Migrants mistreated in Mexico, report says

Chris Hawley
Republic Mexico City Bureau
Feb. 6, 2007 12:00 AM

Mexico's human rights agency has accused officials in Sonora of mistreating illegal Central American migrants, saying detainees were jammed into overcrowded cells and denied food and water for hours during a crackdown last year.

The report comes as the Mexican government, under pressure from the United States, is ramping up efforts to catch thousands of foreigners passing through on their way to the U.S. border, and as migrant rights groups complain authorities are ill-equipped for the task.

Mexico's National Commission on Human Rights said immigration agents "violated (migrants') right to legality, judicial protection and dignified treatment" during a two-week inspection period from April 20 to May 7. Its report was released Jan. 19.

The report said immigration agents held as many as 78 people in four cells designed for five people each in Hermosillo. Most of the detainees were Guatemalans, followed by Hondurans and Salvadorans.

The commission's inspectors said there was not enough drinking water or blankets to go around, the toilets lacked water, and detainees were forced to sleep on the floors of the cells.

I don't know why these illegal immigrants in Mexico don't rally together and march on Mexico City to complain, legitimately, about the abuse they are enduring. I mean, after all, it's not like Mexico is making them pay higher tuition to illegally go to college or putting up a barrier to keep them out of the country. No, all the Mexican authorities are doing is depriving them of basic needs - food and water! Oh, I know why they are protesting. It is illegal for a non-Mexican to mount a protest. They would be thrown in jail without question! Just one word to the Mexican government about the illegals in the US - keep your mouth shut! -mm