The Chronicle of Immigration in Roma and Condesa Over the Years

The Chronicle of Immigration in Roma and Condesa Over the Years

On July 4, 2025, hundreds marched through Mexico City’s Colonia Roma and Condesa neighbourhoods, culminating in a protest that turned violent outside the U.S. embassy. The primary trigger for the march was a widespread frustration with the rapid gentrification of these areas, fuelled by soaring rents, the proliferation of vacation rentals, real estate speculation, and the loss of affordable housing in the city centre.

The influx of foreign residents, particularly American digital nomads and tourists since 2020, has been a visible driver of these changes, as their higher spending power has accelerated rent increases and commercial shifts towards upscale, foreign-owned businesses. This has led to cultural and economic displacement, with locals feeling excluded and resentful towards both the newcomers and the local authorities who have failed to regulate the market.

Although the march was organised to protest unaffordability and gentrification, some protesters directed their anger at foreigners, particularly Americans. Protest signs and chants such as “Gringos, stop stealing our home” and “Get out of Mexico” were reported, and a small group vandalized businesses that cater mainly to tourists or are foreign-owned. Speakers at the event also criticized “foreigners coming in with their euros and dollars and trying to buy our country”.

However, it is essential to understand that the march was overwhelmingly motivated by anger over rising rents, unaffordability, and local displacement, not by a primary stance against immigration in general. Protesters’ frustration with the accelerated pace of change, especially due to the influx of foreign residents and tourists, did manifest in some anti-foreign, particularly anti-American, rhetoric and actions during the event.

The gentrification in Mexico City has been a long-term process, influenced by real estate speculation, the deluge of vacation rentals, an extreme lack of affordable housing, and the centralisation of economic and cultural activity. To address these issues, Mexico City's latest reforms include capping rent increases based on yearly inflation, requiring rental contracts to be publicly registered, limiting Airbnb occupancy, and a commitment to providing 20,000 affordable homes by 2030.

Graffiti during the aftermath of the march read "Learn Spanish" and "Gringos go back to your f*cking country". However, it is crucial to remember that many immigrants, not just from the U.S., have chosen to make Mexico City their home out of love for its chaos, beauty, food, and life. The question of who is a local in Mexico City's Roma neighbourhood is complex, with various groups claiming this title, including original wealthy landowners, Jewish families, migrants from other Mexican states, and long-term residents.

Lydia Carey, a freelance writer and translator based in Mexico City, emphasises the enrichment of Mexico City's food, art, and culture by various immigrant groups throughout the 20th century. By the 1970s and '80s, a process of de-gentrification was happening in Roma and Condesa, but both neighbourhoods have been rapidly transforming for the last 25 years.

Roma and Condesa were originally built as enclaves for the urban elites in the early 20th century. Vero Teigerio, a social commentator, discusses the difficulties in decentralising the economic activity of Mexico City, highlighting the need for improving services and urban infrastructure in peripheral areas to reduce demand for housing in the city's core.

Mexico City has seen an increase in the number of foreign residents, particularly from the United States, in recent years. The demonstration's chants included "Fuera Gringos!" and "No se van a ir, los vamos a sacar". In 2022, the city-wide population of U.S.-born residents was 19,122, an increase of almost 70% from 2019.

In conclusion, the July 4 anti-gentrification march in Mexico City’s Colonia Roma was a call for affordable housing and regulation, not a general anti-immigration platform. The anti-foreign, particularly anti-American, rhetoric and actions were a reflection of the broader economic and cultural tensions at the heart of the city's gentrification crisis, not the main purpose of the march. It is crucial to learn to separate economic systems (and governments) from the people who function within those structures.

1. The city's Colonia Roma and Condesa neighborhoods witnessed a violent protest on July 4, 2025, spurred by rapid gentrification.
2. The primary cause of the gentrification is linked to soaring rents, the proliferation of vacation rentals, real estate speculation, and the loss of affordable housing.
3. The influx of foreign residents, particularly American digital nomads and tourists since 2020, has aggravated the situation.
4. Higher spending power of foreigners has led to accelerated rent increases and commercial shifts towards upscale businesses.
5. This cultural and economic displacement has made locals feel excluded and resentful towards both newcomers and local authorities.
6. Protest signs and chants such as "Gringos, stop stealing our home" and "Get out of Mexico" were reported during the event.
7. It is important to note that the march was motivated primarily by anger over unaffordability and local displacement.
8. The question of who is a local in Mexico City's Roma neighborhood is complex, with various groups claiming this title.
9. Lydia Carey, a freelance writer, emphasizes the enrichment of Mexico City's food, art, and culture by various immigrant groups throughout the 20th century.
10. Vero Teigerio, a social commentator, discusses the difficulties in decentralizing the economic activity of Mexico City.
11. The gentrification in Mexico City has been a long-term process, influenced by real estate speculation, the deluge of vacation rentals, and an extreme lack of affordable housing.
12. To address these issues, Mexico City's latest reforms include capping rent increases based on yearly inflation.
13. The reforms also require rental contracts to be publicly registered and limit Airbnb occupancy.
14. A commitment to providing 20,000 affordable homes by 2030 is part of the reforms aimed at combating gentrification.
15. Graffiti during the aftermath of the march read "Learn Spanish" and "Gringos go back to your f*cking country".
16. Many immigrants, not just from the U.S., have chosen to make Mexico City their home out of love for its chaos, beauty, food, and life.
17. The march was not a general anti-immigration platform, but a call for affordable housing and regulation.
18. The anti-foreign, particularly anti-American, rhetoric and actions were a reflection of the broader economic and cultural tensions at the heart of the city's gentrification crisis.
19. It is crucial to learn to separate economic systems (and governments) from the people who function within those structures.
20. Mexico City has seen an increase in the number of foreign residents, particularly from the United States, in recent years.
21. Speakers at the event also criticized "foreigners coming in with their euros and dollars and trying to buy our country".
22. A small group vandalized businesses that cater mainly to tourists or are foreign-owned during the event.
23. In 2022, the city-wide population of U.S.-born residents was 19,122, an increase of almost 70% from 2019.
24. The city's food, art, and culture have been enriched by various immigrant groups throughout the 20th century.
25. By the 1970s and '80s, a process of de-gentrification was happening in Roma and Condesa.
26. Both neighborhoods have been rapidly transforming for the last 25 years, particularly since 2020.
27. Roma and Condesa were originally built as enclaves for the urban elites in the early 20th century.
28. The economic and cultural tensions at the heart of the city's gentrification crisis have been fueled by real estate speculation and the loss of affordable housing.
29. The march was a cry for regulation and affordable housing, not a general anti-foreign or anti-immigration sentiment.
30. In the face of economic systems, it is essential to remember the humanity and contributions of the people within those systems.
31. The complex question of who is a local in Mexico City's Roma neighborhood is intertwined with cultural, economic, and political factors, requiring sensitivity and understanding.

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