Mexico Reportedly Deporting Migrants at Highest Rate Since 2006

By Jason Peña on July 10, 2019

Telemundo reports that last month saw the highest number of deportations from Mexico since June 2006. Mexican officials have deployed military forces on its southern border to curtail the illegal flow coming from Central America.

On Sunday, 51 Central American migrants were discovered inside an overcrowded cargo truck at a security checkpoint in the municipality of Concepcion de Oro, Zacatecas, Mexico. The Honduran news publication, La Prensa, reports that an operation was executed by several government agencies. In conjunction with the National Institute of Migration (INM) and the Secretariat of National Defense, the La Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana (Federal Police) intercepted the vehicle. Law enforcement used an x-ray machine to scan the cargo truck and locate the individuals concealed in large boxes.

The Mexican news website, La Jornda, reports that the migrants were from several Latin American countries, including El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Ecuador. Roughly 40 percent of the migrants were minors. In an interview with INM delegate Ignacio Frarie, El Universal reveals that the migrants were detained by the INM and given medical attention and food. The driver operating the cargo truck had 225,000 pesos in cash ($11,800 U.S. dollars). The Federal Public Ministry detained the driver and confiscated the money and truck as evidence. A public prosecutor is expected investigate the incident further

The Peru-based El Comercio quotes the INM: "After providing first aid, the migrants were under the protection of the National Institute of Migration (INM), where after the recognition of their nationality they will receive advice for their assisted return."

Also last Sunday, two individuals were detained by agents of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC/Federal Police) during a routine vehicle inspection in Cintalapa, Chiapas, Mexico. The pair were accused of smuggling 228 Central American migrants.

La Prensa reports the two were operating a large trailer emblazoned with a Pepsi logo. During the line of questioning by Federal Police, the driver claimed he was transporting soft drinks. Further investigation revealed the discovery of 228 men, women, and children concealed in confined spaces in the cargo tract of the trailer. Their countries of origin were El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. La Jornada reports that the SSPC rescued the migrants, gave them medical attention, and put them under the protection of the National Institute of Migration (INM). 

The Mexican news publication Informador.Mx reports that the driver, identified as Domingo “N”, 41, from San Cristobal de Las Casas, attempted to bribe the authorities. The officers refused, and promptly arrested Domingo “N” and his passenger identified as Manuel “N”, 45 from Chamula, who were taken into the custody of ministerial authorities. According to the Mexican news website, Regenracion, the journey began in San Cristobal de Las Casas, where the migrants boarded the trailer destined for Oaxaca, and eventually the United States. This was the second reported incident in recent weeks of Central American migrants being smuggled through Mexico toward the United States.