Families gathered in the heart of Aguascalientes for the Day of the Disappeared, holding photos, clothing, and search notices. They asked neighbors for anonymous tips and begged authorities to act—“help us, don’t blame us.” Their stories spanned a husband identified from a clandestine grave this year and a son missing since 2022. Official numbers point in different directions, and advocacy groups say the reality is larger than any dataset. Here’s what families said and what the numbers (and officials) actually show.

Aguascalientes disappearances

Families marked the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August 30 in the city center, around the Exedra at Plaza de Armas. Members of the collective Buscando Personas, Verdad y Justicia took the microphone and asked for empathy and information, not blame. They urged residents to share tips—anonymously if needed—with their collective, the local gender-violence observatory, or the state search commission. “We don’t seek culprits, only help,” one mother said.

Speakers described the crisis as widespread and close to home. One woman, carrying her child, said her husband was located in a clandestine grave earlier this year; authorities returned the remains in March after DNA testing. Another relative said a family member vanished this April in the Margaritas area. Others spoke of disappearances tied to neighboring Jalisco and frustration with stalled investigations there.

Families ask for help, not blame

The mothers emphasized simple, practical actions: amplify search flyers, share details about suspected graves, and call in tips without fear of exposure. They asked the public to avoid revictimizing families and to remember that a disappearance does not imply criminality. Their appeal echoed similar marches and vigils across Mexico on the same date.

What the numbers show

Counting the missing is hard—and contested. Mexico’s national registry (RNPDNO) is the government’s official database; however, access to granular, real-time state figures is limited, and debates persist regarding the methodology. Researchers and groups often triangulate RNPDNO with local notices, media reports, and civil society reports.

In Aguascalientes, recent local reporting has counted 78 disappearance cases announced through late August this year. That picture emerged alongside a weekend mobilization downtown tied to the commemoration. The state newspaper also highlighted the push by families to keep the issue in the spotlight.

Independent monitors add more context. Red Lupa reported that as of mid-May, the capital municipality had the most cases in the state, with some surrounding municipalities experiencing year-over-year increases. ZonaDocs reviewed the flood of search notices earlier this year and reminded readers that legal protocols require immediate and exhaustive search actions—both on paper and in practice.

Other snapshots can point in different directions. Aguascalientes media, citing Data Cívica’s new report, recently placed the state among the top five nationwide in disappearance incidence per 100,000 residents—especially among women. At the same time, a local daily quoted the state search commission claiming an 84% location rate for people reported missing. Each metric measures a different aspect, and together they demonstrate why families continue to press for transparency and results.

How to share information confidentially

Speakers in the plaza urged neighbors to use official channels or civil society groups if they had information. The Comisión Estatal de Búsqueda de Personas de Aguascalientes receives reports of disappearances and tips through its official pages and accounts. The Observatorio de Violencia Social y de Género shares a public contact email and documents local cases. The local collective Buscando Personas, Verdad y Justicia, also coordinates field searches and circulates flyers.

The bigger picture

Mexico commemorates the Day of the Disappeared every August 30, a date that now anchors nationwide marches and community events. The crisis has persisted for years, with civil-society tallies and expert analyses indicating that more than 128,000 people are officially missing as of mid-2025, with continued increases this year. Families in Aguascalientes say those national numbers feel personal—and they want their neighbors to help bring loved ones home.