Migrants killed in fire at immigration centre in Mexico
30 March 2023At least 38 migrants at an INM facility in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, have been killed in a fire, while a further 29 people have been seriously injured.
Most of the migrants are from Guatemala, according to the Guatemalan Migration Institute. Responding to this news, Dirk Glas, Country Director for Plan International Mexico said:
“We are devastated to hear that dozens of people have lost their lives in this fire, showing yet again the dangers that children and their families attempting to make the journey northwards from Central America face. No one should face risks on this scale when simply searching for safety or a better life.
“As an international development and humanitarian organization, Plan International is urgently calling for the circumstances behind this fire to be investigated, and for better protection for migrants – both inside and outside government-operated centres. Reports that those detained in the centre were allegedly kept locked inside during the fire, not released by authorities near them, are highly concerning. Those responsible must be identified, and justice obtained for the families affected by this tragedy.
“Plan International stands by the millions of migrants and refugees from across the Americas, and other countries, who have already experienced high levels of trauma, protection risks, and hardship. Migration policies must be made more effective, with an emphasis on keeping people safe, so that fewer people are forced to resort to dangerous journeys that place their lives at risk.”
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