( Spanish) — A judge from the federal Criminal Justice Center in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, postponed until next Sunday the decision on whether or not the commissioner of the National Institute of Migration (INM), Francisco Garduño Yáñez, will be brought to trial for his possible responsibility in the fire that left 40 people dead in a center of the agency.
At the next hearing, Judge Víctor Manlio Hernández Calderón must decide if Garduño could be charged with the crime of illegal exercise of public service, and if he will be charged for failing in his responsibility to protect people who were in INM custody. , as accused by the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR). The institution has also requested the dismissal of Garduño and the prohibition to leave the country.
At the hearing on Tuesday, Garduño refused to give a statement. His lawyers will now have the opportunity to present evidence for their client’s defense.
The FGR began an investigation on April 11 into the tragic fire in a migrant center in Ciudad Juárez that also left dozens injured on March 27.
Five more people have been arrested in the case, including three INM officials, a guard from a private security company and a migrant, the latter accused of starting the fire.
On April 4, the hearing for the imputation of charges was held, among which homicide, injuries and damages stand out.
With information from Édgar Román and Omar Astorga.
