This Friday, authorities in Monterrey, Nuevo León, found a 16-year-old girl from Guatemala who had been reported missing in her country for almost a year. The teenager, identified as Joseline 'N', was trying to migrate alone to the United States.
Joseline's presence was discovered by members of the municipal police of Monterrey while conducting prevention rounds in the Bella Vista neighborhood. After interviewing the young girl, she revealed that she left Guatemala with the intention of reaching the United States; however, she had not succeeded and had been in the city for a week without knowing anyone, wandering the streets.
According to the municipal Security Secretariat, it was verified that the minor had a missing persons report since June 26 of the previous year when she left her village Chichipate, in the municipality of Puerto Barrio, Guatemala. Subsequently, the teenager was taken to the facilities of the Monterrey Police for medical attention and to be assisted in the Victims of Domestic Violence and Gender Unit.
Once evaluated, she was handed over to the National Institute of Migration to carry out the necessary procedures and be returned to Guatemala. In the first half of 2024, Mexico reported 84,927 unaccompanied migrant minors, of which 81,955 are from America, representing a 129% year-on-year increase.
