What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to explore how the evolution of organized crime in Mexico influences displacement and return for asylum seekers.

June 18, 2026

Displacement, Deportation, and Devastation: The Evolving Geography of Narco-Violence in Mexico / Desplazamiento, deportación y devastación: la evolución de la geografía de la narcoviolencia en México

Key Points

This research aims to explore how the evolution of organized crime in Mexico influences displacement and return for asylum seekers.
Conducted interviews with displaced Mexican asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Performed ethnographic research in central and southern Mexico, particularly focusing on Michoacán and Guerrero.
Analyzed the socioeconomic and political geography linked to narco-violence.
Identified significant patterns of mobility disruptions, with thousands forced to flee their homes.
Reported the emergence of smaller, semi-autonomous criminal groups affecting local communities more than larger organizations.
Highlighted new dangers for individuals returning to Mexico, linking these to ongoing narco-violence.

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Organized crime in Mexico has evolved in confusing and complex ways that have had drastic impacts on mobility, with thousands fleeing their homes and others unable to return. Generally, the changes have followed a pattern of greater fragmentation and the emergence of smaller cells of larger organizations, or even semi-autonomous local criminal groups that are far more involved in the socioeconomic and political geography of everyday life than larger criminal organizations. This has serious consequences for displacement, as well as creates new dangers for people when they return or are removed to Mexico. This article relies on interviews with displaced Mexican asylum seekers waiting to cross at the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as ethnographic work in central and southern Mexico. With a particular focus on Michoacán and Guerrero, which were over-represented in these data, these article provides a detailed view of the factors motivating people to flee and the potential harms and challenges for people returning to Mexico. RESUMEN: El crimen organizado en México ha evolucionado de maneras confusas y complejas, lo que ha tenido impactos drásticos en la movilidad, con miles de personas huyendo de sus hogares y otras que no pueden regresar. En general, esto ha seguido un patrón de mayor fragmentación y el surgimiento de células más pequeñas de organizaciones más grandes, o incluso grupos criminales locales semi-autónomos que están mucho más involucrados en la geografía socioeconómica y política de la vida cotidiana, particularmente en el México rural. Esto, a su vez, tiene consecuencias graves para el desplazamiento, además de crear nuevos peligros para las personas que regresan o son deportadas a México. Este artículo se basa en entrevistas con solicitantes de asilo mexicanos desplazados que esperan en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México para cruzar, así como en trabajo etnográfico en el centro y sur de México. Con un enfoque particular en Michoacán y Guerrero, que estuvieron sobrerrepresentados en estos datos, este artículo ofrece una visión más detallada de los factores que motivan a las personas a huir y los posibles daños y desafíos para quienes regresan a México.

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