Baja California Governor Denies Panama Meeting, Cites Deception Over Visa Issues

Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar has denied participating in any meetings in Panama, asserting that audio recordings circulating publicly were manipulated and stemmed from the cancellation and subsequent processing of her tourist visa. In a video message, the governor stated she was deceived by an individual whose name she did not disclose.

Del Pilar explained that her willingness to listen to people who claimed to understand the migratory process did not involve accepting any agreements or commitments. "Listening does not mean negotiating," she emphasized, assuring that she never provided information or made decisions that could compromise Mexico's security or sovereignty.

The audio recordings were reportedly disseminated by journalist Héctor de Mauleón in his column for EL UNIVERSAL. The governor shared a chronology of these "deceptive contacts," noting a first instance of communication via instant messaging on June 28, 2025. She maintained that her interactions were strictly personal and related to her visa issues, and that she sought legal and institutional avenues to address the procedure, as any individual facing a migratory decision might do.