Mexican Migrants Shot Dead on Border: Ongoing Risks for Asylum Seekers
In a tragic incident that highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants and asylum seekers in border areas controlled by criminal gangs, two Mexican migrants were shot and killed on the Mexican side of the border with the United States. The Mexico National Migration Institute confirmed the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Friday morning.
Along with the two fatalities, three others sustained gunshot wounds. Fortunately, the injured individuals were quickly assisted by emergency rescue teams from the institute, while nine others escaped unharmed. The group of 14 Mexican nationals was discovered on Cuchuma Hill near Tecate, a city in Mexico’s border state of Baja California.
Cuchuma Hill, a harsh desert hill, holds sacred significance for at least one Mexican Indigenous group. However, it is also exploited by human smugglers who use it as a route. While the cause of the shooting remains unknown, it is worth noting that certain border crossings involve agreements with local cartels for safe passage. Failure to pay passage rights or being associated with a rival gang can result in migrants and asylum seekers being shot.
Unfortunately, such acts of violence are not uncommon for migrants and asylum seekers navigating border areas. They often fall victim to roving gangs of thieves and kidnappers who rob and exploit them. In a shocking example from 2021, state police in Tamaulipas shot and killed 19 people on the border, including 14 Guatemalan migrants. The officers were recently convicted of homicide, as they had attempted to cover up the crime by burning the victims’ bodies.
The two deaths in Tecate add to an alarming trend of rising fatalities and injuries among migrants and asylum seekers along Mexico’s northern and southern borders. Desperate to reach the US, they face perilous journeys fraught with dangers. In Chiapas, one of the southern Mexican states bordering Guatemala, a truck accident claimed the lives of two Central American migrants and injured 27 others when it flipped on the highway. Meanwhile, 52 migrants were involved in an overcrowded dump truck accident, resulting in injuries, including six children. All the injured individuals were granted legal asylum in Mexico.
The day before these incidents, two more Central American migrants lost their lives while attempting to board a moving train in the state of Coahuila near the Texas border.
These tragic events serve as a stark reminder of the risks faced by migrants and asylum seekers who embark on dangerous journeys in search of a better future. It also highlights the urgent need for enhanced border security and measures to protect vulnerable individuals from the clutches of criminal gangs.