The violence crisis in the Montaña Baja region of Guerrero has reached a critical level. Displaced Indigenous communities released a desperate video pleading directly to President Donald Trump for help, claiming that the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum “is not listening to us” while the criminal organization Los Ardillos continues armed attacks, home burnings, and assaults using explosive drones.
The video, which quickly spread across social media, shows Indigenous women with their faces covered alongside children and elderly residents sheltering inside makeshift safe houses.
Through tears, the women explain that they are surrounded by members of Los Ardillos and living under constant threat. They say they fear being identified because the cartel could torture or kill them if recognized.
🇲🇽 Comunidades indígenas mexicanas difundieron un video pidiendo ayuda a @DonaldTrump y a Estados Unidos ante la violencia del crimen organizado que viven en México.#México #Trump #Seguridad #Sheinbaum pic.twitter.com/YUI4upD60G
— Gateway Hispanic (@GatewayHispanic) May 18, 2026
According to reports from the National Indigenous Congress (CNI) and the Indigenous and Popular Council of Guerrero Emiliano Zapata (CIPOG-EZ), the criminal offensive began on May 6 in communities including Tula, Xicotlán, Acahuehuetlán, and Alcozacán in the municipality of Chilapa. The attacks reportedly involved high-powered weapons and drones carrying explosives for several consecutive hours.
National and international media outlets report that between 800 and 1,000 Indigenous families have been displaced by the violence. Many fled overnight toward neighboring villages or improvised shelters, while others remain hidden in mountainous areas with limited food and no medical assistance.
The displaced women accuse the Mexican government of failing to protect them. Although Sheinbaum’s administration stated that federal security forces had been deployed to the region, local residents and Indigenous organizations argue that the military presence has been insufficient and that criminal groups continue operating almost without resistance.
Some reports indicate that the affected communities believe they have been abandoned by Mexican authorities, which is why they decided to appeal directly to the United States. In the video, the women specifically ask Trump to send helicopters and humanitarian assistance to evacuate children, elderly residents, and families trapped by the violence.
The crisis in Guerrero also highlights the growing territorial control exercised by criminal organizations in rural Mexico. Recent investigations suggest that Los Ardillos maintain a strong presence in the region and that the conflict is tied not only to drug trafficking, but also to political and territorial control in strategic municipalities ahead of future elections.
Meanwhile, the violence continues to fuel mass displacement and fear among Indigenous communities in what is increasingly becoming an international humanitarian concern.
About The Author
Joana Campos
Joana Campos es abogada y editora con más de 10 años de experiencia en la gestión de proyectos de desarrollo internacional, enfocada en la sostenibilidad y el impacto social positivo. Anteriormente, trabajó como abogada corporativa. Egresada de la Universidad de Guadalajara.
