Mexico City, Mexico – The Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA) announced on Wednesday that soldiers deployed in Chiapas, in southeastern Mexico, shot and killed six migrants – allegedly confusing them for criminals.
On Friday, President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the tragedy during her morning press briefing. The newly incumbent leader of Mexico, who had just praised the “humanitarian” nature of Mexico’s armed forces, revealed that authorities are identifying the murdered migrants, and investigations have begun.
“The majority of the victims have been identified, and we are in contact with the embassies through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of National Defense itself has filed complaints against the individuals who fired, and investigations are underway,” said Sheinbaum
Through a press release, SEDENA reported that military troops on patrol on the night of October 1 detected a pickup truck traveling at high speed. According to authorities, the vehicle’s characteristics resembled those used by criminal groups in the region. Supposedly, the soldiers heard gunshots, prompting two soldiers to fire at the truck.
Upon further inspection, the soldiers realized the pickup truck was carrying 33 migrants of different nationalities, including Egyptian, Nepali, Cuban, Hindu, Pakistani, and Arab, of which four had been killed by gunfire.
In addition, the army reported 12 injured and 17 uninjured. Authorities quickly transported the survivors to the nearest hospitals, where two more migrants succumbed to their injuries.
According to Sheinbaum, the six migrants killed were from Egypt, El Salvador, and Peru.
Migratory watchdog Frontera Sur also reported that one of the victims was an underage girl.
“It is a regrettable incident that must be investigated and punished,” said Sheinbaum. “The individuals from the Ministry of National Defense who fired have already been handed over to the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), and it is the Attorney General’s responsibility to investigate how the events occurred, determine accountability, and assess whether there is any additional responsibility from commanders or solely from the soldiers who fired.”
On Thursday, Mexico’s Prosecution said that two soldiers were already placed under arrest and requested the assistance of The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to align information and resources with the embassies of the victims’ homelands.
Bordering Central America through Guatemala, Chiapas is key to migration in the hemisphere, serving as a passage for migrants and asylum seekers from all over the world.
According to local reports, there was a 24% increase in migrant encounters in the southeastern state in 2024 compared to the previous year. As of July of this year, Chiapas authorities documented 229,379 migrants, a staggering increase of 80% from 2022.
Unfortunately, Chiapas has also turned into a coveted territory for organized crime, with Mexico’s most violent and influential cartels vesting resources and manpower in an ongoing battle to control drug, weapons, and human trafficking routes in the state.
The resulting wave of violence has forced hundreds out of their homes, fleeing from the narco war and into Central America.