel. While on the surface an unlikely partnership your article points out the why.
I look forward to Part 2.
Thanks so much, really shocking info and they truly were unsuspected for so long. Kind of crazy.
Thank you for writing about this and opening our eyes to this....wow. I always learn so much from you.
Wow, thank you so much, Ellen! Did you ever see the Mennonites when you lived in QRoo? In Cancun?
I lived in Yucatan, not QRoo, and no, I don't think I ever did see any Mennonites..
Terrific article. I can’t wait to see part two. I think the root of these problems you describe in the Yucatán are not limited to that area. In my view, it’s another enormous case of corporate-type hypocrisy and greed, using a mask as a Christian religious organization. I say this because of my other experiences and observations. I grew up on a farm in near a Mennonite colony in the Midwestern U.S. and had extensive interaction with the Church of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in a number of Western states. The Mormons have farm communities in northern Mexico, where they have taken over the local aquifer for irrigation. They had a number of members killed by alleged cartel members, local criminals, etc., although some have wondered whether these God-fearing folks had a “business” dispute with a cartel. They have been pressuring the Mexican federal government to change the laws to allow more firearms into the country for “protection.”
There are certain religious groups that believe that anyone outside of their group is fair game to rip off. They will make strange alliances to protect their culture and to make money, so I was not surprised to see the connections to drug smuggling for the cartels in your article. With their high population rate, and the lower need for farm labor due to enormous expensive machinery chemicals, there’s not enough land for all of them to farm, or money for land acquisition. The Mennonites have settled in places like eastern Oregon, where I had to professionally deal with them. My observation is that it is an extremely patriarchal and controlling sect, using women as child bearers, home schoolers and free laborers. Imagine living in an isolated area and raising 10 kids without electricity or modern appliances ! However, they can afford to more land and “develop” it, using pooled resources from their church, whereas most in the U.S. and especially Mexico can’t afford the high interest rates or capital.
Many Mennonites and other Christian sects also do not accept vaccination, posing problems to public health under the guise of religious freedom. In fact, a Mennonite community in West Texas recently had a measles outbreak, which spread to neighboring states and now is wreaking havoc in northern Mexico. I don’t know how many children have died or become disabled as a result. Some Christian fundamentalists in Idaho eschew vaccines so there is an ongoing and spreading problem with whooping cough in Idaho. When I travel north from our home in Mexico, I have to make sure I have the right vaccinations and boosters to protect myself!
Thanks Constance for your thoughtful response. There is so much to say here, I have just scratched the surface. What I'm finding is that everyone is pretty much amazed by it, kind of like a secret hiding in plain sight. Oddly in telling a friend about writing my post, her home town is in West Texas, and when she went to see her family several years ago, she saw Mennonites there and cartels. Then she also told me about the measles outbreak and her hometown was affected. That is so disturbing. I'm posting a part 2 soon, and may go for a part 3 to address the killing off of honeybees due to pesticides used and logging rights being maligned.
Measles has spread to the Yucatan, too. Is there any realistic counting of cases among the indigenous communities?
https://www.kjzz.org/fronteras-desk/2025-06-16/chihuahua-measles-cases-surpass-2-000-with-sonora-coming-in-2nd-among-mexican-states
Sorry, I don’t know.
Thank you. Articles like these make me take a look at my past experiences.
I am curious as to what evidence your friend saw of cartels in West Texas.
I researched for 2-1/2 yrs before writing my narco noir thriller, Wheels Up, and that was almost 7 years ago now. I won't write about the research here, but that NM town is not alone. Second gen bad boys have had the benefit, some, had ivy league US schooling and degrees in economics, engineering, computer tech. Brains upon brains, and into growth. From last I read, it's the largest industry in the world, and to get there one needs 1st world customers in a #of cities.
Wow! As the U.S.- Mexican Border has tightened up, I suspect the cartels are looking for new communities and opportunities to expand.
I had many observations and conversations while living on the border for nearly 6 years during the Obama-Biden administrations, which happened to be the beginning of the building of “The Wall” ;the massive check station on Interstate 10; new or expanded port of entry stations, just in New Mexico. There were, and are plenty of border patrol and ICE agents, bureaucrats, politicians and local law enforcement people, and private corporations, all of whom “benefit” from supposed enforcement and surveillance on the border. Some ways were surprisingly legal, for example, our over-sized county jail being paid by the federal government to keep border crossers in detention. The intrusion on civil rights, and graft and corruption with these projects and programs, went largely unnoticed by the rest of the country during the Obama-Biden years.
It’s a growth industry.
More on the measles situation and Mennonites in the Borderlands. “A resurgence of measles, a highly contagious disease once considered eliminated in Mexico, is challenging public health authorities as they navigate resistance to vaccination within isolated Mennonite communities in the northern state of Chihuahua.” https://disa.org/measles-outbreak-challenges-mexico-amidst-public-distrust-and-misinformation/
Very sad. It's unreal the person in charge of health in US is a health-denier.
Jeanine, this was fascinating. I was born and raised in Alberta, Canada, and I was well acquainted with the local Mennonite colonies. I can't imagine the people I knew smuggling drugs with the Mexican cartels, but it sure would be the perfect cover to transport the goods across the border. I guess one never knows what their neighbors are really doing. Thanks for writing this piece, Jeanine.
It is amazing it’s not that well known— in spite of the Canadian TV series titled Pure. Alberta was the drop spot for drug runs. I guess they were successful bc no one heard about them ): perfect cover. How it got started I cover in Part 3. Part 2 comes out this week. Thanks for reading!
I’ll be watching for Part 2 and Part 3. How fascinating!
Thanks Lois! Part 2 this Friday.
Thanks for letting me know. I’ll be watching for it.
Holy cow.
Wonderful piece, Jeanine~! Looking forwards to part II. There are many sects of anabaptism, including of course the Amish.
Thank you David. Of course there are others, but I was only aware (barely til I researched them) with Mennonites as they’re in Cancun.
Thanks David. Yes, of course, just pointing out the Mennonites as I've seen them often, but just recently did the deep dive into how they came to MX.
You are correct to call them Mennonites. I thought they were Amish but I was wrong. They are from a more conservative Mennonite Order. In Northwest Ohio and Northeast Indiana the Mennonites are quite liberal, driving cars and fully engaged in the community, while the Amish do with just the plain buggies and no-button clothing.
The ones in the Northwest US are religiously and socially conservative but use cars and modern farm equipment. The women wear long dresses, lace covers on their head and athletic shoes. Only the men seem to do business as necessary with the "outside."
I understand that women only speak the Dutch-German language, further ostracizing them from the world.
That does not surprise me. I have seen them in our Idaho community shopping in local stores, but never heard them speaking.
This type of smuggling from Yucatan to the US border is impossible without the complicity of local and federal authorities.
Right.
Thanks for restack @Bernardette Hernandez
Thanks for restack @Priya Iyer.
What an eye-opening piece, Jeanine! I never saw Mennonites in QR or Yucatan, but we never spent time in Cancun. We might've seen their fields though... Somehow, I'm not surprised by any of this (well, maybe the cartel link, but I can see it, too); it just saddens me how they were allowed for too long to use the wrong agricultural practices. How contradictory, though, their pacifist beliefs and not caring about the forests and environment they are destroying. We saw a Mennonite farm in Belize, and felt bad about the way locals talked about them - they did not like having them there -, but understanding more of their practices from your post, it doesn't surprise me now. Amazing how people can hide behind religion, and get away with things they really shouldn't!