Rising Tensions in Mexico City Over Gentrification Spark Protests

Demonstrators expressed their frustration over the recent influx of foreigners settling in Mexico City through banners and graffiti.

Chants such as “Gringo, go home!”, “Speak Spanish or leave!”, and “Gentrification is colonization!” echoed through the streets.

Several spots frequented by digital nomads were looted during Friday’s protests. The city’s former mayor publicly condemned these acts of vandalism on Monday morning.

At the same time, she acknowledged the protesters’ concerns and recognized the mounting tensions in Mexico City, North America’s largest metropolis, sparked by thousands of relatively affluent foreigners, primarily from the United States. Many local residents are outraged by rising rents and food prices in certain neighborhoods.

Daniela Grave, a longtime resident who attended the demonstration, highlighted the uneven playing field between locals and incoming digital nomads. She pointed out that newcomers earning in dollars and not paying local taxes create economic imbalances.

The tension surrounding remote workers has been building for some time. Many foreign remote workers began relocating to Mexico City during the COVID-19 pandemic, concentrating mainly in central neighborhoods like Condesa and Roma.

To the surprise of lifelong residents, these areas have transformed into enclaves where English often dominates conversations in cafes, and new businesses such as coworking spaces, pilates studios, specialty food shops, and boutique clothing stores cater primarily to the newcomers.

What Drives the Protests?

One of the protesters’ main concerns is the soaring rents and property values. Grave, 34, who has lived in Roma Sur for two decades, described how her once quiet, family-friendly neighborhood has undergone a drastic transformation.

Corner stores and affordable eateries have been replaced by upscale restaurants and art galleries. Even the local market where she shops has become more expensive and crowded with tourists and guides.

She noticed that restaurant staff are now often expected to speak English to accommodate foreign patrons. Nearby apartment buildings have increasingly become Airbnb rentals, some hosting late-night parties that, in her view, have altered the neighborhood’s atmosphere.

Grave, who joined the protest alongside her mother, emphasized that her issue was not with foreigners or Americans specifically, but with the economic disparities created when wealthier newcomers displace longtime residents.

Other locals believe that some privileged foreigners living in Mexico City could take meaningful steps to ease neighbors’ concerns.

Luis Sosa, a 44-year-old creative director residing in Condesa since 2006, suggested that Americans relocating to Mexico could make more effort to understand Mexican culture, starting by learning Spanish.

Although he did not attend the protests, Sosa sympathized with residents’ frustrations but rejected the violent and xenophobic tone of recent demonstrations, which he said mirrored anti-immigrant sentiment seen elsewhere.

He pointed to real estate developers who exploit rising demand and speculation to hike rents, as well as politicians who have failed to enact effective public policies to regulate the trend.

Sosa argued that local anger is being misdirected and that relying solely on market forces without political intervention is insufficient.

He also warned against nostalgia for how these neighborhoods used to be, as it may fuel resistance to potentially positive change.

Sosa underscored that migrants contribute significantly to cultural and economic life, and as such, neighborhoods and cities naturally evolve over time.

Government Response

Claudia Sheinbaum, the city’s former mayor, condemned the protests while simultaneously criticizing the expansion of gentrification during her administration.

She stated, “No matter how legitimate the demand against gentrification is, it cannot call for the exclusion of any nationality from our country. Mexico is an open country.”

Sheinbaum also highlighted the real estate developments driving up property values and rents, which displace longtime residents and change the character of neighborhoods.

“There is already a lot of real estate speculation fueled by Airbnb and similar digital platforms,” she said. “The city cannot become unaffordable.”

In 2022, while still mayor, Sheinbaum signed an agreement with Airbnb to promote Mexico City as a “capital of creative tourism,” aiming to boost its reputation as a hub for remote workers. At that time, she did not anticipate that the company would drive up prices for local residents.

However, the issue predates recent years and even decades.

A study published last year revealed that between 2000 and 2022, housing affordability in Mexico City plummeted as prices quadrupled and average Mexican incomes declined. Some gentrified neighborhoods saw housing costs rise eightfold.

This process has led to the emergence of expensive zones and the displacement of over 23,000 low-income families annually.

“Gentrification has been a constant,” said Tamara Velásquez Leiferman, a Mexican urban studies expert at Rutgers University. “What we are witnessing now is its culmination.”

Recent city administrations have attempted to address the problem by subsidizing affordable housing and introducing some Airbnb regulations. However, proposals to relax restrictions aim to accommodate the expected five million visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“Mexico City does not support gentrification,” said the current mayor, Clara Brugada, in a statement following the protests. “We reject this phenomenon that excludes residents from their neighborhoods and communities.”

Background to the Protests

Even before the recent demonstrations, some Mexico City residents had voiced discontent over the arrival of wealthy migrants. In 2022, signs appeared on walls in the Roma neighborhood.

One message, written in English, asked, “New to the city? Do you work remotely?” followed by a profane description labeling newcomers as a “plague” despised by locals.

Early this year, xenophobic banners blaming foreigners for gentrification appeared in the Condesa and Roma districts. A group calling itself “Mexicans in Defense of the Nation” claimed responsibility.

One banner read, “Respect the locals and their culture, or leave,” and “Mexicans first.”

American social media influencer Arielle Simone became a focal point of outrage after publicly celebrating her move from Brooklyn to Mexico City, prompting hostile reactions. She reportedly received threats that forced her to relocate to a different neighborhood.

Simone sparked further controversy when she launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $4,500 for her move. Critics argued that her fundraising effort highlighted the disconnect between the lifestyle some Americans enjoy in the city and the financial struggles many Mexicans face.