An operation by the Mexican National Guard in Piedras Negras, Coahuila to prevent undocumented migrants from crossing the Rio Grande caused the death of a migrant during a chase.
The victim, whose nationality was not disclosed, died during a police chase in the area, which is guarded from the air, sea and land, according to news channel Impacto Visión on Facebook.
This medium also stated that the strong security device implemented since Thursday afternoon “reflected the arrest of four pateros (coyotes) causing a large mobilization.”
Another police operation in the area can already be seen for this Friday, as part of the “mirror operator“, which the government of Coahuila in Mexico is implementing jointly with the neighboring state of Texas, recipients of migrants crossing the tributary.
The agents’ squad cars are stationed on Paseo del Río in the Acuña and Piedras Negras neighborhoods, places frequently chosen by migrants to enter the United States.
Agustín Flores Segovia, local director of public safety, said elements of the Criminal Police, Action and Response Police, Civilian Police of Coahuila and the Attorney General’s Office are participating in this joint initiative, which will carry out patrol duties and surveillance in the area.
The actions are aimed at convincing migrants who are risking their lives in the turbulent waters of the river, which has raised its level significantly, making the crossing more dangerous, he said.
“It’s a security operation, it’s not an anti-migrant operation. We want their safety and that of Coahuilenses and we have arrested 96 people and several smugglers,” local authorities told Impacto Vision.
However, the moderator of the Piedras Negras Facebook page, which provides real-time coverage of what is happening in the area, noted that the harassment was even associated with Helicopters, against those who want to cross the river it will lead to problems of persecution if the victim will be the migrant himself.
This operation in Coahuila to strengthen border security comes in response to a historic deal with neighboring Texas, where Governor Greg Abbott sees dozens of undocumented immigrants arriving on US soil every day.
Last week, Abbott announced on Twitter the start of this maneuver with the support of his Coahuila Mexican counterpart, Miguel Riquelme, noting that “Coahuila Governor Miguel Riquelme is beginning his enhanced border security measures after signing our historic accord. We secure BOTH sides of the border.”
The presence of Cuban migrants trying to reach the US to seek political asylum has increased in the region, but hundreds of Central Americans are also arriving, as well as Venezuelans, Colombians and other nationalities.
At least according to the Department of Homeland Security 78,903 Cubans have arrived in the United States by points of the southern border in the first six months of fiscal year 2022, which began on October 1, 2021, of which 32,141 last March.
By the number of Cubans arriving in the United States in March, they became the second-largest national group with the largest influx across the southern border, surpassed only by Mexicans (87,388) and ahead of Guatemalans, Hondurans, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, who are traditional immigrants added higher amounts.