Mexican soldiers opened fire on a north-bound pickup truck carrying 33 migrants near the Guatemalan border Tuesday, Oct. 1, killing six. The group of migrants included individuals from Egypt, Nepal, Cuba, India, Pakistan, and at least one other country, Mexico’s newly sworn-in President Claudia Sheinbaum said.
Four migrants died at the scene, while two others later died from their injuries at a nearby hospital. Ten other migrants in the truck were wounded, and 17 others were unharmed.
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The soldiers claimed they heard explosions and shots coming from the truck and two other vehicles that were approaching them before engaging the pickup truck, which was allegedly traveling at high speed and attempting to evade the patrol.
The Mexican Defense Department said on Wednesday, Oct. 2, that the two soldiers who opened fire were relieved of duty while officials investigate.
The U.N. refugee agency in Mexico expressed deep concern, writing in a post on X that refugees are humans and deserve human rights and they must always be protected.
The International Organization for Migration has named the path through Mexico to the U.S. border the “deadliest land route for migrants worldwide,” highlighting the risks faced by those fleeing economic hardship and violence.
