So far in 2024, at least three Nicaraguan migrants have died weekly in Mexico and the United States, in search of the well-known “American Dream.” Article 66 carried out a data analysis of the deaths recorded by the organization Texas Nicaraguan Community (TNC), which discloses the cases through its social networks, and it was found that between January 1 and December 21 of this year at least 166 compatriots died while crossing Mexican territory or while on US soil.
Of the total deaths, 132 were men and 34 women. More than half (93) of the Nicaraguan migrants who perished in the United States or in transit to that country from Mexico were between 18 and 45 years old.
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In addition, it was identified that there were 12 deaths of people between the ages of 46 and 66, and another three related to cases of minors. Also, there were 55 deaths in which the ages of the victims were not specified.
The mass migration of Nicaraguans to the United States increased after the start of the sociopolitical crisis, unleashed by the Sandinista regime’s repression of the social protests of 2018, which left hundreds of Nicaraguans dead, thousands injured, detained and persecuted by the dictatorship.
More than 50 migrants died in traffic accidents
This year, the majority of unique migrants who were reported dead died in traffic accidents.
31% (51) of these deaths documented in this media’s analysis were on the tracks, and included people who fell from moving trains while trying to cross into US territory and cases in which Nicaraguans lost control of their vehicles when driving in weather conditions that they did not face in Nicaragua, such as snowfall.
Another significant number of deaths (22) were due to heart attacks or cardiac arrests and another 18 were homicides. It is worth mentioning that firearms were used in at least twelve of these crimes against Nicaraguans.
It is worth mentioning that, at the beginning of this year, independent media warned about the excessive use of energy drinks among groups of Nicaraguan migrants, who in an alleged attempt to “perform more” in their jobs took these substances, which international organizations have warned about. which can be harmful to the heart due to their high sugar content.
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TNC also reported at least 12 deaths of Nicaraguan migrants who drowned in pools, the sea and rivers. Seven of these deaths occurred in the Rio Grande, Mexico, when the Pinoleros attempted to cross into US territory.
In addition to this, there were deaths related to deaths due to work accidents, cancer, aquatic accidents, terminal illnesses, strokes, complications in pregnancy and in at least 30 of the reported deaths the causes were not specified, since the people were found unconscious. inside homes, vehicles or with apparent signs of violence, which should be confirmed in autopsies performed by the United States authorities.
The TNC organization recently indicated that 2024 could close with at least 200 deaths of Nicaraguan migrants in Mexico and the United States, a record number for its records. In 2022 and 2023, the figure exceeded more than 150 cases of deaths, respectively.