The so-called “gate 28” of the border wall between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, Texas, has been opened irregularly for the illegal crossing of migrants, shows a video in the possession of El Diario, which was obtained by the State Attorney General’s Office. (FGE) of Chihuahua in one of its operations against kidnappers of foreigners.
The visual material, which was obtained unofficially and which can be seen in the digital version (diario.mx) was recorded approximately 12 days ago, during the night, by a “coyote” or “pollero” – as the traffickers are known. of people – who would have taken it as proof of the work he did together with another member of his group.
The images show a group of approximately 10 migrants guided by a “coyote” as they run across the Rio Grande/Grande River towards US soil.
Upon reaching the North American side, the migrants huddle hidden next to the bars that form the border fence, to wait while the large steel door located in front of the Plaza de la Mexicanidad automatically opens.
On the door moved on rails an advertisement appears with black letters on a yellow background: “Slowly, automatic gate” and from a distance you can see the “X” of Juarez.
Once the door is open, one of the “coyotes” shouts the order to cross into El Paso “hot, hot”, the migrants pass and run to a van-type truck that is waiting for them on César road. E. Chavez.
The trafficker “complies” by leaving them in the white van and strides back towards the door, from there towards the Rio Grande/Bravo, and back to Mexican soil, towards the monumental “X”, just like the person recording the images. .
The video was obtained a few days ago by ministerial police from the Special Operations and Anti-Kidnapping Prosecutor’s Office of Chihuahua while they were carrying out an investigation at a home located on Baudelio Pelayo Street, one of the main streets of the Campestre subdivision.
The residence, which was listed as a “consular services office,” was investigated for several days by anti-kidnapping police, until they saw no movement other than that of an individual, who was only detained for a few hours because he could not be found. more material than the video.
The man said he dedicated himself to buying and selling cars, although he would have offered important surnames of people living in El Paso, such as Garza and Favela, with possible relationships in human trafficking.
Last Friday, June 7, a man of Venezuelan origin said that his niece had entered the United States two weeks earlier through that same door: “through door 28, they opened door 28 for her to pass through,” he said.
Without giving more details, he commented that he stayed in Mexico City, because “something” told him that he should wait, and he arrived at the border over the weekend seeking to surrender to the Border Patrol.
Threats
Other people on the move have told El Diario that criminal groups arrive at night on the banks of the Rio Grande to expel them from the borders with the United States.
“They arrived armed, they told us that they did not want to see us in the river because at that moment they were going to go to work,” said a Central American woman a few days ago.
‘Border Patrol enforces the law’
Yesterday, when questioned about the opening of the gates of the border wall to make way for groups of irregular migrants, the federal authority responded that “the United States Border Patrol continues to enforce US immigration law and applies consequences to those who do not have a legal basis to remain in the United States.”
Since the end of 2022, in addition to the federal authority, the Government of Texas is in charge of monitoring the border with Mexico in order to inhibit the irregular entry of migrants, but in the images provided to this medium only the opening of the door can be observed. between the steel bars, without the presence of any authority.
“The United States Border Patrol processes individuals found at the border who have illegally crossed the border between ports of entry using its Title 8 authority, which carries significant consequences, including expulsion and being prohibited from re-entering the borders.” people for a minimum period of five years,” he added.
Without giving further information about the possible relationship of US authorities with groups dedicated to human trafficking, he reported that migrants who seek to evade arrest, who are repeat offenders or who have a criminal record, as well as ” those involved in smuggling efforts.”
More than 180 thousand meetings this fiscal year
During the first seven months of fiscal year 2024 – from October 2023 to April 2024 – the El Paso Sector documented the encounter of 180,723 migrants who entered the United States irregularly.
According to data from the Special Operations and Anti-Kidnapping Prosecutor’s Office of Chihuahua, during 2023 the investigation began into 35 cases of kidnapping of migrants in the city, after which 66 alleged perpetrators were arrested, members of 11 gangs, 45 of them in flagrante delicto. and 21 by arrest warrant.
The investigating agents identified 160 victims, 112 of whom were rescued, 11 managed to escape from their captors, 27 were released through negotiation and there was no communication from ten more people.
Of the total cases, 10 convictions have been achieved against 17 people, 46 linked to proceedings. 15 arrest warrants were requested for 28 people and 10 of them were executed, involving 13 people.
During 2024, as of yesterday, 19 cases had been initiated, involving 115 victims, of which 98 have been released after being rescued by the authorities, 16 through negotiation and one more died of natural death.
This year, 48 people have been arrested for the crime of kidnapping, 43 in flagrante delicto and five by arrest warrant; The Prosecutor’s Office has achieved five convictions in which 12 people have been sentenced, while 39 more have been linked to proceedings.
On June 10, El Diario revealed the story of a Nicaraguan family that paid $20,000 to a group of kidnappers to free a 31-year-old man, but despite paying the ransom, they cut off one of his ears and finally He was murdered, “bagged” and tied with tape and then abandoned on the streets of the city along with “other” migrants who were also deprived of their lives.
Currently, the family is seeking support from the authorities of Mexico and Nicaragua to recover his body from the Forensic Medical Service (Semefo), without knowing more than the details shared with them by another migrant who managed to escape from his captors.
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