Plans For New Barracks Part Of Expanding National Guard Presence In Sonora

Mexican National Guard presence in neighboring Sonora, continues to increase — this time with plans for new barracks in the coastal municipality of Guaymas, home to the popular beach town San Carlos.

Guaymas Mayor Sara Valle signed onto plans to build new facilities for the National Guard this week.

Guaymas is among a number of Sonoran municipalities where  murder rates are climbing. In response, the federal government has turned to the military and National Guard in an effort to curb growing violence. And troops have taken on a growing number of tasks, from delivering COVID-19 vaccines to Sonoran hospitals to closing down snow-packed roads.

Last year, three  National Guard barracks were completed in the state, in Cajeme, Bavispe and Moctezuma. Facilities in Hermosillo, Caborca and Nogales are reportedly in the final phases of construction, and facilities in Navojoa and San Luis Rio Colorado are set to be built this year. That makes the new barracks in Guaymas would be the ninth installation in Sonora if all of the planned barracks are completed.