Homicides and violent crime drop in Baja California, but safety concerns remain

Tijuana has long had a reputation for violence. Mexican officials consider it one of Baja California’s biggest challenges.

So there was reason to point out progress recently when Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced during her latest visit to the border town of nearly 2 million people that the daily average of reported homicides and other serious crimes in Baja California had fallen to the lowest levels in nine years.

According to the data, presented by Marcela Figueroa of Mexico’s National Public Security System, the average daily number of reported homicides fell by 28%, from 6.5 incidents per day in 2024 to 4.7 last year.

During the same period, the number of reported violent and serious crimes — including armed robbery, firearm-related offenses and extortion — decreased by 32%, from an average of 26 to 17.6 incidents per day.

“It is a significant decrease, given the difficulties Baja California fa...