We are in Sevina, one of Michoacán’s autonomous Indigenous communities, and tonight we’re joining the community police on their patrol.

These aren’t government forces — they’re locals who’ve armed themselves to protect their community but receive funds from the government. Their goal? Defend their land, stop extortion and keep organized crime groups from pushing in.

Michoacán has a very fragmented criminal scene, and that means violence is spiking again as groups fight for territory. In March, the Jalisco Cartel tried to enter Sevina and communities like this one have had to double on security forces to protect themselves.

After the recent assassination of a well-known local mayor, Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, rolled out a new security plan and boosted the military presence in Michoacán.

But the big question remains: can the government get ahead of the chaos in a state where alliances shift constantly and the lines between groups change overnight?

AP Video shot by Fernanda Pesce