On 24 November 2023, indigenous territory defender from the Sierra de Manantlán, Jalisco, Mexico and Councilor for the State Indigenous Council (Consejo Estatal Indígena), Higinio Trinidad de la Cruz was summoned by the Municipal President of Cuautitlán de García Barragán for a meeting. The defender attended the meeting and was seen entering the municipal presidency. After several hours without being able to locate him, his family reported his disappearance to the Federal Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists. The defender was found dead the next day.

Higinio defended his territory against illegal logging and mining and promoted and demanded respect and fair payment for the extraction of iron from the Peña Colorada mining company, owned by Ternium and ArcelorMittal.

In May 2022, Higinio received threats due to his territorial defense, by members of the Jalisco Cartel - New Generation (CJNG), with the alleged support of municipal police from Cuautitlán de García Barragán. In February 2023, armed individuals entered his house and threatened him.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre contacted Ternium and ArcelorMittal for a response; their responses can be found here.