The Big Laughs of Mexico’s ISIS Threat · Global Voices
Elizabeth Rivera

Screenshot of the video where ISIS threatens 60 countries, including Mexico. YouTube.
According to a video released by the extremist group ISIS (also known as Daesh or ISIL), Mexico is among the 60 countries that are considered its enemies, and therefore could be targeted in new attacks.
Far from showing fear, Mexican social media users have flooded the Internet with sarcastic jokes and dark comedy about the apparent threat, mocking ISIS, its violent ways, and the supposed need to prepare for war with jihadists in Syria and Iraq. With references to Mexican pop culture icons and a lot of the usual local sassiness, Twitter was soon hosting trending hashtags like #ISISenMéxico (“ISIS in Mexico”) and #SiEnMéxicoHubieraTerroristas (“If there were terrorists in Mexico”).
Global Voices collected some of the snarkiest and most popular tweets.
On ISIS and its presence in Mexico:
#SiEnMéxicoHubieraTerroristas todos vestirían como un bello trompo de pastor. pic.twitter.com/XQf4xaXicl — Kid Calavera (@KidCalavera) November 26, 2015
If there were terrorists in Mexico, each of them would look like a gorgeous shepherd meat ball for tacos
#IsisEnMexico que fuerte..!! pic.twitter.com/vYkzc56mCx
— Jaime Sänchez Juarez (@Jaimesanchz) November 26, 2015
ISIS in Mexico, OMG!!
Ya hay tres detenidos por la irrupción de #IsisEnMéxicopic.twitter.com/Qy727WQNyO
— Luis Becerril (@luisbecerrilr) November 25, 2015
There are already three persons arrested after ISIS landed in Mexico
In one video, “Mexican Jihadists” mock ISIS by singing a children's song.
Regarding the readiness of the police and military to combat terrorism, Twitter users expressed a playful belligerence:
Preparadísimos para la guerra… #IsisEnMexico jajaja pic.twitter.com/run6NFXXY8
— Ulloa (@_ULLOA_) November 25, 2015
Absolutely ready for war…
#IsisEnMéxico déjense venir putos, no van a saber ni de dónde les caen los platanazos! pic.twitter.com/FTbXIx0F4w — El Pap's (@paps_mirrey) November 25, 2015
ISIS in Mexico. Come on motherfuckers, you won't even know where the banana hit you!
#IsisEnMexico cierra las fronteras pic.twitter.com/nQxliuRjMu — Remy LeBeau Norteño (@Draksou) November 25, 2015
Mexico closes its borders to face ISIS
#IsisEnMéxico y nuestro ejército así pic.twitter.com/ZI3vbV7tGy — Korno Espinosa (@korno) November 25, 2015
ISIS in Mexico and meanwhile our army
#IsisEnMéxico … Estamos Preparados ja ja jajajaja pic.twitter.com/oIapg2z28N
— Julianita (@julisjun) November 25, 2015
We are prepared LMAO
Others joked that the existing levels of violence in Mexico could present a significant obstacle to ISIS:
#SiEnMéxicoHubieraTerroristas les robarían las bombas y los secuestrarían. — El Candigato Morris (@Oficialmorris) November 26, 2015
If there were terrorists in Mexico, their bombs would get stolen and they would be kidnapped
#IsisEnMexico Tamaulipas estado fuerte. 💪💪pic.twitter.com/yF21Dy5t2U
— I4. (@IrvingMor) November 26, 2015
Tamaulipas, a stronghold State
*meme:
- ISIS in Mexico
- Welcome to Tamaulipas
- On second thought, let's take another road
There is now a meme around the concept of “We are ready”:
Fuerzas élite ante inminente #ISISEnMexico@DracoDocleanpic.twitter.com/rjMO3PdCAi
— @cuellarvarela (@cuellarvarela) November 26, 2015
Elite forces ready for the imminent ISIS in Mexico
-Todos los mexicanos al enterarse de #IsisEnMéxicopic.twitter.com/SUkoCHoUTY — ChilaquilEnmascarado (@ElChilaquilsoy) November 25, 2015
Every Mexican when they found out about ISIS in Mexico
We are not afraid #IsisEnMexicopic.twitter.com/WwCsvDZbl8
— Laura Villarreal (@Lauvillarrealc) November 26, 2015
Known for making uninformed remarks, President Enrique Peña Nieto was imagined by several Twitter users as capable of confusing “ISIS” for a cable television plan's acronym:
-Señor presidente q opina de #IsisEnMexico -Pues tienen paquetes muy padres pero yo prefiero dish, muchas gracias. pic.twitter.com/MejturGE6b
— Malverde (@PachecoVlady) November 25, 2015
- Mr. President, what do you think about ISIS in Mexico?
- Well, they have good packages, but I prefer dish
Also, some Twitter users took a more serious approach, addressing politicians’ corruption and the country's drug war, which they say demonstrates terrorism's presence in Mexico already.
#SiEnMéxicoHubieraTerroristas vivirían en una casa blanca, ademas dejarían escapar al chapo. — DANIEL CRUZZ (@DANYELCG) November 26, 2015
If there were terrorists in Mexico they would live in a white house, and would let El Chapo escape
#SiEnMéxicoHubieraTerroristas Habría decapitados, secuestrados, ejecutados bloqueos, balaceras, desaparecidos y 100,000 muertos en 12 años — Reno (@javonimus) November 26, 2015
If there were terrorists in Mexico, there would be people decapitated, kidnapped, executed, roads blocked, shootings and 100,000 death in 12 years
#SiEnMéxicoHubieraTerroristas no! Ni cállate! Te imaginas decapitados, desollados y colgados en nuestras carreteras? mmmm… ¡ho! Espera. — Eliezer Lara Montoya (@zerlaramontoya) November 26, 2015
If there were terrorists in Mexico. No! Shut up! Can you imagine people decapitated, flayed and hanged in our roads? mmmm… oops! Wait a minute
#IsisEnMexico tendrán mucha competencia aquí, creo que no van a sobre salir. pic.twitter.com/RNZZhWOGzg — GeronimoDeSade (@GeronimoDeSade) November 25, 2015
ISIS in Mexico would have too much competition here. I think they are not going to stand out.
*meme:
- Islamic State threatens a coalition, including Mexico
- Thank you for the help, but we are good at screwing ourselves up