Case of Mexico’s 43 missing students persists among tens of thousands of disappearances
Associated PressOCT 2024
Mexico: Retired Judge Arrested Over 2014 Students' Disappearance
Above: Relatives and students from the Ayotzinapa protest to demand the government clarify the cases of 43 missing students in Mexico City, on April 26, 2025. Image copyright: Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The disappearance of the 43 students has become emblematic of Mexico's broader crisis of forced disappearances, with figures in the country exceeding the tens of thousands. It also exposes the government's limitations, as well as deep-rooted corruption within state institutions, evident in the arrest of a retired judge in connection with the case.
Narrative B
There is no doubt that the Ayotzinapa case is a tragedy, but it's a matter of fact that cartels play a significant role in disappearances in Mexico — especially as its members infiltrate into and collude with corrupt officials in every branch of power. The fight to address this crisis starts with tackling gang crime.