Mexico City riot police used tear gas and physical force against the Madres Buscadoras during a protest on June 11, 2026 [1].
The clash occurred as the city hosted the opening day of the 2026 World Cup, highlighting a tension between the government's desire for a sanitized international image and the ongoing crisis of forced disappearances in Mexico.
Dozens of riot police were deployed to the Ángel de la Independencia and Tlapan Avenue to block the march [2]. The Madres Buscadoras, a collective of mothers searching for their disappeared children, had organized the demonstration to demand answers from the government [3]. Dozens of women participated in the march [4].
Reports indicate that police physically assaulted the protesters and deployed tear gas grenades to disperse the crowd [1]. Some reports also state that police detained protesters during the operation [1]. These events occurred while the city was under high security for the global sporting event.
Government officials provided a different account of the events. The Mexico City government said it accompanied the mothers to ensure a safe manifestation [5]. However, this account contrasts with reports of the use of force and the deployment of riot gear against the women.
The protesters chose the World Cup opening as a backdrop to ensure visibility for their cause. They said that the world's attention on Mexico should include the reality of the thousands of missing persons across the country [3].
“Policías antidisturbios agredieron físicamente y usaron granadas lacrimógenas contra las Madres Buscadoras.”
The use of riot police against the Madres Buscadoras during a high-profile international event underscores the systemic friction between Mexico's state security apparatus and human rights activists. By attempting to suppress a protest during the World Cup, the administration risked international scrutiny over its handling of the disappearance crisis, suggesting that maintaining a curated image for global tourism took precedence over the right to peaceful assembly.
