A group of 69 migrants, including 33 Cubans, was handed over this Sunday to agents of the National Migration Institute (INM) of the Mexican state of Puebla. According to the head of the state office, David Méndez, people were “rescued” after an operation in which agents from the Ministry of Citizen Security participated.
An anonymous call alerted the authorities of an alleged kidnapping in a hotel in San Felipe Hueyotlipan, a municipality that has become an obligatory passage for migrants. Since last February, 1,556 foreigners with irregular stay have been arrested.
“In one of the inspections at the hotel we found several Salvadorans,” he told 14ymedio the municipal policeman Jacinto López, who explains that it was the local staff who “reported that there were more foreigners in the rooms” and there was no longer any need to use trained dogs.
The officer denied that the people were kidnapped: “The 22 Salvadorans were passing through the hotel and this Tuesday they were going to continue on their way.” López indicated that they handed over to Migration, in addition to the 33 Cubans, 14 Nicaraguans.
Of the group of natives of the Island “there are seven who did not deliver documentation confirming their regular stay,” the policeman mentioned. “It will be Immigration who determines whether to keep them in the Puebla ranch or let them continue.”
“The 22 Salvadorans were passing through the hotel and this Tuesday they were going to continue on their way.” López indicated that they handed over to Migration, in addition to the 33 Cubans, 14 Nicaraguans
The safe-conducts that the Cubans presented allow them transit for 30 days, and in case they are retained in the migratory stay under the argument of review, they would spend from 20 to 40 days, so they could be deported when they leave the facilities.
Data from the INM indicate that between March and June, 257 Cubans have been detained in the state of Puebla. Of these, 87 have been repatriated to the Island and 168 had safe-conducts processed.
On June 8, Immigration agents detained 56 migrants, including six Cubans, who were abandoned by coyotes on the road that connects the towns of El Seco with the municipality of Esperanza. “A pathway used by the smugglers to avoid roadblocks. They left them without water or food and that they paid 1,500 Mexican pesos each,” the policeman recalled.
The transit of Cubans through Mexico in their attempt to reach the border with the United States has increased as well as arrests in several states. Last Saturday arrested in Oaxaca 17 natives of the Island who were traveling hidden in a trailer and a van.
Figures from the Customs and Border Protection Office show that 234,088 irregular migrants were detained on the southern border of the United States in April, 5.4% more than in the previous month. Of them 35,049 are Cuban.
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