The death of Claudia Tacoronte, a 21-year-old University of Granada (UGR) student on exchange in Mexico, has prompted Spanish universities to review the safety of their international programs. Tacoronte, who was studying at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM), was the fourth UAEM student killed in 2026. In response, UAEM said it activated internal protocols, contacted Tacoronte's family, the University of Granada and Spanish consular officials, and called for a full investigation by the state prosecutor with a gender perspective.
Both the University of Granada and the University of La Laguna in Tenerife have suspended all student exchanges with Morelos. UGR quickly canceled the planned exchange of three students for the next semester. Meanwhile, the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the University of Extremadura have kept their agreements in place, and at least two Spanish students remain in Morelos. The Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) condemned the killing and announced a review of recommendations for exchanges to Mexico, aiming to improve information and controls for students going to high-risk areas.
CRUE, which represents 77 Spanish universities, has announced a review and reinforcement of the guidelines for students heading to Mexico. A CRUE spokesperson told EL PAÍS that the goal is to strengthen information and controls before students go abroad, especially when they are headed to regions flagged as higher-risk. Before the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had classified Morelos as an area of "special danger," citing drug trafficking and a rise in kidnappings, and recommended postponing all non-impressive visits.
Official warnings had been in place for months. Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised against travel to Morelos since July, citing increased violence linked to drug trafficking and more kidnappings. On July 24, 2026, the ministry updated its travel recommendations for Mexico, specifically advising against non-impressive travel to Morelos. It classifies the state as an area of “special danger” and recommends postponing all non-impressive visits. Mexican media and official sources report that the investigation into Tacoronte's death is being handled as a possible femicide, meaning authorities are treating it as a gender-motivated crime.
Despite these warnings, communication gaps have become clear. Tacoronte’s younger sister, Lara, posted a video online criticizing both UGR and UAEM for not informing students about ongoing femicides in the region. She said her sister arrived in Mexico unaware of the risks and that their parents had been deeply concerned for her safety.
The security situation in Morelos remains critical, with a Gender Violence Alert still active in several municipalities: Cuautla, Cuernavaca, Jiutepec, Temixco, Xochitepec, Emiliano Zapata, Yautepec and Puente de Ixtla.
UGR officials told EL PAÍS they did not know about the previous three student murders at UAEM. The dean of UGR’s Faculty of Education, where Tacoronte studied, said students are always informed about dangers in certain countries. But the events in Morelos suggest that institutional awareness and student briefings may not have been sufficient or up to date.
Other universities have tried to clarify the status of their students. The Autonomous University of Barcelona confirmed that two biology students currently in Morelos have chosen to stay in Mexico, declining the option to return home. The University of La Laguna has frozen its agreement with Morelos, noting that no students from Tenerife had applied for placements there since the partnership began in 2023. The University of Extremadura has not specified whether it currently has students in the region.
Confusion has also surrounded the whereabouts of Spanish students. Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona initially reported having two nursing students at UAEM, but later corrected this, saying the students were actually in Puebla, not Morelos. UAEM denied hosting the Tarragona students. The episode exposed a lack of clear tracking and coordination between institutions.
These events expose weaknesses in how Spanish universities manage international exchanges, especially in high-risk destinations. The suspensions and efforts to account for students point to the need for better risk assessment and clearer communication. As Spanish institutions review their protocols, the case of Claudia Tacoronte raises questions about how universities can close information gaps and prepare students for the risks they may face abroad.
