Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has condemned the killing of six migrants by Mexican troops as “deplorable” and has called for an investigation into the incident. She stated that the situation must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible must be punished to ensure that such an event does not happen again. The Ministry of Defence had reported that soldiers opened fire on a truck near the town of Huixtla, close to the border with Guatemala, after hearing explosions coming from the vehicle. This resulted in the deaths of six migrants from Egypt, Peru, and El Salvador, making it the worst killing of migrants by Mexican authorities since 2021.
The area between Mexico and Guatemala is a common route for migrant smuggling, with some individuals being transported in overcrowded trucks on their journey to the US border. The Defence Ministry stated that the trucks targeted by soldiers were similar to those used by criminal groups in the region. However, migrant rights activist Irineo Mujica expressed doubt that the migrants would have opened fire on the army, suggesting that they typically pass through by paying bribes. This incident is not the first time Mexican law enforcement has allegedly heard explosions or gunfire before using deadly force, with previous incidents in 2021 resulting in the deaths of migrants and asylum seekers.
Former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whose term ended recently, had expanded the authority of the military during his time in office by involving troops in civilian infrastructure projects and placing the National Guard under military command. Sheinbaum, his successor and a member of the Morena Party, is expected to continue his policies. Despite the recent killings, she declared during a visit to a military base that there is no state of siege or human rights violations in Mexico, focusing instead on improving wages for the troops and emphasizing their loyalty.
The Roman Catholic Mexican Council of Bishops criticized the use of lethal force by authorities on migrants and asylum seekers, calling it a disproportionate response and a result of militarization of immigration policies. The council highlighted that the presence of armed forces at the country’s southern border has led to such tragic incidents. Sheinbaum’s response to the incident, calling for an investigation and punishment of those responsible, reflects a commitment to addressing the issue and preventing such violence in the future. With the deaths of migrants at the hands of Mexican troops, there is growing concern over the use of deadly force in immigration enforcement and the militarization of border security.
