Global Courant 2023-04-18 05:02:50
Complaints by migrants about the danger posed by the stations of the National Institute of Migration (INM) of Mexico compiled in 2022 by the Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR, in English) “anticipated” the tragedy that occurred in Ciudad Juárez, revealed this Monday the annual report of the border organization based in El Paso (Texas).
The report called “The State of Human and Civil Rights in Mexico in 2022” documented 56 cases in which 202 abuses of migrants were identified. More than half (116) of these abuses were committed by INM agents or personnel.
Fernando García, director of BNHR, described the situation of migrants passing through Mexican territory as “worrying.”
“The death in Ciudad Juárez of migrants who were under lockup was not an isolated issue,” said the activist in an interview with EFE about the report’s findings.
By October of last year, there were already two complaints documented by BHNR about the use of locks in INM shelters. “This is a systemic issue,” Garcia stressed, adding that the practice of locking up migrants “is common by the Institute” and the tragedy that occurred at the Ciudad Juárez migration center, where 40 migrants died last month, it had been anticipated.
One of the cases was denounced by a 39-year-old Ecuadorian migrant who was detained for more than a month at the Siglo XXI Immigration Station, in Tapachula (Chiapas).
#World Complaints by migrants about the danger posed by the stations of the National Institute of Migration (INM) of Mexico compiled in 2022 by the Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR, in English) “anticipated” the tragedy that occurred in Ciudad Juárez. pic.twitter.com/FM1aW3dUUM
– Enespanol24 (@enespanol24) April 17, 2023
“The INM agents insult me, they treat me badly, they have me detained. It’s like a kidnapping because I can’t communicate with my family. At night they put locks on the doors where we are resting, as if we were criminals. We did not commit any crime. They deceived us that they were going to help us and then they locked us up, ”said the migrant in his testimony.
The report also identified 25 incidents of verbal and psychological abuse by INM workers towards migrants and 15 violations of due process.
“We also see a system of corruption that affects this institution,” which should disappear, García considered.
The report also identified 50 abuses perpetrated by the Mexican National Guard. In this regard, Garcia warned that soldiers should not be allowed to deal with immigration issues. “The death of a migrant shot by a soldier was documented,” he recounted.
Thirty-four of the abuses were committed by the Mexican Police and two by members of the Secretary of the Navy.
García stressed that the report is only a sample of what is happening because it documents the cases of migrants who are willing to denounce. “The cases are many more,” he asserted.
He added that not only migrants are victims of these policies. The report collected various complaints from indigenous Mexicans whose right to transit in the country was violated.
The organization made a series of recommendations urging the Government of Mexico to ensure that all law enforcement agencies and institutions are held accountable for their actions, that abusers are punished, that damage is repaired, and that substantial changes are made to law enforcement. current migration policies and strategy in the country.
The immediate abolition of the INM was also recommended, among other proposals. “We are asking that they remove it. It no longer makes sense; it is a center of corruption, injustice and abuse that have killed migrants. You cannot continue to sustain a structure of this type, ”he pointed out.
