Migrant Mother Disappears After CDMX Operation: Her Daughters Await Answers
In the bustling streets of Mexico City’s Cuauhtémoc borough, a migrant mother was detained during an immigration operation more than two weeks ago. Since then, she has vanished without a trace, leaving her two young daughters, aged 9 and 13, in the care of other migrants. This alarming disappearance has ignited a wave of fear and uncertainty within the capital’s foreign communities, who claim to be living under constant threat of detention and alleged abuses, even when possessing valid documents to reside in Mexico.
The Disappearance: A Pattern of Fear
According to testimonies gathered by N+FORO, the woman was working with her daughters when she was intercepted by immigration authorities. Her family, friends, and close contacts have received no information regarding her whereabouts or the conditions of her transfer. The incident has cast a chilling shadow over the migrant community, who report a pervasive fear of being detained, regardless of their legal status.
A migrant who witnessed the event recounted how the children were left helpless after their mother’s detention: “She was working with her two daughters, and they took her away. The neighbors grabbed the girls so they wouldn’t be taken too. We haven’t heard anything from her yet.”
The Search for the Missing: A Community Mobilizes
As the two minors anxiously await news of their mother, migrant groups in Mexico City have mobilized, utilizing social media and community chats to locate individuals detained during these alleged immigration operations. Testimonies reveal that foreigners of various nationalities are sharing photos, names, and locations in a desperate attempt to find out what happened to those taken by authorities.
Another migrant explained the rapid spread of uncertainty among the foreign communities in the capital: “We are in foreign groups rotating photos to see if anyone has information because migrants were also taken, but they haven’t said anything.”
This climate of fear has led many to avoid leaving their homes, fearing detention in public spaces. Some report that inspections occur in highly trafficked areas such as Paseo de la Reforma, La Merced, and the streets of the Historic Center.
Allegations of Abuse and Detentions, Even with Official Documents
Migrants interviewed have reported alleged abuses during immigration checks, claiming that some individuals have been detained despite possessing official documents issued by Mexican authorities. Jeimy, a migrant living in Mexico City, asserted that some people are treated as undocumented even when carrying official papers: “There are people who have been taken, and just as I tell you, they take away your documents to make you appear as an undocumented person.”
Another migrant, identified as Alexis, claimed that even individuals with documentation from the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) have been detained during these operations: “Yes, they were taking them too, even if they had the COMAR document.” COMAR is the Mexican government institution responsible for receiving and resolving asylum applications in the country, a crucial resource for thousands of migrants seeking to regularize their status and avoid deportation.
Forced Transfers and the Fear of Being Abandoned
The fear among migrant communities has intensified due to reports of alleged forced transfers to other states. According to anonymous testimonies, some detained individuals have been taken out of Mexico City and abandoned far from their support networks. A migrant described how detained individuals are often held incommunicado for hours and forced to turn off their cell phones: “They take you to Tabasco and leave you there. And then you’re on your own, save yourself if you can.”
She further explained the alleged process of these transfers: “Once they pick you up, they ask you to turn off your phone, and you can’t turn it on until they drop you off at a certain point.” These allegations have led migrant workers to stop going to their jobs, fearing detention in the street or during public transport inspections.
Economic Impact and the Silence of Authorities
The uncertainty is directly impacting the daily lives of hundreds of migrants who rely on informal work to survive in Mexico City. Some claim that the alleged raids have resulted in job losses and economic hardship. Jeimy noted that several of her colleagues have stopped going to work after reports of operations in different parts of the capital: “I have many colleagues who don’t go out. They said there was a chase in Reforma and La Merced, and many didn’t come to work. Not everyone wants to give them work anymore because of this migratory persecution.”
The fear has also spread among those who provide support to migrants, with many preferring to remain hidden to avoid problems with authorities. Despite multiple testimonies and complaints circulated on social media and in the news, the National Institute of Migration (INM) has denied conducting raids in Mexico City. However, migrant communities maintain that the situation is real and that uncertainty continues to grow as days pass without news of the detained individuals.
One migrant summarized the prevailing sentiment among many foreigners living in the Mexican capital: “It’s a real situation that is happening, and it’s unknown how long this will continue.” Meanwhile, the two minors continue to await news of their mother, protected by other migrants who also live in fear of being detained at any moment.
Source: https://www.nmas.com.mx/foro/ciudad/mujer-migrante-desaparece-tras-operativo-en-cdmx-sus-hijas-esperan-respuestas/
