Mexican bishop calls for protection of migrants following murders

June 04, 2013

Following the murder of two women, Mexican bishops has called upon civil authorities to protect migrants from Central America who traveling through Mexico to seek entry into the United States.

The two had recently reported that they were victims of extortion.

“It is an international embarrassment” that Mexico “does not provide greater protection to those crossing” its territory, said Bishop Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel of San Cristóbal de Las Casas in Chiapas, the Mexican state that borders Guatemala.

“In their countries of origin, especially El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, they cannot find ways of improving their economic situation, they suffer from the violence of the street gangs, and in their desperation, despite knowing the dangers they are exposing themselves to, they try to cross Mexico to reach the United States,” he continued. “They are attacked by criminal gangs who extort their money, beat them and, in the worst cases, kill them.”

 

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Further information:

• Honduran Migrants Killed for Reporting Extortion Attempt, Mexican Bishop Says (EFE)
• 2 migrants who had denounced extortion have been killed, the Church asks for protection (Fides)