Journalist Under Threat After Reporting on Indigenous Land in Mexico City

November 24, 2025 – Mexico – 

Max Emiliano Negrete González, a community journalist documenting the lives and land-rights struggles of Indigenous communities in southern Mexico City, has reported receiving death threats via Instagram. According to the account, an anonymous sender warned him that he had “eight days to live.”

Negrete indicated that the threats might be connected to his coverage of land and territorial defence issues in the Xochimilco district. He suggested that individuals with ties to local government or political operators could be behind the intimidation.

Since September 2024, Negrete has been formally protected under Mexico City’s Comprehensive Protection Mechanism for journalists and human rights defenders. Despite being under this programme, he said that recent threats against him have grown both in number and severity.

In response to the intimidation, Negrete filed a formal complaint with authorities, requesting that the incidents be documented and that effective protective measures be put in place.

This case highlights the escalating dangers faced by community and Indigenous-affiliated journalists in Mexico, particularly when reporting on sensitive issues such as land disputes and territorial rights. The apparent involvement of political or official actors underscores the risks when press work intersects with local power dynamics.

Negrete’s situation raises urgent concerns about the capacity and willingness of existing protection mechanisms to shield vulnerable journalists from threats and harassment. The fact that threats occurred despite formal inclusion in a protection programme suggests systemic gaps in ensuring journalist safety.

At a time when independent reporting is vital for transparency and accountability — especially on issues affecting marginalized communities — Negrete’s case illustrates the chilling effect that intimidation can have on press freedom. It underscores the need for robust safeguards, transparent investigations, and enforcement of protections for journalists under threat.

Reference – 

Mexico City community journalist says he received death threats on Instagram