Mexico’s National Guard was involved in a fatal shooting near the U.S. border, resulting in the death of two Colombians and injuries to four others. The Defense Department stated that this incident occurred during a confrontation in an area frequently used by Mexican migrant smugglers.
The victims, identified as Yuli Vanessa Herrera Marulanda and Ronaldo Andrés Quintero Peñuelas, were migrants caught in the crossfire, according to Colombia’s foreign ministry. One Colombian who was not injured in the shooting was turned over to immigration officials, indicating that they were likely migrants as well.
This is not the first time that military forces in Mexico have opened fire on migrants. Just over a month ago, six migrants were killed in a similar incident in Chiapas. The recent shooting near Tecate, east of Otay Mesa, involved a National Guard patrol coming under fire after encountering two vehicles in the area.
It is unclear whether the individuals in the vehicles were armed migrant smugglers or unarmed bystanders. The Defense Department mentioned that three National Guard officers involved in the shooting have been taken off duty pending an investigation. Former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador gave the military a significant role in law enforcement during his tenure, leading to concerns about the military’s training for civilian law enforcement tasks.
The involvement of Colombians in this incident raises questions about their connection to Mexican drug cartels, which are known to be involved in migrant smuggling. The fact that one survivor was handed over to immigration officials suggests that they were indeed migrants caught in a dangerous situation.
The use of military forces in law enforcement activities has been a topic of debate in Mexico, with critics questioning the effectiveness and appropriateness of the military’s role. The disproportionate death tolls in these incidents, where all casualties occur on one side, raise further concerns about the necessity and justification for the use of lethal force.
As investigations into this latest shooting continue, the implications of the military’s involvement in border security and law enforcement will likely be scrutinized. The safety and protection of migrants, as well as the need for comprehensive immigration policies, will remain pressing issues in the U.S.-Mexico border region.
