Former Rosarito mayor Araceli Brown Figueredo declared that the DIF funeral parlor built during her administration was never designed to function as a SEMEFO (Servicio Médico Forense, or forensic medical services) facility. Brown, now a federal deputy in Mexico’s House of Representatives, made the statement as residents of the Lomas de Coronado neighborhood in Playas de Rosarito publicly opposed the building’s apparent conversion into a morgue.
DIF (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia) is Mexico’s national family services agency, which operates social welfare programs at the municipal level. The funeral parlor, or “velatorio,” was originally built to provide low-cost wake and funeral services for families in Rosarito, a coastal city about 20 miles south of the U.S. border.
Neighbors Demand Answers
Residents of Lomas de Coronado have spoken out against the use of the facility for forensic operations. They say neither state nor municipal authorities consulted the community before repurposing the building. Neighbors have criticized officials for failing to respond to their concerns about the change.
SEMEFO facilities handle autopsies, body storage, and forensic identification. These operations typically require specialized infrastructure, including refrigeration units, ventilation systems, and biohazard containment. The original DIF funeral parlor was not built with those features, according to Brown’s statement.
Brown Distances Herself From Decision
Brown served as mayor of Playas de Rosarito before winning her current seat in Mexico’s federal legislature. She has not said who authorized the change in the facility’s use, but her public statement distances her from the decision. It remains unclear whether state or municipal officials approved the conversion, or when forensic operations began at the site.
Brown herself has faced separate scrutiny in recent months. In September 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department linked her to the Sinaloa cartel, accusing her of benefiting from extortion operations run by a faction known as Los Mayos during her time as mayor. Brown has continued serving as a federal deputy.
Unanswered Questions in Rosarito
The controversy leaves several questions unresolved. Rosarito lacks a dedicated, purpose-built SEMEFO facility, which may explain why authorities turned to an existing public building. But the decision to house forensic operations in a residential neighborhood, without public notice, has fueled distrust among locals.
No state or municipal official has publicly addressed the neighbors’ complaints or explained the legal basis for the facility’s new role. The story is still developing, and residents say they will continue pressing for a formal response.
This story was first reported by Zeta Tijuana.