Cartel violence against migrants near US border increases: police

(LAUREN TAYLOR)

AS MIGRANT ENTRY AT THE US SOUTHERN BORDER DECLINES, VIOLENCE AGAINST ASYLUM SEEKERS CROSSING THE BORDER IS INCREASING.

AND SOME MIGRANT ADVOCATE GROUPS BLAME THE INCREASE IN CRIME ON BORDER RESTRICTIONS.

AUTHORITIES IN CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO, SAY THEY HAVE RESCUED MORE THAN 1,200 MIGRANTS FROM CRIMINAL GANGS IN THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, AS KIDNAPPING, EXTORTION AND VIOLENCE AGAINST IMMIGRANTS TRYING TO CROSS THE BORDER IN MEXICO INCREASES.

KIDNAPPED MIGRANTS ARE BEING HELD IN OVERCROWDED STORAGE HOUSES NEAR THE U.S. BORDER. LAW ENFORCEMENT SAYS THEY RARELY GET FOOD OR WATER.

AMERICAN MIGRANTS SUPPORT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS BLAME TIGHTER U.S. IMMIGRATION POLICIES FOR RISING VIOLENCE.

THE HOPE BORDER INSTITUTE SAYS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S ORDER TO CLOSE THE BORDER TO ASYLUM SEEKERS WITHOUT APPOINTMENTS IN JUNE IS PUTTING MIGRANTS AT RISK.

THE INSTITUTE SAYS CARTELS ROUTINELY KIDNAP MIGRANTS AND DEMAND RANSOMS FROM THEIR FAMILIES – IN SOME CASES UP TO $20,000.

AUTHORITIES found ten Sudanese and Moroccans on a highway from Chihuahua to Juarez last week. The migrants were reportedly released after their families paid a ransom.

POLICE SAY MIGRANTS WANT A BETTER LIFE IN THE US, BUT INSTEAD THEY ARE BEING VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMINALS.

THE HOPE INSTITUTE URGES THE U.S. AND MEXICAN GOVERNMENTS TO CHANGE IMMIGRATION POLICIES TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO SEEK ASYLUM AND HOPEFULLY KEEP MIGRANTS SAFE FROM GANGS.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUED A WARNING LAST MONTH — URGEONING ASYLUM SEEKERS NOT TO RELY ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING. CARTELS CONDUCT HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES AND OFTEN LEAVE MIGRANTS STRANDED AND MALNUTRED, ACCORDING TO U.S. BORDER AGENCIES.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS – LAUREN TAYLOR.