The acronym and concept NEET (not in education, employment, or training) quickly gained traction as a policy category in youth policy debates across the Global North, particularly in Europe and among international organizations. However, its diffusion and impact on Latin American criminal justice and youth policy have remained understudied. As I will show, although initially promoted by technocratic elites as a way to address various perceived social problems among youth (particularly socioeconomically disadvantaged young men), the NEET category has also been used to stigmatize this group. Paradoxically, in a Global South context like Mexico, the concept became a central reference point for the populist left, shaping its approach to youth crime prevention.