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Rights group demands Mexico look into abuse against Central American immigrants

17:28 H | Topics: Guatemala - Immigration - Mexico

Every year thousands of undocumented people pass into the U.S. through the border with Mexico, and not all of them are Mexican. Many begin their journey in their homelands in Central America, and in order to reach U.S. territory must become, in the words of Los Tigres del Norte --"dos veces mojados" -- crossing not one border but two. Central Americans entering Mexican territory do not have it easy, and allegations of abuse on the part of Mexican officials has been a catalyst for a demand by Mexico's Human Rights Center for the National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH) to investigate the allegations:

In a press release, the National Center for Human Rights announced that there have been numerous complaints filed against military personnel and INM [Mexican Immigration authority) officials for stealing of money, physical and sexual aggression against Guatemalans, Hondurans and Salvadorans without CNDH having ever addressed the problems.

The press release calls the national entity non-operating and a dead figure, as evidenced by inexistent commitment to the defense of the rights of immigrants.

On Wednesday [last] CNDH sent a recommendation to the National Immigration Institute (INM) and the city of Tapachula [Chiapas state, border with Guatemala] in relation to the 300 Guatemalan minors and adults living in Tapachula who are victims of labor and sex exploitation.

For many readers who have only been exposed to the plight of undocumented immigrants in United States, the situation in Mexico might come as a shock. While there are now more immigrants from Central America making the journey into Mexico, either to stay or on the way to the U.S., this situation is anything but new. And some of the accounts of conditions of Central Americans in Mexico are just as horrifying as any other:

At the local dump, there are 23 children and 91 adults working in infrahuman conditions, all of whom are indigenous Guatemalans.

For some time said immigrants have worked picking up plastic, aluminum and cardboard, among other materials that they later sell by the kilo to individuals, with which they earn 30 to 50 pesos (about $3 to $5 dollars) per day.

In the report there are accounts of nursing mothers, children and senior citizens living at the dump. They work among scavenging animals such as vultures, infectious biological wastes, toxic substances, and rotting animal carcasses but without adequate protective equipment.

According to Mexico's El Universal, the document also states that Central American sex workers are made to pay local police in order to work, and the more than 100 exploited indigenous Guatemalan children earn money as clowns, washing windshields and selling in the streets.

Via / El Universal

Images via ucanmarin.blogspot.com and PrensaLibre.com

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