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CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (AP) — The fire at the immigration detention facility in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, was caused by migrants who set their mattresses on fire in protest after learning they would be deported, according to video surveillance footage. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of 38 men, and authorities are still investigating the incident.
The fire broke out late Monday at the facility, which is across the U.S. border from El Paso, Texas, and a major crossing point for migrants. Rows of bodies were laid out under shimmery silver sheets outside the facility, with some reports suggesting that authorities initially reported 40 dead before later revising the count.
Twenty-eight people were injured and were in “delicate-serious” condition, according to the National Immigration Institute. The institute reported that 68 men from Central and South America were being held at the facility at the time of the blaze, with almost all being from Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela, and El Salvador.
According to the video footage, two people dressed as guards rushed into the camera frame, and at least one migrant appeared by the metal gate on the other side. However, the guards did not appear to make any effort to open the cell doors and instead ran away as billowing clouds of smoke filled the structure within seconds.
Mexico’s interior secretary, Adán Augusto López, confirmed the authenticity of the video in an interview with local journalist Joaquín López Doriga. Authorities identified the dead and injured as being from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador.
Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the fire was started by migrants in protest after learning they would be deported. "They never imagined that this would cause this terrible misfortune," he said.
The deaths forced the government to rent refrigerated trailers to hold the migrants’ bodies, Chihuahua state prosecutor Cesar Jáuregui told reporters. The detention facility is across the street from Juarez’s city hall.
At a nearby hospital, Viangly Infante Padrón, a 31-year-old Venezuelan migrant seeking asylum in the U.S. with her husband and three children, waited for her husband, who was being treated for smoke inhalation. She described the chaos and devastation caused by the fire.
"We want to know if he is alive or if he’s dead," she said. "How could they not get them out?" Authorities did not immediately answer that question.
Tensions between authorities and migrants had apparently been running high in recent weeks in Ciudad Juarez, where shelters are full of people waiting for opportunities to cross into the U.S. or for the asylum process to play out.
Migrant advocates who recently denounced more aggressive tactics said Tuesday that the immigration facility was over capacity and that the site of the fire was small and lacked ventilation. "You could see it coming," the advocates’ statement said. "Mexico’s immigration policy kills."
Conclusion
The tragic events at the Ciudad Juarez immigration detention facility highlight the urgent need for reforms in Mexico’s immigration system. The country must address the root causes of migration, including poverty, violence, and political persecution, and provide safe and humane conditions for asylum-seekers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What caused the fire at the immigration detention facility in Ciudad Juarez?
A: The fire was caused by migrants who set their mattresses on fire in protest after learning they would be deported.
Q: How many people died in the fire?
A: Thirty-eight men died in the fire.
Q: Who are the authorities identified the dead and injured as being from?
A: The authorities identified the dead and injured as being from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador.
Q: What is the government’s response to the incident?
A: The government has confirmed the authenticity of the video footage and identified the dead and injured. The President has also called for an investigation into the incident.
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