Mexico: Several injured, one child dead in shooting attack on Haitian migrants

Sonora police at the border perimeter, August 2024 Photo: @Cronicadexalapa

August 19, 2024 Time: 1:48 PM

The Attorney General’s Office of the State of Sonora confirmed the events, which took place in the area of ​​the municipality of Tubutama.

One child was killed and eight migrants were injured in a tragic incident early Monday morning. The incident occurred during an armed attack on a vehicle being transported by human smugglers to the Arizona border in the United States.

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Local residents alerted authorities to gunshots and cries for help, prompting the activation of the emergency protocol Code Red. Security forces, consisting of the State Police, the Mexican Army and the National Guard, were quickly deployed to address the situation and carry out a rescue operation.

Testimonies from residents of the municipality of Sáric, located about 54 kilometers from the border, indicate that all the victims were of Haitian origin. These people came to the town desperately asking for help. Upon arrival at the scene of the attack, authorities found a bus-like vehicle, burned and with multiple bullet holes, demonstrating the brutality of the attack.

The Sonora Public Prosecutor’s Office reported that the five men and three women who were injured were immediately taken to the nearest IMSS-Bienestar hospital for medical care.

No arrests have been reported in connection with the attack so far, but authorities continue to search for those responsible using air and ground operations.

This form of aggression is not an isolated incident. In the desert region of Sonora, attacks on vehicles carrying migrants are becoming more common. This is due to fierce competition between criminal gangs that smuggle people from different parts of the world.

The migration route through this area is exploited by the so-called “polleros”, who take advantage of the lack of surveillance in the area to carry out their illegal activities.

The Attorney General’s Office has noted that the combination of the border’s complex topography and the relative impunity in these areas makes it easy for these gangs to operate, increasing the risk for those seeking to enter the United States in search of better opportunities.

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