Mexico announces arrests and sanctions for fire in migrant center

The Mexican government reported on Thursday that six arrest warrants have been issued, arrests have been made and a private security company has been requested to sanction after the fire in a migration station in Ciudad Juárez, where at least 39 people died.

In a press conference from the National Palace, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, head of the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection; and Sara Irene Herrerías, head of the Human Rights Special Prosecutor’s Office, were in charge of reporting on the progress of the case.

Herrerías explained that six arrest warrants have been issued, five of which have been executed and clarified that details of the names of the detainees will not be given so as not to hinder the investigations and not violate the presumption of innocence.

“Six arrest warrants were issued against three INAM (National Migration Institute) officials, two private security police officers and the person who started the fire, warrants that were requested for the crime of intentional homicide, as well as eventual intent and the crime of injuries against 67 foreigners”, he commented.

The head of the Specialized Prosecutor for Human Rights added that the entire chain of custody will be reviewed to determine those responsible, however, she did not want to answer if there are high-ranking officials detained.

They request to sanction a security company

The head of the Secretary of Security explained that it has also been requested to sanction the private security group CAMSA SA de CV, which provided services to the immigration station in Ciudad Juárez and operated under irregularities.

“Partners David Vicente Salazar Gasca and George McPhail have been identified, as well as representatives and legal representatives, information that has already been provided to the Attorney General’s Office for the corresponding investigations,” Rodríguez said.

He added that this company was operating under “irregularities” for which administrative processes were begun to revoke its permit and impose an economic fine, regardless of the investigation carried out by the Attorney General of Mexico.

“The company only had four security elements with 10 uniforms reported in its registry, however, the contract with the National Institute of Migration was for 503 elements in facilities located in 23 states of the Republic,” he said.

Rodríguez mentioned that the private security company also did not have a permit to carry weapons and did not present monthly reports on its personnel, which they were obliged to render.

“We have already requested the National Institute of Migration to terminate the contract with this company and starting tomorrow elements of the federal protection service will assume security tasks at the facilities of the immigration station in Ciudad Juárez,” he reported.

At the request of the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, it was said that a process will be carried out to achieve reparation for the damage to the victims and he reiterated that there will be no impunity in the case.

In the morning, at the morning press conference, President López Obrador was questioned about the case and said that he would not provide information so as not to hinder the investigations.

“I do not want to get involved because since the investigation is open I do not want to disclose data or alleged facts, everything that is coming out of the investigations and that this is not going to be used so that those responsible are going to resort to amparo,” he said.

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