Another migrant has been recently charged in connection with the deadly fire at a detention center in Mexico that claimed the lives of 40 people.
Authorities have apprehended multiple immigration officers, a private security guard, and the aforementioned migrant, and have filed charges against them for homicide and other offenses linked to the injuries caused by the fire.
A federal judge in Mexico has officially charged another Venezuelan migrant for his alleged involvement in the fatal March fire at a detention center in Ciudad Juárez. The blaze resulted in the deaths of 40 individuals and left numerous others injured.
The Mexican prosecutor’s office confirmed on Thursday that the individual, identified as Carlos “C,” is facing charges of homicide, injuries, and damages caused by the fire. Alongside another Venezuelan migrant, Carlos “C” is accused of starting the fire, making it the deadliest incident ever recorded in a Mexican immigration facility.
The tragic event and its aftermath garnered significant international attention, prompting widespread mourning and calls for justice on behalf of the victims.
The incident further ignited controversy and garnered intense criticism regarding the treatment of migrants, involving both Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and American authorities. The incident highlighted the ongoing pressure faced by the Mexican government to address the increasing influx of individuals from Latin America and the Caribbean.
On March 27, a group of migrants held in the detention facility initiated a fire within their cell as a means to protest the conditions they were facing. The fire rapidly spread due to the highly flammable mattresses, filling the area with smoke. Security camera footage revealed that the guards fled without unlocking the cell.
In light of this incident, criminal proceedings have been initiated against Francisco Garduño, the head of Mexico’s National Migration Institute, and another director. They are being charged with the unlawful exercise of public service and failure to fulfill their duties, which ultimately led to the asphyxiation and death of numerous migrants.
Additionally, six immigration officers, a private security guard, and the other migrant involved have been detained. They are facing charges of homicide and other offenses related to the injuries caused by the fire.
Following the tragic event, the National Migration Institute has taken steps to address the situation. Small- and medium-sized detention facilities resembling the one in Ciudad Juárez have been closed, and a review of conditions in larger facilities has been initiated.
