Students from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) have occupied the Canal Once facilities and blocked major Mexico City avenues to demand the resignation of Director Arturo Reyes Sandoval.

The unrest signals a deepening crisis within one of Mexico's most prominent technical universities, where students allege that systemic mismanagement has compromised the institution's stability.

Protesters, including members of the Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (ENCB), began occupying the Canal Once facilities on April 16, 2026 [1]. Some reports indicate the occupation continued through April 17, 2026 [2]. The demonstrations have expanded beyond the broadcaster's facilities to include the Plaza Roja at the Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos in Zacatenco.

Student activists have also paralyzed traffic on the Insurgentes and Reforma avenues, two of the city's primary thoroughfares [5]. The group has organized a march toward the Gobernación to escalate their demands for a change in leadership [4].

At the center of the conflict is the leadership of Arturo Reyes Sandoval. Students said an internal crisis was fueled by poor management [5]. While some demonstrators are calling for the exit of Reyes Sandoval [4], other factions are demanding that the next director be chosen through a popular vote [5].

Reports on the current status of the director are conflicting. One source said Arturo Reyes Sandoval has resigned from his position following allegations of mismanagement [6]. However, other reports from the same period suggest students are still actively demanding his resignation, implying he remained in office during the peak of the protests [1].

The IPN remains a focal point of student activism in Mexico City, with the current wave of protests reflecting a broader push for democratic governance within the university's administrative structure.

“Students from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) have occupied the Canal Once facilities”

The occupation of a state-affiliated media outlet like Canal Once demonstrates a strategic shift by IPN students to maximize visibility and pressure the government. By blocking critical infrastructure like Reforma and Insurgentes, the movement has moved beyond campus grievances to create a public order issue, forcing the federal government to address the university's internal governance and the legitimacy of its leadership.