In the last 14 years, at least 170 migrants have died at the hands of the US Border Patrol on Mexico’s northern border. More than half of these victims were of Mexican origin, according to activists denounced this Monday in a letter addressed to the Government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
“We need help from the Mexican Government, we need the use of force to be limited, to have rules, because this has resulted in a historic rate that has left serious consequences from injuries to deaths,” declared Andrea Guerrero, executive director of Alliance San Diego. , in a press conference, according to the EFE agency.
The activist explained that since her organization began documenting these cases in 2010, they have recorded at least 900 deaths and an alarming increase in the use of force by the Border Patrol.
“We know how many times in a year they have used force and this rate had a record level last year, which means that every day there are at least, from what they are reporting, three incidents a day,” Guerrero added.
One of the biggest problems, according to Guerrero, is that in the 100 years of existence of the Border Patrol, which celebrates its centennial this May 28, justice has not been done in any case.
Victims demand justice
María Puga, wife of Anastasio Hernández, a Mexican migrant killed by Border Patrol in May 2010, has been demanding justice in the case for years. The case has been taken to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), where it is under review.
“100 years of the Border Patrol are being celebrated and my husband marks 14 years since he was murdered. While they celebrate, we go to the cemetery to cry. That’s why we want them to support us more, there are so many of our fellow nationals, the majority are Mexicans who are attacked by them,” Puga emphasized, according to EFE.
Marisol García, who crossed the border irregularly in 2021, was shot by the Border Patrol while trying to travel in a van. After 22 days without adequate medical care, she was deported to Mexico. Now, she requests support from the López Obrador Government so that these cases are not repeated.
“We didn’t go to the United States for pleasure or to have fun, we went out of necessity. They leave families destroyed, in pain,” García said. The bullet remains lodged in his head, causing him constant headaches and dizziness, and he must take medication to prevent epilepsy.
“I have headaches, dizziness, I take epilepsy prevention medications and it doesn’t seem fair to me that any element of the Border Patrol has been punished,” said García.
Migration risks and policies
Activists recognized the actions of the Mexican president to “protect and guarantee the dignity of Mexicans residing abroad,” but warned that migrants are at serious risk due to the conduct of border agents who act with excessive force and impunity.
Likewise, they pointed out the risk that Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in the US elections next November would represent for undocumented immigrants.
“It is a big risk that Trump returns. However, we could see that the largest increase in the use of force has been during President Biden’s administration,” Guerrero concluded.
The situation reflects the record migratory flow in Mexico, where in the first quarter of 2024 alone, irregular migration intercepted by the Government grew by nearly 200% annually, reaching almost 360,000 people.
With information from EFE.
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