On the first day of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, Mexican army troops shot dead six migrants, leading to widespread condemnation and demands for investigation. Among the deceased were nationals from Egypt, Peru, and El Salvador, with additional injuries reported among others. This incident has sparked renewed scrutiny of Mexico’s militarized immigration policies.
In a tragic incident near the Guatemalan border, six migrants from Egypt, Peru, and El Salvador were shot dead when Mexican army troops opened fire on a truck carrying migrants from multiple countries. The shooting occurred on the first day of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, prompting her to label the event as ‘deplorable.’ Alongside the fatalities, ten other migrants sustained injuries. The Peruvian government confirmed the death of one of its citizens and called for an urgent investigation into the incident, highlighting frayed diplomatic relations with Mexico since a prior dispute in 2022. President Sheinbaum disclosed that the two soldiers responsible for the shooting had been detained for questioning by civilian prosecutors but had not yet faced charges. This incident marks the deadliest attack against migrants by authorities in Mexico since the 2021 killing of 17 migrants by police in Tamaulipas. In Sheinbaum’s remarks, she expressed that the investigation would encompass possible accountability for commanding officers involved, emphasizing that such events must not recur. The shooting incident occurred near Huixtla, Chiapas, a region historically known for drug cartel activities and migrant smuggling. The Defense Department reported that soldiers fired upon a migrant truck after claiming to have heard shots from a convoy. Subsequent investigations revealed that four victims were discovered dead in the vehicle, with two others succumbing to their injuries later. The truck had been transporting a total of 33 migrants, including nationals from Nepal, Cuba, India, and Pakistan. Human rights activists and organizations, including the Roman Catholic Mexican Council of Bishops, condemned the actions as an excessive use of force and a reflection of the militarization of immigration policy. Irineo Mujica, a prominent migrant rights advocate, asserted that it was highly unlikely migrants would have engaged the army with gunfire, suggesting instead that they typically rely on bribes for safe passage. The incident has intensified scrutiny of President Sheinbaum’s strategy of increasing military involvement in law enforcement, a tactic continued from her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Previous incidents of violence against migrants by military personnel raise concerns about systemic issues within the enforcement of immigration laws under the country’s militarized approach.
The current climate surrounding migration in Mexico is precarious, particularly along the southern border where drug trafficking and migrant smuggling concurrently occur. Due to intensified military involvement in enforcing immigration laws, there have been rising concerns regarding human rights abuses against migrants. Historical precedent indicates an ongoing tension between migrant protection initiatives and militarized border control, illustrated by the 2021 killings of migrants by authorities in Tamaulipas and other incidents involving military and police. This dynamic elevates the gravity of the recent shooting near the Guatemalan border, prompting calls for accountability and reform in Mexico’s immigration policy.
The shooting of six migrants by Mexican military personnel near the Guatemalan border represents a significant humanitarian crisis, raising questions about the treatment of migrants in light of increasing military involvement in immigration enforcement. The urgent demand for accountability from the Peruvian government and human rights advocates underscores the necessity for a reevaluation of current policies concerning migrant safety and military action. As President Claudia Sheinbaum begins her term amid this tragedy, her administration faces scrutiny regarding its commitment to preventing further violence against vulnerable populations.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
