San Quintín Workers Blockade, Sheinbaum Reprimands Morena Members: “Work more with the people!”

ByMariana Campos & David Bacon

This article by Mariana Campos originally appeared in the February 2, 2026 edition of Infobae. Photographs are by photojournalist David Bacon [The Reality Check]. Thank you to David for permission for use of his photographs.

David’s note: Farmworkers and other residents of the Zapata colonia in the San Quintin Valley initiated a blockade of Transpeninsular Highway to protest corruption in the new government of the San Quintin municipality.

During the press conference this Monday, February 2, President Claudia Sheinbaum was questioned about the alleged reprimand she gave to fellow members of the Morena party in the state of Baja California, a situation that raised doubts about the unity of the party members at present.

“San Quintín is an area with many needs; it’s barely a municipality in the state of Baja California, having been part of Ensenada. For many years, it has had this agricultural production by companies, unlike other places in our country where it relies on farm laborers. These workers receive an income for working in the fields, and for many years part of the problem for these farmworkers was that they brought their families to work, often with child labor and using a lot of pesticides,” the President commented.

SAN QUINTIN, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO – JANUARY 22, 2026 – Farmworkers and other residents of the Zapata colonia in the San Quintin Valley blockade the Transpeninsular Highway to protest corruption in the new government of the San Quintin municipality. Photo: David Bacon

“We are developing the San Quintín Justice Plan; there have been many struggles by farmworkers for their rights there… Faced with this situation, one feels a certain sadness, a certain anguish and sorrow for the situation that many compatriots are experiencing in our country.”

SAN QUINTIN, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO – 22JANUARY26 – Farmworkers and other residents of the Zapata colonia in the San Quintin Valley blockade the Transpeninsular Highway to protest corruption in the new government of the San Quintin municipality. Photo: David Bacon

What Sparked the President’s Anger?

The incident occurred at the end of the presentation of the Justice Plan for Agricultural Workers, when the President was approached by local officials who wanted to greet her or take pictures with her. In response, Sheinbaum issued a direct order: “All of you: work more with the people!” demanding greater commitment to local communities and closer ties with the public.

The reprimand, captured on video and quickly shared on social media, reflected the mayor’s displeasure with the behavior of some elected officials. During the private event, attended mainly by farmworkers, the mayor also faced complaints against the local mayor, Miriam Cano Núñez, who was ignored by the President after protests from attendees. In response to citizen complaints about the lack of official attention, Sheinbaum promised to send a federal representative to reside permanently in the area to oversee the community’s needs.

This warning comes in a context where the federal administration seeks to strengthen direct contact with the social base, preventing officials from limiting themselves to ceremonial acts.

SAN QUINTIN, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO – 22JANUARY26 – Farmworkers and other residents of the Zapata colonia in the San Quintin Valley blockade the Transpeninsular Highway to protest corruption in the new government of the San Quintin municipality. Photo: David Bacon

President Sheinbaum Clarifies the Situation

After the video went viral, questions quickly arose about the communication between the president and local legislators. In response, she stated:

“As I was leaving the place , they were saying ‘photo, photo, photo’ to me, and it seemed to me that the photo of the president didn’t go with the circumstances they were experiencing, so that’s why I feel a little annoyed. I told them: ‘Don’t just stay up there, don’t just stay there in Congress or here in the city, go out into the field, be close to the people,’ because that’s what we always have to keep in mind, especially when there are significant needs in a population.”

SAN QUINTIN, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO – 25JANUARY26 – Farmworkers and other residents of the Camalu colonia in the San Quintin Valley blockade the Transpeninsular Highway to protest corruption in the new government of the San Quintin municipality. Photo: David Bacon