Deadly Fire at Mexican Migrant Center Highlights Need for Improved Conditions

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The bodies of migrants lay covered after a deadly fire broke out at an immigration detention center in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez)
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 A tragic fire at a migrant detention center in Juarez, Mexico, has left at least 39 Central and South American migrants dead. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated that the fire, which broke out around 9:30 p.m. Monday, was likely the result of a protest over deportations, with some migrants setting fire to mattresses.

Twenty-eight of the deceased were from Guatemala. In total, 68 adult men from Central and South America were staying at the facility at the time of the incident.

In addition to the 39 fatalities, 29 others are in the hospital in serious condition. The incident raises concerns about conditions in Mexican detention centers as migration advocates have repeatedly highlighted issues of overcrowding and poor living conditions.

The fire comes amid a buildup of migrants in Mexican border cities as they await the processing of asylum requests. Frustrations over the slow processing time have led to recent clashes between U.S. security and migrants.


Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.

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