Tell us about your research project and why it is important to you.
My doctoral thesis examines how the armed agents of drug trafficking in the Sierra Tarahumara, in northern Mexico, exercise a type of sovereignty based on racialization, colonialism, and contrasted power relations. My argument is that these actors build their system of power and social control by establishing a colonial relationship with indigenous populations. In this sense, the claims to sovereignty of drug trafficking are aligned with the ideology of mestizaje (mixing of races), and are based on its invocation of colonialism, not on its ability to mimic the state. My project sheds new light on the little-recognized relationship between colonialism, race, power, and drug trafficking in Mexico.
This project is important to me because, as a lawyer, I have worked in this region for 11 years on the defense of indigenous territories. As an ally of indigenous struggles in the region, I recognize the need to deeply understand the phenomenon of drug trafficking to build adequate and effective work strategies
Have you presented or published your research somewhere? Tell us about the experience.
Last year in co-authorship with a Rarámuri colleague, we published our first academic article on this topic in the World Development journal. It was my first time both co-authoring and publishing in English. It was an experience that involved a lot of work and coordination, but it was very rewarding.
What would you say is something interesting about your area of study that most people do not know?
The most interesting thing for me is that it is a multidisciplinary approach. This represents a challenge, since it may limit your scope of professional workplaces considering that most academic institutions remain in the traditional model of ascribing to a single discipline. However, social problems are complex and diverse, so you cannot cover them from a single discipline. A multidisciplinary approach is the most useful and wise thing in my opinion.
Tell us about your academic or professional collaborations with Mexico.
Throughout my academic and professional life, I have worked in Mexico as a lawyer and researcher at the service of the Rarámuri communities of the Sierra Tarahumara.
What drew you to Texas and to UT Austin?
My motivation to enter the doctoral program was to take an in-depth look at the phenomenon of drug trafficking in the Tarahumara region and finding possible prevention strategies, mainly among the young population. Dr. Charles Hale, who was director of the Latin American studies department when I joined in 2016, was the one who invited me to learn about the program and apply. He was my master's thesis advisor at CIESAS Oaxaca. He is now Director of the Department of Social Sciences at the University of California Santa Barbara.
What have been some good things you did not expect from Texas or UT Austin?
I did not expect to enjoy my stay in the United States so much. In general, I was always skeptical of this country. What has struck me the most has been finding a diverse community committed to freedom of being, respect for what is different and for dignity—not only for humans but all beings.
What have been the biggest challenges of studying at UT Austin and living in the United States?
English has undoubtedly been the main challenge for me. I never had the slightest interest in learning this language. In fact, for me it always represented privilege and I had many prejudices about the language and the cultures it represents. Now I have found a taste for it, especially for its usefulness in meeting new people and having new experiences.
How has the support of ConTex and Conacyt impacted you?
Mexico is one of the few countries that supports graduate students, not only nationally but internationally. This program is a treasure. Without it, many of us could not aspire to enter educational programs like these, since we come from families with limited financial and academic resources.
What kind of work do you hope to do in the future? In what ways do you hope your research will benefit people in the United States and Mexico?
My main commitment is to return to my country and continue collaborating with the indigenous populations of northern Mexico. The desire for academic work has also awakened in me. Inspiring young people to commit to positive social transformation and the pursuit of equality is a great job.
What advice would you give other Mexican students considering studying in Texas?
I would tell them to give themselves the opportunity to fly and grow, not only academically but professionally. This, of course, can be done in Mexico, but taking on challenges like a postgraduate degree in a foreign place always opens new horizons, challenges you, and helps you grow. I would also tell them to come back and share the fruits of their labor. Our country needs new and transforming influences.
