Jorge Antonio Rocha
28 March 2023•Update: 29 March 2023
MEXICO CITY
A fire at an immigrant facility in Mexico, in a city bordering the US, took 38 lives, down from an initial count of 39, Mexican authorities said Tuesday.
The Mexican president said the fire in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua – bordering El Paso, Texas – broke out after migrants found out they would be deported. The mostly Central American asylum seekers ignited cots, leading to the deadly fire, he said.
But neither Mexico's Attorney's General Office nor the Migration National Institute have confirmed those reports.
Twenty-nine seriously injured migrants were taken to four hospitals for care, according to the institute.
The migration authority has filed a legal complaint to ensure an investigation with Mexico's Federal Prosecution.
Mexico's Migration institute announced legal procedures.
"This authority informs that a complaint was filed with the corresponding authorities to investigate what happened and, if necessary, proceed accordingly," it said in a statement.
It also announced that the Human Rights National Commission would begin inquiries to safeguard the human rights of foreigners.
Some 68 men from Central and South America were reportedly staying at the facility. Authorities said the fire started at 10 p.m. local time Tuesday (0400GMT Wednesday).
Communication and coordination were established with consular authorities from different countries to implement actions that allow the complete identification of the deceased migrants.
Washington has pressured Mexico to set up housing for migrants who arrive seeking to request asylum in the US. There has been a surge of migrants near the Mexican-US border hoping to travel northward.
