New Amnesty International Report: Widespread Abuse of Migrants in Mexico is Human Rights Crisis

On April 28, 2010, Amnesty International issued a report called “Invisible Victims: Migrants on the Move in Mexico.”  Here are some excerpts:

“Mexican authorities must act to halt the continuing abuse of migrants who are preyed on by criminal gangs while public officials turn a blind eye or even play an active part in kidnappings, rapes and murders . . . . Migrants in Mexico are facing a major human rights crisis leaving them with virtually no access to justice, fearing reprisals and deportation if they complain of abuses, . . . . Persistent failure by the authorities to tackle abuses carried out against irregular migrants has made their journey through Mexico one of the most dangerous in the world.  Kidnappings of migrants, mainly for ransom, reached new heights in 2009, with the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) reporting that nearly 10,000 were abducted over six months and almost half of interviewed victims saying that public officials were involved in their kidnapping.”

See “Mexico acknowledges migrant abuse, pledges changes.”