I. Introduction: Living Under the Shadow of Death
In Mexico, violence has become personal and direct. Targeted killings and threats against individuals, families, and communities are pushing thousands to abandon their homes. Unlike generalised violence, targeted attacks deliberately single out people—activists, journalists, women, indigenous leaders, or ordinary citizens—to send a message of fear and control. These assassinations and threats expose the inability of the state to protect its citizens and leave many with no option but migration.

II. Targeted Killings as a Tool of Control
Cartels, corrupt officials, and local power brokers use targeted killings to eliminate opposition and silence dissent. Community leaders resisting extortion, journalists exposing corruption, and women speaking out against violence are frequently murdered. These killings are designed not only to remove individuals but also to terrorise communities into submission, creating an atmosphere where survival requires silence or flight.

III. Journalists and Human Rights Defenders
Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. Reporters investigating organised crime, corruption, or human rights abuses are often killed with impunity. Human rights defenders face similar risks, particularly those advocating for indigenous communities or land rights. The assassinations of these figures highlight the deadly consequences of standing up to entrenched power structures.

IV. Women as Targets of Violence
Women face disproportionate risks in Mexico’s climate of violence. Femicide—gender-based killing of women—remains alarmingly high, with thousands of women murdered each year. Activists fighting for gender equality and justice for victims of violence are frequently threatened or killed, underscoring how gender intersects with broader patterns of targeted violence.

V. Indigenous and Rural Leaders
Indigenous leaders and rural activists defending their land from illegal mining, logging, or cartel activity are frequent targets. Assassinations are used to clear the way for exploitation of natural resources, leaving communities without defenders. This systematic targeting
contributes to displacement in rural areas, where entire villages are forced to abandon their ancestral lands.

VI. Threats as Weapons of Fear
Threats are often used alongside killings to control populations. Extortion letters, anonymous phone calls, and direct confrontations warn individuals of impending violence if they refuse to comply with demands. Even when not carried out, threats alone destabilise families and communities, prompting migration before violence escalates.

VII. State Complicity and Impunity
The state’s failure to investigate or prosecute targeted killings perpetuates a cycle of impunity. In many cases, authorities are directly complicit, covering up crimes or collaborating with perpetrators. For victims, this means there is little chance of justice or protection. This breakdown of the rule of law forces citizens to seek safety outside Mexico’s borders.

VIII. Psychological Toll on Survivors
Families of those killed or threatened live under immense psychological strain. Survivors often relocate multiple times within Mexico before deciding to leave entirely. The trauma of losing loved ones, combined with fear of future attacks, drives families into exile, where they hope to rebuild lives free from constant danger.

IX. Migration as an Act of Survival
For many Mexicans, migration is no longer about economic opportunity but about survival. Those fleeing targeted killings often have no time to plan, leaving behind homes, possessions, and communities. They travel dangerous routes through Central America and into the United States, risking further violence but compelled by the certainty of danger at home.

X. Diaspora Networks
Mexican diaspora communities provide critical support to new arrivals. Exiled families find solidarity among others who fled targeted killings, sharing resources, advocacy, and a collective voice that exposes Mexico’s crisis internationally. These networks not only sustain exiles but also maintain pressure on the Mexican government to address impunity.

XI. International Recognition of Targeted Violence
Human rights organisations and international bodies have increasingly recognised targeted killings in Mexico as a driver of forced migration. Reports stress the need to view asylum
claims from Mexico through the lens of persecution, not simply economic migration. This recognition is vital to ensuring that those fleeing targeted violence receive the protection they need.

XII. Conclusion: Escaping Death’s Shadow
Targeted killings and threats in Mexico highlight the collapse of safety and justice. As long as assassinations remain tools of control and threats go unanswered by the state, families will continue to flee. For many, migration is not just a choice but a last attempt to escape the shadow of death and reclaim their right to live in safety.