Highlited Cases: National Guard

1

Incident of Abuse

Murder

Case 36

Transcriber: KG

Documenter: KG

Name of Abused Person: R

Age: 42 years old

Nationality: Cuban

Date of Incident: October 31, 2021

Agency: National Guard

Type of Alleged Abuse: Murder

Placed in Danger of Death

Endangerment of Life to a Minor Misuse of Firearm

Location of Incident: Community of Progreso, Chiapas in Ejido Echegaray.

"I saw an untimely light that I mistook for the flash that they say you see at the end of the tunnel, when the thin line of life and death crosses, it was the lights of a patrol car, of the National Guard. The vehicle with National Guard license plate number ****, was chasing the three trucks where13 migrants were traveling, among them a baby and a girl. C was shot nine times, they shot him with a hail of bullets. After they killed C they came to plant the gun with which they said we attacked them, but nothing of the sort happened. They fired because they wanted the driver of the truck to stop. After shooting us, they took us to the hospital. They were hitting their heads, banging on the wall and hitting the windows, because they had realized what they had done. They had killed one of us and left another one wounded. I was left wounded by a bullet that hit my left arm and went into my neck".

Highlighted Categories of Abuse: Mexican Secretary of the Navy

2 Abuses Documented

2 Categories of Abuse

2 Identified Abuses

Graph 4: Abuses Documented Involving the Mexican Secretary of the Navy

1. In the midst of widespread systemic violations to the human and civil rights of migrants and members of indigenous communities in transit through Mexico, it is essential that public, clear and transparent investigations be carried out and that they culminate with a process of accountability. It is critical that the Mexican government ensures that all law enforcement agencies and institutions are held accountable for their actions, that abusers are punished, that reparations are made, and that substantial changes are made to Mexico's current migration policies and strategy.

2. Due to the corruption and systematic violation of human and civil rights, which has generated dramatic and regrettable events where migrants have lost their lives, including, but not limited to, the death of 40 migrants in a "shelter" of the National Institute of Migration in Ciudad Juarez, it is urgently recommended: a. The Immediate Abolition of the National Migration Institute (INM); b. Legal and criminal prosecution of the Director of INM and other responsible officials.

3. Development of a new Mexican migration policy based on respect for human rights which guarantees that migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and indigenous peoples are treated with dignity and respect, free from abuse and violence. We recommend:

• For the Mexican government to work with non-governmental organizations, advocacy groups and other organizations to provide essential services to migrants;

• That the Mexican Congress legislates the creation of welcoming infrastructure throughout Mexico to ensure that migrants and indigenous peoples have safe and humane passage;

• That the current "migrant stations" often referred to as "shelters" operating in Mexico that have subjected migrants to countless acts of mistreatment, abuse and inhumane conditions be shut down immediately, and that work be done to create welcome and support centers for migrants and provide solidarity;

• That legal permits be granted to migrant families, refugees and individuals seeking asylum to ensure safe, humane transit through Mexico.

4. The official Mexican policy and practice that allows military institutions such as the National Guard and the Secretary of the Navy to enforce immigration and other civilian laws has led to serious allegations of abuses and violations including the use of lethal and disproportionate force against migrants, Native Mexicans and other civilians. These institutions possess neither the proper training, nor the jurisdiction to enforce immigration policy or any other civilian law. Our recommendation:

• That the National Guard be stripped of all authority and responsibility to enforce immigration laws in Mexico, and that the National Guard cease to be in direct contact with migrant families, refugees and native Mexican peoples;

• That the involvement of the National Guard, Navy and Army in civilian law enforcement in Mexico cease completely.