The head of the National Migration Institute, Francisco Garduño, obtained a provisional suspension of the criminal proceedings against him for the fire that claimed the lives of 40 migrants in a migration station in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, in March 2023. The lawyer for the victims' families, Yesenia Valdez, expressed her concern about what she considers a serious precedent, allowing a high-ranking public official to evade responsibility for a crime of such magnitude.
The imposed resolution requires Garduño to comply with a series of precautionary measures for the next 18 months. These measures include maintaining a fixed residence, offering a public apology, completing courses on human rights and civil protection, guaranteeing compensation to the victims of the fire, and conducting quarterly inspections at immigration detention centers.
The incident occurred on the night of March 27, 2023, when 40 migrants from various Latin American countries died of smoke inhalation caused by a short-duration fire set by two Venezuelan individuals, according to Mexican authorities. Garduño was brought to trial under the accusation of omission for failing to take adequate measures to prevent the tragedy.
Civil organizations expressed their concern over alleged irregularities in Garduño's judicial process and accused him of trying to evade his criminal responsibility in the unfortunate incident. Despite this situation, President Claudia Sheinbaum chose not to remove him from office, although she previously mentioned plans to reform the INM without providing further details on the matter.
On the other hand, migrants and human rights defenders have criticized the INM for alleged abuses committed to prevent undocumented individuals from advancing north in the country, amid pressures exerted by the United States. Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente supported the government's migration strategy, citing a significant reduction in the daily flow of irregular migrants at the US-Mexico border since December 2023, according to data from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
However, Mexico reported a considerable increase in the number of irregular migrants during the first eight months of last year, reaching a record of over 925,000 people, which represents a year-on-year increase of 132%, according to the Government's Migration Policy Unit.
