Mexico – Mexican church organizations denounce criminalization of migrants
The Jesuit Migrant Service
of Mexico, the Juan Gerardi Human Rights Center and the Day Center for Migrants
called on the authorities to respect and guarantee the human rights of migrants
and those seeking international protection in the country.
The Communications Office
of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) announced -through a note
published on its web page- that some Church organizations denounced the
persecution, criminalization and arbitrary detention of migrants in Mexico as a
recurring situation, warning that state and municipal security corporations
cannot participate in migratory operations because this is contrary to the
provisions of migration laws.
They also requested that
the personnel of entities such as the Ministry of Security be instructed to
respect international human rights treaties and to refrain from any act of
intimidation, threats and obstruction of the work of human rights defenders or
humanitarian workers.
Truth and Justice
The communication addressed
to the Secretary of the Interior, Dr. Olga Sánchez Cordero, to the
Undersecretary of Human Rights, Population and Migration, Mr. Alejandro Encinas
Rodríguez, to the Commissioner of the National Institute of Migration, Mr.
Francisco Garduño Yáñez, and to the Commissioner of the National Institute of
Migration, Mr. Francisco Garduño Yáñez. Francisco Garduño Yáñez and the
Secretary of Public Security of the State of Coahuila, Sonia Villarreal Pérez;
due to the aggressions committed on July 22 by the Action and Reaction Police
of Coahuila against a group of migrants from Honduras and a group of volunteers
from the Jesús Torres Day Center for migrants.
Among the specific requests
of the ecclesial organizations is the one made to the Attorney General of the
Republic, Mr. Gertz Manero, to instruct his staff to carry out an effective
investigation into the threats denounced by the volunteer staff of the Jesus
Torres Day Center.
On the other hand, the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) is requested to investigate the facts that constitute human rights violations against asylum seekers and refugees, as well as violations committed against human rights defenders.
The facts
During the afternoon of
July 22 outside the Day Center, twelve migrants were aggressively searched by
four members of the SSP 093 patrol car of the Action and Reaction Police of
Coahuila, who stole their money and belongings. The volunteers of the
organization left the dining room and an agent violently ordered them to return
to the premises, arguing the alleged arrest of two Honduran nationals for
possession of narcotics, a situation that was not proven by the staff of the
house.
The situation triggered
verbal aggressions, threats by the police who also intimidated and physically
assaulted the volunteers, including the forcible reduction of a 70-year-old
man, in addition to the destruction of the cell phones with which the events
were being recorded.
A decade of service
In 2011, the Jesus Torres A.C. Migrant Day Center was founded as an institution under the Juan Gerardi Human Rights Center. Its mission is to accompany migrants in their passage through the town of Torreon, Coahuila, providing care, promoting and defending their rights, so that they can live this journey in a more dignified way and renewing the hope of rebuilding their life project.
Source: CPAL
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