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7h ago

Mexico City to Enforce Rent Controls After Anti-Gentrification Unrest

Enforcement of rent controls alongside short-term rental limits is set to resume after the World Cup following official denunciation of xenophobic chants at weekend protests

A demonstrator burns an effigy of U.S. President Donald Trump in Parque Mexico, during a protest against gentrification, as the increase in remote workers has risen prices and increased housing demand in neighborhoods like Condesa and Roma, in Mexico City, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Orbach)
A man points to his Mexican ID to prove his nationality as people protest against gentrification, as the increase in remote workers has risen prices and increased housing demand in neighborhoods like Condesa and Roma, in Mexico City, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Orbach)
Demonstrators hold posters that read in Spanish ¨Here we speak Spanish, Real Estate Regulation Now¨, during a protest against gentrification, as the increase in remote workers has risen prices and increased housing demand in neighborhoods like Condesa and Roma, in Mexico City, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A demonstrator tosses a restaurant chair at the end of peaceful protest that turned violent against gentrification, as the increase in remote workers has risen prices and increased housing demand in neighborhoods like Condesa and Roma, in Mexico City, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurea Del Rosario)

Overview

  • Weekend protests have subsided as city officials prepare to activate the 2024 rent control law and a 180-night cap on short-term rentals, measures previously deferred until after the World Cup.
  • President Sheinbaum condemned xenophobic slogans like “Gringo go home” while acknowledging the legitimacy of residents’ complaints over rising rents.
  • The U.S. Department of Homeland Security drew cross-border attention by tweeting a mock invitation for unauthorized immigrants to self-deport via the CBP Home app and join the demonstrations.
  • The Mexico City Anti-Gentrification Front is demanding stricter enforcement of housing rules, greater local input on development projects and prioritized access for Mexican renters.
  • Experts warn that long-standing gaps in affordable housing and lax regulation have fueled gentrification and echo anti-tourism protests in European capitals.